Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Nothing small about this singer’s talent

Remember the name Anastazia Georgiade.

Or, if that's too difficult, then remember the name Stazi Summers.

Stazi is Anastazia's stage name.

The 9-year-old aspiring singer/actress has needed one since her film debut earlier this year in "Retirement," directed by Charles Picerni and starring veteran actors Peter Falk, George Segal, Rip Torn and Bill Cobbs.

The film -- whose producers are still looking for distribution -- was partially shot in Las Vegas and Miami. It made headlines when, three days into shooting, co-star Ossie Davis died of natural causes in a Miami hotel.

Since her brief appearance in the film as a flower girl, Stazi has acquired agents and managers and now is living only part-time in her native Las Vegas.

She and her mother, Zenda ("Zee") spend most of the time in Los Angeles, where she is being home-schooled at the Oakwood Toluca Hills apartment complex, noted for being a gathering place for other young, aspiring performers.

Among past child actors who have temporarily called Oakwood home are Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kirsten Dunst and Neil Patrick Harris.

"I'm learning to act with other actors (at Oakwood) and I'm working with Mom, doing monologues," Stazi said. "She is really good at expressing stuff, and I'm a really good crier. I could just start crying right now."

Zee isn't a typical show-business mother.

"I have never pushed her," she said. "This is all her own motivation. When she wants to stop, we will stop."

Stazi and her family first learned she had an extraordinary singing talent three years ago while she was performing in a class production at Alexander Dawson, a private school in Summerlin.

"I can hold a note forever," said the 4-foot-1-inch dynamo who talks rapidly and with an air of maturity far beyond her years.

It isn't only the voice that impresses you as you listen to Stazi belt out songs, it's the self-confidence. She isn't shy about expressing herself, nor is she ever at a loss for words.

"I liked to sing when I was little," Stazi said. "That's when we found out I all of a sudden had the greatest voice ever. I just naturally used my diaphragm."

In the past three years she has sung at several local venues -- the Golden Nugget (appearing with the Lon Bronson Band), the Bootlegger (during Monday night Celebrity Karaoke), a Christmas show at the Las Vegas Hilton.

She performed as a special guest for three weeks in Laughlin at the Riverside, appearing with Gene Sironen, a Righteous Brother tribute artist (Bobby Hatfield) who formerly was with "Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace.

Her first CD will be released in March. The as-yet untitled record, produced by Greg Hampton at Universal Records, will be released in March.

"I like to sing a little rock and funk and blues," Stazi said.

She remembers her appearance at the Bootlegger last year with great fondness.

"When I sang "Cabaret," everyone thought I was the greatest thing ever," she says.

She loves acting as much as singing.

"When I watch all the kids shows on TV and watch all the actors and how they could sing too, I thought it might be cool if I could do that too -- act and sing."

Her father, Nick Georgiade, helped a little.

Georgiade is a real-estate investor whose sideline these days is acting. More than 45 years ago, his acting was full-time.

His career started in 1959 when he played the role of Ricco on "The Untouchables" series starring Robert Stack. He was with the show until it ended in 1963. He moved to Las Vegas in 1969, returned to Los Angeles in '72 and has been a full-time resident here since 1979.

"I had a terrific 11 years as an actor, but then business started slowing down and I got interested in doing other things," Georgiade said. "I couldn't stand sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring."

Over the years he has continued to dabble in acting, appearing in series such as "Quincy" starring Jack Klugman, among others.

Georgiade's stand-in during "The Untouchables" was Charles Picerni, who went on to become a director. The two became close friends. When Picerni came to Las Vegas to shoot scenes for "Retirement," he hired his old friend for a part -- and Georgiade got his daughter her first role in a film.

She was going to play a small role, but then the director decided to have her sing a song.

"Because I could sing, they gave me my own actor's chair with my name on it," she said with youthful enthusiasm.

Stazi wasn't upset when the song was cut. She was philosophical.

"The part where I was singing with Coolio -- he is a rapper singer -- got cut. They filmed too much and had to cut some scenes -- but I'm still a flower girl in the film," she said.

Inspired by the experience, she has been pursuing a career in acting and singing ever since.

"I have to practice every single day, but that's the fun part," she said. "I like to go to the studio."

Since she and Zee moved to L.A., Stazi has appeared in a couple of student films.

And she is looking for other work.

"I haven't done a commerical yet, but I'm trying my hardest," she said.

And she is waiting for Picerni to begin shooting "Spaghetti Park," but he won't be able to begin that one until he finishes two other movies.

Meanwhile, Stazi will continue reaching for the stars.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or [email protected].

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