When Robert Cuccioli thinks of Pittsburgh, he thinks of fun.

That's because his last two times here with Civic Light Opera, he's starred in musical comedies - "Bells Are Ringing" last year and "Pajama Game" in 2000.

"That's one of the great things at CLO," he said. "They've allowed me to do goofy parts from the '50s. That's why I relate Pittsburgh to fun."

This year, though, he might relate the city to split personalities. Not only is he starring in "Guys and Dolls," he'll be directing "Jekyll and Hyde." So while he's Sky Masterson by night for the next couple weeks, he'll be director by day - at least for the last week of the "Guys" run.

Donning the hat of actor, Cuccioli said Sky is a fun role. "He's a gambler and a lady's man. He's got an air of class about him, but there's still that earthiness about him. He's a lot of fun to play."

He's done this role before - when he was in high school. "At the time, I never thought about doing theater," he said.

Some folks may be familiar with "Guys and Dolls" from the movie starring Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson and Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit. But that does not bother Cuccioli.

"It never crossed my mind that people would compare the film version with the stage version. I think I can sing better than Marlon Brando. I own the movie, but I won't see it before I do the show."

He'll be a bit busy the next several weeks because of the two hats he will switch.

"It will be good I'm in the same place for both shows," he said. "I will wear my director's hat with 'Guys and Dolls' in that I'll be watching to see how they do things here. That way I'll be prepared when it happens.

"As an actor, I paid attention to what the director did, but I didn't pay close attention. But I don't think it will be too bad."

This will mark his second venture into the realm of directing. His first time was "Jekyll and Hyde" a year ago at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in New York.

"Van (Kaplan, CLO executive producer) saw the show and asked me if I'd be interested in directing the show in Pittsburgh," he said, noting he doesn't feel comfortable enough to act and direct at the same time.

"These next several weeks will be an intense time," he said.

CLO will have back-to-back directorial debuts.

"Guys and Dolls" marks Kaplan's first time in the director's seat at CLO, followed by Cuccioli with "Jekyll and Hyde."

Looking back, he admits he never thought he'd be an actor. "I never planned on this. I wanted to be a corporate lawyer and went to St. John's University for finance."

While in college, he did some community theater. One of those shows was "Godspell," which prompted folks to tell him he should consider acting as a career.

He took voice lessons in Manhattan and "decided to try it. "I already had a degree and got a job with E.F. Hutton on Wall Street. At lunch time, I did auditions and peddled my picture and resume."

He eventually landed a spot in the chorus of the Light Opera of Manhattan.

"I did that at night and worked on Wall Street during the day. I did that for about one and a half years. Then I got a role that I needed to be available Thursday and Friday."

That prompted him to quit his Wall Street for a "$35 a week job as an actor. I never looked back, and my parents cried," he said chuckling, noting he was about 25 when he made the giant leap into acting.

Since then, his career has flourished. In 1991, he received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Brilliant Ensemble Performance in the Kander and Ebb revue "And The World Goes 'Round."

Other Off-Broadway roles followed including "Gigi," "The Rothschilds" and "Senor Discretion."

In 1993 after his record-setting nine-month run in the New York premiere of the Maury Yeston/Arthur Kopit "Phantom" at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, he made his Broadway debut as Javert in "Les Miserables."

The accolades continued in 1997 when he was nominated for a Tony Award for his Broadway/tour portrayal of the mad scientist and his alter ego in "Jekyll and Hyde." That role also netted him a Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Award and the Joseph Jefferson Award.

Other roles include his two CLO performances as well as "A Little Night Music."

Although he doesn't "jump that far ahead," Cuccioli said there are a couple roles he'd like to tackle - Don Quixote and Sweeney Todd.