The world’s longest running phantom is taking off his mask and heading back in time.
Best known for his decade-long portrayal of the lead role in the Tony Award-winning musical, “The Phantom of the Opera,” Franc D’Ambrosio will showcase his newest creation, “I’ll Be Seein’ Youz: A Bronx Boy’s Musical Perspective of World War II,” when he performs for the Golden Belt Community Concert Association at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone. This will be D’Ambrosio’s third performance for the GBCCA.
In his new show, D’Ambrosio sings popular war songs from 1939-1946 and shares colorful stories from his Bronx, Italian family. With piano accompaniment, the show and its leading man will take the audience on a musical and narrative journey through those war years.
This GBCCA event is available to concert association members. Full-time students will be admitted to the concert for a $5 donation at the door by showing their school ID. The auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to his long-running portrayal of the phantom, D’Ambrosio sang the Academy Award-winning theme song, “Speak Softly Love,” as the opera singing son of Al Pacino in “Godfather III.” He has studied under the late Luciano Pavarotti, was snagged by Barry Manilow to play the male lead in the pre-Broadway tour of “Copacabana” and has earned two Grammy Considerations for Best Male Vocalist (1999) and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (2005).
For more information about the Golden Belt Community Concert Association, contact Linda Jerke, 620-793-9440, or visit the GBCCA website, www.goldenbeltcca.org.