'Man Of The Mask' Franc D'Ambrosio Coming To Area For LCCA Series Nov. 14
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Staff Report-
WINONA LAKE – Franc D’Ambrosio – known as the “Iron Man of the Mask” – will bring his program “Franc D’Ambrosio’s Broadway: Songs of the Great White Way” to Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake, as part of the Lakeland Community Concert Association series at 7 p.m. Nov. 14. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling Grant Magner at 574-453-2177. Former Warsaw resident Laurel Eppich Canan, president of the talent agency representing D’Ambrosio, is excited to bring this world-renown Broadway artist to Winona Lake for this concert, according to a press release from LCCA. While touring the country, D’Ambrosio makes himself available to local school outreach programs across the U.S. and Europe. He offers both lecture and master class formats. While in the Winona Lake area, D’Ambrosio will conduct vocal master classes at Warsaw Community High School Nov. 13. D’Ambrosio is best known as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” He was awarded the distinction as the “World’s Longest Running Phantom,” according to the press release. This accomplishment was immortalized in a cemented hand ceremony and he retained this title for a decade. D’Ambrosio is a frequent guest artist with many major American orchestras and symphonies. With the success of his national and international tours, D’Ambrosio has joined the ranks of the famed Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman as only a handful of “Phantom” alumni to successfully crossover to solo careers, according to the press release. He has been continuously touring for 11 years. D’Ambrosio’s resume also includes an Academy Award nominated film, an Emmy Award nominated television show, four-time Tony nominated Broadway show, two Grammy considerations and a National Theatre Award nomination. Early in his career, Paramount Pictures talent scouts discovered D’Ambrosio in the chorus of his first Broadway show. This ended a two-year international search for the perfect Anthony Corleone. Francis Ford Coppola immediately cast D’Ambrosio as the opera-singing son of Al Pacino in Coppola’s seven-time Academy Award-nominated film “Godfather III.” D’Ambrosio sung the Academy Award-winning theme song “Speak Softly Love” both in the film and on the original motion picture soundtrack. D’Ambrosio’s performances of the theme song have garnered over 1 million hits on YouTube. D’Ambrosio’s performance so impressed the late Luciano Pavarotti that it led to an invitation – which was quickly accepted – for him to study with the legendary tenor for the summer at his home in Italy, the release states. After his run as “The Phantom of the Opera,” D’Ambrosio caught the eye of Barry Manilow, who personally selected him to create and star as the male lead, “Tony,” in the pre-Broadway tour of “Copacabana.” The show enjoyed a successful year-long tour. The performance earned D’Ambrosio his National Theatre Award nomination for Best Male Performer in a Musical. D’Ambrosio currently tours extensively throughout the United States, Europe and South America with his one-man shows.
