YOU can’t accuse Chris Peluso of wasting time since he came over to the UK from the United States last year

For he has managed to land starring roles in four major productions one after another.

On Saturday he will be in Manchester for the opening night of the national tour of Funny Girl in which he stars alongside Sheridan Smith.

“I have certainly been lucky,” said Chris.

Having appeared on Broadway in shows such as Mamma Mia and Beautiful, Chris came over to the UK to star in Miss Saigon in the West End. From there he then went into the musical Show Boat and then took the lead in a revival of Death Takes A Holiday.

Amazingly Chris only finished at the Charing Cross Theatre last week, which meant he was learning his lines and rehearsing for Funny Girl during the day while performing in Death Takes a Holiday at night.

“I have been doing double duties,” he laughed. “My mind is all right with that but I found that my energy levels are what have suffered the most.

“I have had to make sure I eat right and take as many naps as I can take to ensure that physically I have the energy to do all the work.”

Ironically, Chris was in line for a part in a totally different show before he got the lead in Funny Girl.

“I was going to do Beautiful but I couldn’t guarantee that I would get my visa through in time before rehearsals started and the producers couldn’t wait for me,” he said. “But my visa did come through and I was offered Funny Girl.”

In the musical, the story of Fanny Brice who rose from humble beginnings to become a Broadway star, Chris plays Nick Arnstein, Fanny’s husband who is gradually left behind by her rise to fame.

“All the shows I have been in recently have had very different styles,” he said. “Miss Saigon is a very intense melodrama whereas Show Boat is a classical almost operatic musical with this dark storyline.

“With Funny Girl the first act is lighter and I get the chance to be charming, have fun and be a little bit goofier then in second act I have my marriage fall apart. It’s got this balance of fun and depth that’s not always present in musical theatre roles.”

Chris is thrilled to be working alongside award-winning actress Sheridan Smith who plays Fanny.

“I’m loving it already,” he said. “It’s rare to get to work with someone who is such a great comedian and a great actress.

“I’ve never worked with anyone that has been so adept at both.

“She just nails all the ups and downs - she’s so impressive to watch.”

Funny Girl both opens and closes its national tour in Manchester and Chris is delighted the show will give him the chance to explore the country.

“It’s a great opportunity both career wise and also for me to see England,” he said, “I’ve not really had the chance to do that before. Until now I’ve just been working in London.”

Funny Girl, Palace Theatre, Manchester, Saturday, February 18 to Saturday 25 and Monday, August 7 to Saturday, August 19. Details from 0844 871 3019