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Broadway comes to NorthshoreNPAC season opener to feature winners of young vocalist contest

Enterprise staff

Broadway veteran Franc D'Ambrosio brings his tuneful celebration ofthe American musical to the Northshore Performing Arts Center Friday,Oct. 2, for the venue's 2009-2010 season opener.

A highlight of “Franc D'Ambrosio's Broadway” will be a “Phantom ofthe Opera” medley that will include a duet by the two young winnersof NPAC Foundation's “Call for Christine and Raoul” competition.Sixty young vocalists from this area and across the state haveauditioned to sing the parts of Christine and Raoul. On Thursday beforeopening night, six of these vocalists will participate in Mr.D'Ambrosio's master class and compete for the opportunity to sing aduet on stage at Friday's concert. A local panel of performing artsprofessionals will select one young man and one young woman toperform with D'Ambrosio.

Franc D'Ambrosio is best known as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winningmusical “The Phantom of the Opera.” He was awarded the distinction of the “World's Longest RunningPhantom” and nicknamed “The Ironman of the Mask” after he performed the role over 3,000 times.D'Ambrosio also performed the role of Anthony Corleone, the opera singing son of Al Pacino andDiane Keaton, in Francis Ford Coppola's Academy Award nominated film “Godfather III.”

In addition to music from The Phantom, the Franc D'Ambrosio's Broadway concert will include suchenduring favorites as “The Impossible Dream,” “Mack the Knife,” “Speak Softly Love,” and “Give myRegards to Broadway.”

The following pages are a few examples of how the “Call For Christine/Raoul” promotioncan, and will, work for your venue. There are featured articles and

reviews of the competitions/master classes and concerts. Please note the glowing feedback from both presenters and patrons alike.

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‘Phantom’ creeps onto Bothell stage Oct. 2

By TOM CORRIGANBothell Reporter Staff writerOct 02 2009, 11:03 AM · UPDATED

D’Ambrosio set to perform one-man show

Opening the Northshore Performing Art CenterFoundation’s (NPACF) newest season, D’Ambrosio isbringing his one-man show, “Franc D’Ambrosio’sBroadway,” to Bothell at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2.

Having appeared as the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s“Phantom of the Opera” some 3,000 times, FrancD’Ambrosio is best known by the nickname “TheWorld’s Longest Running Phantom.”

Ironically, when first approached about appearing in atouring company of “Phantom” back in 1992,D’Ambrosio initially said he simply wasn’t interested.

During a recent phone interview, D’Ambrosio saidwhen he got that first call regarding “Phantom,” he hadjust come off Broadway with a role in “SweeneyTodd” and was riding high having appeared as theopera-singing son of Al Pacino in the movie“Godfather III.”

For the film, D’Ambrosio also sang the Academy Award-winning theme song, “Speak Softly Love.”

When approached about “Phantom,” D’Ambrosio said he immediately assumed he was being asked totake a co-starring role, perhaps as the love-struck Raoul. Then 29, D’Ambrosio said when the voice onthe other end of the phone informed him he would be playing the lead, he quickly changed his mind andjumped at the opportunity to play the world’s most famous, disfigured, love-obsessed opera singer.

D’Ambrosio first took the stage behind that famous mask on April 15, 1992. His last performance asthe Phantom was in San Francisco in 1999.

“So, basically, ‘Phantom’ took up a decade of my life,” he said.

Incidentally, if you saw the official “Phantom” touring company’s first Seattle appearance in 1992, yousaw D’Ambrosio going through his paces.

Perhaps along with Webber’s “Cats,” “Phantom” is probably the best-known musical in the world.

Since he’s intimately connected and familiar with the play, one obvious question for D’Ambrosio is,what makes “Phantom” so appealing?

“I think it’s a number of things,” he said.

Franc D'Ambrosio holds Ila Faubion's hand— causing the singer to laugh — during the'Phantom of the Opera' star's master classlast night at the Northshore Performing ArtsCenter.

