Jim Alberti began his career as an entertainer when he was in high school, touring his magic show with the USO-mainly in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia and also performing at Walter Reed Hospital. After high school, as part of his Army service, he performed his magic shows for children at children's homes and other venues.

Continuing to perform, he earned his BA as a generalist in Drama, Art, History, and English and his MFA in Design and Theater History. Soon thereafter, he began a career in theater-working both on and off Broadway. In 1970, he married Barbara Virgo and added teaching/guest artist work at several college theater programs. Then, he became a full-time faculty member of Federal City College during their transition into the University of the District of Columbia, and in 1980, he went to the NC School of the Arts (now University of North Carolina School of the Arts) where he taught for eight years.

In 1988, he designed and built his own version of the Alberti Flea Circus based on the one his grandfather had toured in the 1920's through the early 1940's, and that summer he and his newly adopted 7-year-old son, Darryl, took the Alberti Flea Circus to libraries across NC, in a program called "Get a Jump into Reading". From that time on, he has returned to full time performing.

The Flea Circus has been a great success, playing at fairs and festivals across the United States and Canada. CNN and CBS have done features on Alberti and his fleas, and he has received front-page coverage in countless local newspapers. Alex Trebek has even used the Alberti Flea Circus on Jeopardy. That popular notice has been gratifying, but perhaps even more gratifying has been the expansion of venues into historic sites and museums-children's museums, science museums, and then both art and cultural museums, and finally enjoying his sixth year of performing for the National Council for the Traditional Arts (for letters of recommendation, click here).

Over time, Alberti added the street organ and a Punch and Judy show to his repertoire. Both of these shows, like the flea circus, have a long history as popular entertainment and continue to delight all who see them. You can find more information about these shows at www.albertifleacirucs.com. He also developed a variety of children's programs that he has performed at libraries in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia (for letters of recommendation, click here) and educational shows for 3-6 year olds that he has performed at many child-care centers through a grant with the Forsyth County Smart Start Enrichment Center (for letters of recommendation, click here).

All of Alberti's programs call for a lot of audience participation, which adds surprise and enthusiasm and a sense of satisfaction at having participated in the program's success. Alberti believes that people need to have a good time together in an environment that is different than school, church, or just being at the mall. By adding the audiences' participation, Alberti's programs become both unique and personal as well as a place where families can come together to have a great deal of fun.