John DiCrosta unpacked his voice box on an unsuspecting crowd Thursday night, parading character after character like some sort of human clown car. One minute, he was a waiter in an Oriental restaurant, the next, Dr. Ruth on a wild night.

The cherubic DiCrosta is on the verge of striking it big in the voiceover field, having recently signed on with Animanagement, a voice talent firm, and drawing interest from Disney/MGM. And the crowd at Comix Café got to see just what the fuss is all about.

Almost from the minute he hit the stage, DiCrosta was laughing - a good-natured burst that foretold of things to come. "Hello, Tonawanda! Anyone here on vacation?" Surprisingly, when the comedian raised his hand and looked out into the audience, he found a couple from Columbus, Ohio. "So this is like Vegas to you." Again, his laugh found its way out into the crowd, infecting others to repeat it as it went.

The comic confessed immediately that he was an avowed prankster, always managing to find trouble where he least expects it, or wants it. The Canadian border, at home with his family - even in Disney World, DiCrosta isn't safe. He spoke of being arrested in the Magic Kingdom for a prank on a roller coaster involving an almost life-sized doll he won at a game of chance. More voices sprung out as he did his best Mickey Mouse for the onlookers while Goofy led him to the lockup.

And then came the characters we are all familiar with but which belong to DiCrosta alone. In his impressive repertoire were an "Everything's a Dollar'' clerk, border guards, Southerners, a rabid two year old, a crusty airline captain, and a wife turned fire-breathing monster. Each character came equipped with there own posture, expressions, and physicality, completing the picture (though oddly, they all had beards just like DiCrosta's.)

Much of the comedian's talent with voices can probably be traced back to when he was eleven years old, a funny kid from Albany who starting hiring himself out as a ventriloquist act for birthday parties and Boy Scout meetings. He never stopped throughout high school, and by the time he was in college, he had started booking comedians for campus functions. It was then that the idea hit him that this could be his profession.

For about six years, DiCrosta mixed his ventriloquist act with stand-up. The act was well received, despite the ribbing he endured from stand-up purists. Eventually, however, he dropped the dummy and decided to work alone. The voices are still there, they're just no longer attached to a puppet.

DiCrosta had considered voiceover work for cartoons a dream, but hadn't really pursued it until he was approached about it after a show one night. Since all the attention hit, DiCrosta has wondered, "Why didn't I do this three or four years ago?"

Despite the lag, the interest in DiCrosta has been high. In addition to the agency and talks with Disney, he is a finalist to be the voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy. If he gets it, he will be the first man ever to voice the part. All the previous Doughboys have been women.

And it is quite a leap from opening for Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute, though he insists the man puts on an awesome show.

On stage, it was obvious that DiCrosta was entertaining himself as well as the audience. Happening to catch his silhouette as he throws his hands in the air for one sketch, he started laughing, turned around, and played with shadow puppets. Snarling dogs and howling wolves appeared momentarily superimposed on the cityscape façade. DiCrosta suddenly turned back to the audience, which had been going along with his indulgence, as they had been all night. "Oh, sorry. Didn't know you were still here." He finished the joke and moved on. No one seemed to mind the intrusion.

As a special treat, after DiCrosta finishes his set, emcee Rob Lederman invited him back up for a round of improv, inspired by "Who's Line is it Anyway?" The show ended with three quick sketches and audience participation.

The last voice was DiCrosta's own as he thanked the crowd and left the stage. It's the one voice you might not be hearing soon, but you will be hearing from John DiCrosta.