Photo: Andy Nystrom

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BOTHELL-REPORTER Continued

“It’s a very accessible score and I think (Webber) wrote a beautiful score.”

But D’Ambrosio also talked about the show’s costumes, its lights and specialeffects. Still, from his point of view, D’Ambrosio contended the story is the keyto the play’s success.

“Everyone in the audience can connect with someone on the stage,” he said,whether it’s Raoul or Christine, the show’s proverbial star-crossed lovers, oreven the often menacing Phantom, who is beyond passionate for the beautifulChristine. “We all know what it’s like to be in love and we all know what it’slike to lose love,” D’Ambrosio said.

After leaving “Phantom,” D’Ambrosio taught theater for a while in Europe, then eventually took thelead in the American production of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana.”

Here’s a tidbit from his more recent career which D’Ambrosio promised was a Reporter scoop.

For whatever reason, D’Ambrosio has become popular with figure skaters, who use his CDs andsometimes have him sing live during their routines. One fan is Olympic figure Brian Boitano. Boitanohas a new reality show about to debut on Food Network, “What Would Brian Boitano Make?”

As the theme song for the new show, D’Ambrosio sings, in what he called a very operatic style, the verysilly “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” from the movie “Southpark: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.”

D’Ambrosio has performed one-man shows across the country, also mounting “D’Ambrosio’sHollywood” in addition to the Broadway tribute he’ll bring to Bothell.

The show naturally features plenty from “Phantom,” including D’Ambrosio’s favorite song from theshow, the famous, “Music of the Night.” He’ll also do selections from “Les Miserables” and a tributeto George Cohen, among other songs.

For D’Ambrosio’s appearance, the NPACF sponsored a contest, offering local singers a chance to takea master’s class with D’Ambrosio, as well as sing with him as Raoul or Christine during the upcomingshow. D’Ambrosio seemed genuinely pleased with the opportunity, noting the competition attractedsome 60 performers.

According to D’Ambrosio, economic realities and school budget cuts often mean the end of school artsprograms.

“That’s not a good way to go,” he said, arguing such cuts greatly limit the types of arts to whichyoungsters are exposed.

“They don’t even know what it is they don’t know,” D’Ambrosio said.

• “Franc D’Ambrosio’s Broadway” plays at the Northshore Performing Arts Center on the Bothell Highcampus, 18125 92nd Ave. N.E. For tickets or more information, call the NPACF ticket line, noon to4 p.m. Monday-Friday at (425) 408-7988.

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It's go time with D'Ambrosio tonightArticle & Photo’s By ANDY NYSTROMBothell Reporter EditorOct 02 2009, 10:17 PM · UPDATED

And tonight's guest singers are: Ksenia Popova, 20, of Lynnwoodand Ryan Wuflestad, 21, of Woodinville.

During last night's master class at the Northshore Performing ArtsCenter, "Phantom of the Opera" star Franc D'Ambrosio picked thecouple to join him during his performance at 7:30 p.m. tonight at thecenter, 18125 92nd Ave. N.E. Sixty singers ages 13-21 sent in CDs tobe evaluated, D'Ambrosio and several judges whittled the list down tosix (three girls and three boys) to perform during the master class —and then Popova and Wuflestad got the nod for tonight's show.

"It's amazing. I'm shocked and excited — I'm really excited. I'm like,'Yes!' this is gonna be so much fun," Popova said. "It wasn't too nerve-racking ... I don't know, maybe it's just me." (She noted that while thegirls chatted in the restroom before D'Ambrosio made the finalannouncement, they all agreed that any one of them would be the rightchoice.)

Added Wuflestad: "It's wild. There were so many good people, it couldhave been any of us. You weren't lucky (pointing to Popova), but I waslucky to be chosen out of the guys. I'm very blessed."

D'Ambrosio sang with the contestants, critiqued them ("Whatdifferentiates you? I wanna see you put something into it unlikeanyone else"), had them speak lyrics ("Share with us so we knowwhat you're going through") to embed the meaning in their mindsand actions — and shared many jokes with them.

