Dr. Gary W. Swenson & Dean A. Genth proudly present Franc D’Ambrosio’s Broadway as it takes the stage at the North Iowa Community Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011, as part of the 2010-2011 Performing Arts and Leadership Series. “The Music of the Night” will fill the air during this performance. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
On Thursday, April 7, D’Ambrosio will conduct a master class with the Mason City High School Concert Choir. During the public performance on Friday, April 8, the Mason City High School Concert Choir will join D’Ambrosio in performing songs from Phantom of the Opera.
Affectionately known as “The Iron Man of The Mask”, D’Ambrosio was awarded the distinction as the “Worlds Longest Running Phantom.” This accomplishment was immortalized in a cemented hand ceremony and D’Ambrosio retained this title for over a decade.
D’Ambrosio’s resume includes an Academy Award nominated film, an Emmy Award nominated television show, a four-time Tony nominated Broadway show, two Grammy considerations, and a National Theatre Award Nomination.
Early in D’Ambrosio’s career, talent scouts from Paramount Pictures discovered D’Ambrosio in the chorus of his first Broadway show. Francis Ford Coppola immediately cast D’Ambrosio as Anthony Corleone, the opera singing son of Al Pacino in Coppola’s seven-time Academy Award nominated film Godfather III.
D’Ambrosio not only had the honor of starring in the film, he also sang the Academy Award winning theme song, “Speak Softly Love,” both in the film and on the original motion picture soundtrack. This performance of the award winning song so impressed the late Luciano Pavarotti that it led to an invitation – which was quickly accepted – for D’Ambrosio to study for a summer with the legendary tenor at his home in Italy.
So began the varied and noteworthy career of Franc D’Ambrosio. After his impressive run as The Phantom of the Opera, D’Ambrosio caught the eye of Barry Manilow. Manilow 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. His performance earned D’Ambrosio his National Theatre Award nomination for Best Male Performer in a Musical.
D’Ambrosio has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe and South America with his critically acclaimed one-man shows that include: Franc D’ambrosio’s Broadway – Songs of The Great White Way and Franc D’ambrosio’s Hollywood – Songs of The Silver Screen.
D’Ambrosio is also 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 crossing over to successful solo careers.
Recognized for his vibrant voice and legato singing, D’Ambrosio was invited by the Olympic Champion Brian Boitano to perform as a special musical guest in the skater’s NBC special, Brian Boitano’s Skating Spectacular. The TV special starred D’Ambrosio and American Idol runner-up Diana De Garmo. D’Ambrosio also joined Boitano in his next TV special, The 2005 Tribute to Movies on Ice, where he starred as special musical guest with Michael Bolton and American Idol Kimberly Locke. Franc’s performance of “Music of the Night”, skated to by Boitano, received the only standing ovation during that program.
While continuously touring with his popular one-man shows, D’Ambrosio found time in 2008 to co-star with Dorothy Hamill in the critically acclaimed Broadway On Ice, produced by Bietak Productions, Inc. D’Ambrosio rounded out the busy year by starring with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra in a spectacular New Years Eve performance.
For tickets to Franc D’Ambrosio’s Broadway, call the NIACC Box Office at 1-888-466-4222, extension 4188. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.niacc.edu. For more information about this show, you can visit www.francdambrosio.com to learn more.
Platinum sponsors for the 2010-2011 series include NIACC, Globe Gazette Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Fund; the Globe Gazette; Alliant Energy; Henkel Construction; Kraft Foods; Mason City Clinic; Winnebago Industries Foundation; and Principal Financial Group. Gold sponsors include Dr. Dave and Cathy Beck; Community National Bank; Diamond Jo Casino; First Citizens National Bank; First State Bank of Belmond; Mercy Medical Center ñ North Iowa; Martin, Cooney, MacNider & Cooney, Financial Consultants of Raymond James and Associates, Inc.; Sukup Manufacturing; Dr. Gary W. Swenson & Dean A. Genth; and The Soener Foundation. In-kind sponsors include Country Inns & Suites and KIMT.
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