D'Ambrosio singing auditions set for tonight

MERCED -- The audition for Broadway performer Franc D'Ambrosio's weekend show is scheduled to happen today at the Merced Theatre.

The audition, "A Call for Christine and Raoul Master Class," is scheduled to start promptly at 4 p.m. today at the theater. Sign ups start at 3 p.m. and there's no cost to audition, according to a press release.

All high school, college and adult singers are encouraged to audition.

Applicants should be prepared to sing "All I Ask of You" and a song in a similar Broadway style, from shows such as "West Side Story," "The King and I" or "Oklahoma."

Five finalists, male and female, will each receive two tickets to D'Ambrosio's performance Saturday, and the winners will perform the parts of Christine and Raoul in the stage production's song, "All I Ask of You" on Saturday.

The program, called "Franc D'Ambrosio's Broadway -- The Songs of the Great White Way," will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 7 p.m.

D'Ambrosio is a veteran of more 2,600 performances as "The Phantom of the Opera."

Tickets range in price from $25 to $45 and can be purchased at the Merced Theatre box office, www.mercedtheatre.org or by calling (209) 381-0500.

Franc D'Ambrosio is best known as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winning musical, "The Phantom of the Opera."

Affectionately known as "The Iron Man of The Mask," he was awarded the distinction as the "World's Longest Running Phantom."

His résumé includes an Academy Award-nominated film, an Emmy Award nominated television show, four-time Tony nominated Broadway shows, two Grammy considerations and a National Theatre Award nomination.