The "Phantom" and Wuflestad had one of the more interesting exchanges. D'Ambrosio told the studentnot to bring single pages of his song choice to the pianist, but to hand them off in booklet form.

"I'm sorry," Wuflestad said.

"Don't be sorry. This is where we learn — it's better to learn here than out there," D'Ambrosio volleyedback. He added later: "I may seem like I'm being harsh, but I want you guys to get the job. I wanna workwith you."

Leslie Foley and Valerie Edmunds of the Northshore Performing Arts Center Foundation said thatwatching the master class was a satisfying, insightful experience. "We've been working on this for so long,and getting the competitors together and to finally actually see them in person and feel the energy in theroom, it was just exciting," Edmunds said. "They all did such a fantastic job — it was a thrill for me."

Added Foley, one of the judges: "Myself, as an actor, I could take into my profession what he was teachingthe singers. It was just wonderful. He really, really taught them how to sell the story of the song." Othermaster-class participants were Brent Byhre of Kenmore, Rachel Lind of Gig Harbor, Ila Faubion of Seattleand Derek Sellers of Seattle.

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Duo shines with 'Phantom' tune

By ANDY NYSTROMBothell Reporter EditorOct 05 2009, 6:13 PM · UPDATED

“Watch out, ‘Phantom’.”

“Phantom of the Opera” star Franc D’Ambrosiocertainly commanded the stage last Friday night with hisBroadway performance at the Northshore PerformingArts Center.

However, Ksenia Popova, 20, of Lynnwood and RyanWuflestad, 21, of Woodinville gave the star a run forhis money during their duet, “All I Ask of You,” from“Phantom.” Sixty singers ages 13-21 sent in CDs to beevaluated, D’Ambrosio and several judges whittled thelist down to six (three girls and three boys) to performduring Thursday night’s master class — and thenPopova and Wuflestad got the nod for the big show as“Christine” and “Raoul.”

Like D’Ambrosio, Popova and Wuflestad signedautographs and posed for pictures after the concert.

“It was awesome. I was a little nervous,” Wuflestad said. “The experience was incredible, I couldn’task for anything else.”

Added Popova: “It was amazing, you (Wuflestad) were wonderful. You were there, you held myhand.

“There’s many more to come,” she noted about her future performances.

Judge Leslie Foley of the Northshore Performing Arts Center Foundation said that watching themaster class —which included Brent Byhre of Kenmore — was a satisfying, insightful experience.“Myself, as an actor, I could take into my profession what he was teaching the singers,” she said. “Itwas just wonderful. He really, really taught them how to sell the story of the song.”

.

Ksenia Popova and Ryan Wuflestad sing theduet 'All I Ask of You' from the 'Phantom ofthe Opera' Friday night during FrancD'Ambrosio's concert at the NorthshorePerforming Arts Center. They were chosen

out of 60 contestants to perform.Photo: Andy Nystrom

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Franc D' Ambrosio Webmail (10/3/09):

From: NANCY AND HANS KASPER

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE FRANC RETURN TO

THE NORTHSHORE PERFORMING ARTS

CENTER IN BOTHELL. WE FEEL

PRIVILEGED TO HAVE SEEN HIS BROADWAY

PERFORMANCES AND WOULD LOOK

Franc D' Ambrosio Webmail (10/3/09):

From: Ginny Binek

MR. D'AMBROSIO,

IT WAS SUCH A THRILL FOR ME TO MEET YOU

AT LAST NITE'S EVENT & FOR YOU TO

AUTOGRAPH MY 1992 PHANTOM PROGRAM

FROM 5TH AVENUE THEATRE IN SEATTLE. MY

EXCITEMENT PREVENTED ME FROM SAYING

WHAT I REALLY WANT YOU TO KNOW: YOUARE THE PHANTOM BY WHICH ALL OTHERS

ARE JUDGED. I'VE SEEN THE SHOW ON EACH

RUN TO SEATTLE, AND NO OTHER PHANTOM

MEASURES UP TO YOUR PERFORMANCE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR WARM RECEPTION. IT

WAS AN EVENING I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE.

