Franc D'Ambrosio Master Class June 10th....$25

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:00pm

in Birmingham, Alabama.

June 10, 2006
“The Longest Running Phantom” Franc D'Ambrosio
Summerfest Cabaret Theatre, 2:00-4:00 PM
Cost: $25
Ages: 13 and up
Franc will share his experiences working on Broadway and share important techniques on how to prepare for a role and auditions while providing special one-on-one instruction with participants. Please be prepared with sheet music.
Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:00 PM

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:00pm

Wait, shouldn't this be on the Student Board?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:07pm

Longest running Phantom, my ass!

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:11pm

Lizzie,

He was considered that because he was known for NEVER missing a performance. Maybe you should check that out before you make that statement.

EDIT:

Taken from Franc's official website

Growing up in a family of bakers in the Bronx, New York, the furthest thing from Franc D'Ambrosio's mind was that he would one day star in the now legendary Andrew Lloyd Weber musical The Phantom of the Opera. In fact, Franc not only portrayed the famed masked man, but did so over 2,600 times, never missing a performance. Thus, the title "The World's Longest Running Phantom" was bestowed upon Franc after bringing more than five million theatre-goers to their feet for over six years.
Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:11 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:12pm

That's a real laugh riot, because the first time I saw Phantom, Joseph Dellger was on for him.

And the third time I saw Phantom, Joseph Dellger was on again.

And the fifth time I saw Phantom, I found an understudy slip from the previous performance when Christopher Carl had gone on.

Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:12 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:15pm

Lizzie, you crack me up!!

I always wondered why Franc never performed the role on Broadway.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:15pm

He missed performances, yes...but he performed 2,600 times as the Phantom non stop. I am not sure of any actor or actress who has performed every one of their performances non stop, over 2000 times. Dottie has just informed me that Carol Channing has done so in Hello Dolly.


EDIT: and plus...this thread was to advertise the workshop, not so you can come and say bad things about people. I would like to see you do better Lizzie.
Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:15 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:17pm

I have a feeling Carol Channing has in the role of Dolly.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:20pm

Thanks. Didn't know that. Will edit post now.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:21pm

Who here is a mathematician?

Phantom closed in SF in the first week of January 1999.

Franc had taken over for Davis Gaines in 1994 (?). I first saw the show in August 1995, when Dellger went on for sure. I went again with my aunt and uncles in October 1995 and we all saw Dellger.

Franc missed a LOT of performances shortly before the show closed. Some of my friends saw Christopher Carl as the Phantom in December 1997.

So, is it possible to fit 2,600 performances in that time frame? Between October 1995 and December 1998?

Juuuuuuuust asking.

And hey, you start a thread, you deal with the replies. Who has to obey the OP? Come on now, child. Besides, it's not your fault (or problem) if someone is posting misleading information on their site...

Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:21 PM

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:23pm

Well none of us should have to calculate the number of performances in a period of time versus using the actor's official website just to post on here. I mean come on.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:26pm

Lizzie, now i feel bad because it says that Franc played Sweeney in Sweeney Todd on Broadway. Which doesn't make sense, because on IBDB it reads that he was a standby for Pirelli, Tobias, and Anthony. Hmmm.

Taken from his website:

Agents and auditions soon became a way of life for Franc- and led to the role of Sweeney Todd on Broadway.

Okay Lizzie you are right, Franc is stretching the truth on his Bio. Sorry for being rude.


But I just did the math about Phantom

He was in the SF production for five years:
8 performances a week X 52 (weeks in a year) X 5 (years he performed)= 2080 performances

Then he spend one and half years on the road with Phantom:

8 performances a week X 130 (one and a half years in weeks) = 624

2704 performances....if my math is right.

His Biography is right, because that gives him some missed performances.
Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:26 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:29pm

Remember there was a Sweeney revival in the 90s (Circle in the Square).

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:33pm

Yeah...but he said that he played the role of Sweeney...he was a standby for Tobias, Pirelli, and Anthony.

EDIT: I did the math on that previous post for Phantom
Updated On: 5/31/06 at 05:33 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:35pm

You never know, he could have. Stranger things have happened (like both the lead and understudy being out). You just have to play a role one time in order to get the credit.