Franc D’Ambrosio

A graduate of the Patchogue-Medford Class of 1981, Franc D’Ambrosio became known as The Iron Man of The Mask” by virtue of his run as the “World’s Longest-Running Phantom” in the sensational Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera. D’Ambrosio’s resume also includes an Academy Award Nominated film, an Emmy Award Nominated television show, a four-time Tony nominated Broadway show, two Grammy nominations, a National Theatre Award Nomination and even a knighthood granted by the president of Italy.

Not very long after Franc regulartly brought down the house during many unforgettable Pat- Med student productions inside this very auditorium, Paramount Pictures sent five talent scouts on a two-year international search to find the right young actor to play the opera-singing son of Al Pacino’s character Michael Corleone in the film The Godfother Port L That searh ended when they discovered Franc, who not only played young Anthomy Corieone, but also sang the flm’s Oscar-winning theme song “Speak Softly Love.” His performance led the gret tenor Luciano Pavarotti to invite Franc to study at his home in Italy.

Next came Frand’s run of more than 2,000 performances as “The Phantom,” which led the great Bary Manilow to select him to star in Manilow’s musical Copocabana. Franc has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe and South America and has guest-stared on many network television specials

Franc is also vividly devoted to giving back by involving himself deeply in teaching his craft to young prospective artists. In addition to spending summers teaching in Italy, Franc also teaches at American University in Washington D.C the New Conservatory Theater in San Franciscn the American Academy Of Dramatic Arts in New York.