OCTOBER 7, 2009

WHAT A GREAT START TO OUR SEASON.PEOPLE ARE STILL COMING UP TO ME AND

SAYING HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED THE

SHOW..THE MASTER VOCAL CLASS THAT

FRANC GAVE WAS SUCH A GIFT TO ALL THE

VOCALISTS. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND

THE SEARCH FOR CHRISTINE AND RAOUL OR

ANY VOCAL CLASS GIVEN BY FRANC

D'AMBROSIO. HE IS SUCH A GIVING

INSTRUCTOR.

JUST THINK A CHANCE MEETING IN THE

HALL AT THE SEATTLE WAA LEAD TO THIS

GREAT SHOW.

ALL THE BEST

LESLIE FOLEY

NORTHSHORE PERFORMING

OCTOBER 7, 2009

I HAD WANTED TO THANK MR. D’AMBROSIO

FOR A TRULY WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE AND

TO COMMEND HIM ON HIS EXTRAORDINARY

SKILLS AS A TEACHER/MENTOR DURING THE

MASTER CLASS HE CONDUCTED ON

THURSDAY EVENING. THE WAY HE BROUGHT

THE YOUNG ASPIRANTS ALONG DURING THE

CLASS WAS A JOY TO BEHOLD. AS A NON

PROFIT COMMUNITY BASED ARTS

ORGANIZATION, WE ARE ALWAYS SEEKING

WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR EDUCATIONAL

&COMMUNITY OUTREACH. MR. D’AMBROSIO’S

PERFORMANCES ON BOTH NIGHTS SETS A FINE

EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO –EDUCATIONAL, INSPIRATIONAL AND CERTAINLY

ENTERTAINING.

SINCERELY,

MICHAEL P. CHALLENGER

BOARD MEMBER

NORTH SHORE PERFORMING ARTS CENTERFOUNDATION

OCTOBER 3, 2009

HI LUREA, THANK YOU FOR FORWARDING

THESE. IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENING.FRANC AND MICHAEL ARE SUCH

TALENTED PERFORMERS AND GRACIOUS

PEOPLE, TOO. THE MASTER CLASS WAS

GREAT, AND WE'VE RECEIVED LOTS OF

GOOD FEEDBACK ALREADY. ADDING

"CHRISTINE AND RAOUL" TO THE SHOW

PROVIDED AN EXCITING COMMUNITY

CONNECTION. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR

HELP.

VALERIE EDMUNDS, MANAGING DIRECTOR

NORTHSHORE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

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The man behind the mask

'Phantom' star to perform at Stanley

By CASSAUNDRA BABER

Observer-Dispatch

Posted Sep 24, 2009 @ 06:00 AM

Growing up, Franc D’Ambrosio found himself surrounded by sugar, flour and baker’s dozens.

If tradition had its way, D’Ambrosio would still be surrounded by bread and pastries, waking early to worklong, grueling hours in the family bakery.

But things didn’t exactly work out that way at all. A love and talent for music led D’Ambrosio to... a longand noteworthy career as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.” It was adream role for this Italian boy from the Bronx, who would go on to perform the part for 10 years...

“It’s a love story,” D’Ambrosio said from the Stanley Center for the Arts during a brief visit to choose twolocal people who would sing the roles of Christine and Raoul during D’Ambrosio’s solo show at 4 p.m.Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Stanley. “And I guess I’m a hopeless romantic; I believe in love. I believe in itspower.”

Believing in love proved only the beginning of connecting with the role of the Phantom 20 years ago.

“When I was first offered the role of the Phantom, I looked up every single word and pored over it. I knewI needed to get to the absolute depth and explore every angle to understand this man,” he said. “I startedobserving people intently – especially men who had physical disabilities.”

