Franc D’Ambrosio is coming back to to the Grainger Hill Performing Arts Center.
His famed “Christmas in New York” show is planned at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at GHPAC, 300 Park Ave., Kinston.
Best known for his impressive portrayal of the “Phantom” in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award winning musical, “Phantom of the Opera,” he received the distinction as the “Worlds Longest Running Phantom.” He retained this title for more than a decade.
His impressive resume also 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 Theater Award Nomination.
D’Ambrosio wowed area audiences last March, when he performed the finale of GHPAC’s 2013-14 Performing Arts Series.
His upcoming show will include such holiday favorites as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” Holly Jolly Christmas,” Happy Holidays,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” “My Favorite Things,” “White Christmas” and selections from “The Nutcracker,” including a piano solo.
Also, “Winter Wonderland,” “Sleigh Ride,” favorite Christmas Carols, including “O Holy Night,” “Jingle Bells, “Silver Bells,” “Speak Softly Love,” from “The Godfather” and at least one “Phantom” selection.
Children’s favorites will include “Let It Snow,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” and many more.
Early in his career, Paramount Pictures sent five talent scouts on a two-year international search that ended when they discovered D’Ambrosio in the chorus of his first Broadway show. Francis Ford Coppola immediately cast him as Anthony Corleone, the opera singing son of Al Pacino and Diane Keaton in Coppola’s seven time Academy Award nominated film “Godfather III.”
D’Ambrosio starred in the film and sang the Academy Award winning theme song, “Speak Softly Love” (Brucia la Terra) – 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 for him to study with the legendary tenor at his home in Italy.
In August 2007, D’Ambrosio reconnected with some of the “Godfather III” alumni at a special screening of the film by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of their film series “Great To Be Nominated.”
In early 2000, Barry Manilow personally selected him to create and star as the male lead, “Tony,” in the pre-Broadway tour of “Copacabana,” earning D’Ambrosio a National Theater 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: “Franc D’Ambrosio’s “Broadway – Songs of The Great White Way” and “Franc D’Ambrosio’s “Hollywood – Songs of The Silver Screen.”
D’Ambrosio also is a frequent guest artist with many major American orchestras and symphonies (Pops Series). With the success of his national and international tours, he 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 Olympic champion Brian Boitano to perform as a special musical guest in the skater’s NBC special “Brian Boitano’s Skating Spectacular.”
He joined Boitano in his next television special, “The 2005 Tribute to Movies on Ice.” 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 evening’s only standing ovation.
In 2008, while continuously touring with his popular one man shows, D’Ambrosio co-starred with Dorothy Hamill in the critically acclaimed “Broadway On Ice.” He rounded out the year singing with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra.
In 2009, he debuted a new show: “I’ll Be Seein’ YOUZ … A Bronx Boys Musical Perspective of World War II.” The show continues in the tradition of stories from D’Ambrosio’s colorful Bronx, Italian family and features popular war songs from 1939-1946. The show previewed in Naples, Fla., in April 2010 and opened to rave reviews at the world famous Rrazz Room (San Francisco) the following August.
He recorded the accompanying CD during a live performance at the Rrazz Room on Jan. 4, 2011.
On Dec. 25, 2010, D’Ambrosio performed his medley, “Shenandoah/They Call the Wind Mariah,” in a NBC special with skating icons Brian Boitano, Evan Lysacek, Nancy Kerrigan, Sasha Cohen, Peggy Fleming, Scott Hamilton and Kristi Yamaguchi.
Tickets are $25 and information is available online at www.ghpac.com, or by calling call Barbara Smith, 252-521-4513, or Alison Merritt, 252-560-8515. They also are available at the door the night of the concert. Doors open at 6 p.m.