There was a man in Paris who had an overgrown skull. He was impeccably dressed. There was a young manwho D’Ambrosio would see on the subway in New York City with a very distracting cockeye. He also wasdressed perfectly. A documentary about men with physical disabilities that showed them as complete sexualbeings proved to be the greatest tool for D’Ambrosio in connecting to the Phantom.

“Despite his hiding from the world, despite this horrible disfigurement, despite it all, he cannot repress hisdesires for Christine,” D’Ambrosio said. “He cannot hide from his love for her.” It’s a complex characterthat D’Ambrosio still is able to connect with during his solo show, “The Phantom Returns Unmasked.”

But, D’Ambrosio isn’t all Phantom. He studied with Luciano Pavarotti and created and starred as the malelead in the pre-Broadway musical, “Copacabana.” He was the opera-singing son of Al Pacino in “TheGodfather III” and is currently creating “I’ll Be Seeing Youz: A Bronx Boy’s Musical Perspective of WorldWar II.”

Sunday’s show will include a wide selection from these shows as well as from “Phantom,” including anumber sung by two local vocalists – Audra Cramer of Sherrill and Scott Rutledge of Lee Center.

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NBC-WKTV News

Channel 2 Utica, New York

Broadway star Franc D'Ambrosio

performs with localsUTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Two local singers had theopportunity to perform with a Broadway star Sunday night atthe Stanley Center for the Arts.

Franc D'Ambrosio, best known as 'The Phantom' from theTony Award-winning Broadway production of 'Phantom of theOpera' selected two local singers to play the roles of Christineand Raul from the musical.

The winners said they were very excited to be performing witha broadway star.

Local singer Scott Rutledge said, "It's a big deal for a lot ofreasons. A chance to work with a seasoned professional, that's the biggestthing. You get to work with someone at the top of the mountain."

Twenty people submitted audition CDs to perform with D'Ambrosio.

FRANC D' AMBROSIO

WEBMAIL (9/27/09):FROM: ANNE LATERZA

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A

MINUTE TO SAY THANK YOU TO

FRANC FOR PUTTING ON ONE

HELL OF A SHOW HERE

TONIGHT AT THE STANLEY

THEATER IN UTICA, NY.WOW!!!

AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR

TAKING THE TIME AFTER THE

SHOW TO SIGN AUTOGRAPS AND

TAKE PICTURES. NOT ONLY FOR

MYSELF, BUT FOR MY MOM

WHO WAS MORE THAN

THRILLED TO MEET THE VOICE

BEHIND THE MASK. THANK

YOU FRANC...YOU HAVE

GAINED A WHOLE NEW

FOLLOWING. PLEASE COME

BACK SOON WITH ONE OF YOUR

OTHER "TOURS".

OCTOBER 5, 2009LUREA: THANK YOU! FRANC

WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL

IN UTICA AND FOLKS THERE ARE

CLAMORING FOR A RETURN

BOW... WHEN YOU SPEAK TO

HIM, PLEASE LET HIM KNOW

HOW VERY MUCH WE

APPRECIATED HIS BEING ON

THE STANLEY STAGE.

A TERRIFIC ARTIST AND A GREAT

CAT, PLEASE SEND HIM MY

WARMEST REGARDS FOR BOTH

THE PERFORMANCE & MASTER

CLASS...

FRANK MALFITANO

STANLEY CENTER FOR THE

ARTS

& SYRACUSE JAZZ FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER 27, 2009

FRANC'S SHOW WENT VERY WELL

(OF COURSE!) YESTERDAY....

WE ARE THINKING OF CREATING A

SUNDAY AFTERNOON SERIES @4PM (OR SO) OF ARTISTS / EVENTS

LIKE THIS, BECAUSE THERE WAS

SUCH A POSITIVE BUZZ FOR FRANC

AND THE SHOW ...

THANK YOU FOR WORKING

WITH US ON THIS EVENT. IT WAS

SPECIAL AND A SHEER JOY TO PUT

TOGETHER AND WORK WITH YOU

AND FRANC.

JOHN FAUST

STANLEY THEATRE MANAGER

THE STANLEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS