Press Release

Bellarine Theatre and The Stafford Township Arts Center are pleased to announce their joint production of The Fantasticks, running December 6-8, 2019. "Try To Remember" a time when this romantic charmer wasn't enchanting audiences around the world. The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world and with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time.

The Fantasticks is a funny and romantic musical about a boy (Alex Henderson), a girl (Nadia Jewel Vito), and their two fathers (Alex Dubinsky & Anothony Scarpone) who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo (Liam James McGettigan), asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo's words that, "without a hurt, the heart is hollow."

The Fantasticks will run December 6 & 7 at 7PM and December 8 at 3PM at the Stafford Township Arts Center, located at 1000 McKinley Avenue in Manahawkin. Tickets are available now, and can also be purchased at the door. For advanced sales, please visit staffordschools.tix.com or call 609-489-8600.

New York City-Michéal Castaldo's 2019 East Coast Christmas Concert Tour helped raise over $41,000 (in ticket sales and sponsorship) for the following churches and organizations located in the U.S.:

November 23, Italian Christmas Concert in Manahawkin at The Stafford Township Arts Center, in Manahawkin, NJ-a fundraiser for Stafford Township Members of the The Police Unity Tour Chapter 10-was presented by Majestic Castle Music Productions and A Tour of Italy of Smithville, NJ, and sponsored by Barlow GMC of Manahawkin, NJ, The Towne of Historic Smithville, NJ, The Wireless Experience of Manahawkin, NJ, and Fantasy Island, of Beach Haven, NJ, The Gables LBI, Air Technical Services, Ship Bottom NJ, Chris and Tina Marie Smith, Mike Rank Roofing, Thompson Chiropractic, Sempre Avanti, WBNJ, Hamilton Radio, Home Turf and Maintenance, Denino's Pizzeria, Lori Pepenella, and John Crisafulli.

December 1, Italian Christmas Concert in Buffalo at St. Rose of Lima Church in Buffalo, NY, was sponsored by Centro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo, Villetta Mimma Vittoria, New York City Olive Oil Coop, Italian Tribune, Woodpecker Press, SiriusXM, The Catholic Channel.

December 14, The Spirit of Christmas - A Concert with Michéal Castaldo at New Dorp Moravian Church in Staten Island, was sponsored by Sounds Big, Carter Family, Ambrosino Family, Nurnberger Bierhaus, Yang family, Neri Family, Kay family, Colonel Clean, Holtermann's Bakery, Cake Chef, Valhalla, The Wine Room of the Piazza Brothers and Mimmo's Brick Oven Pizza and Trattoria.

December 20, Italian Christmas Dinner/Concert in Buffalo at Thin Man Brewery-Tappo, was a benefit for Centro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo sponsored by The Termini and Limina Families, Collosano Family, Foss/Renzi Family, Giacobbe Family, Salvatore's Italian Prime, Sinatra's Restaurant, Titos Handmade Vodka, Carol A. Dambmann, Rob, Castiglione, and John A. Vecchio.
Two of the concerts were sellouts, and more than 1100 people attended. The holiday tour concerts benefit the hosting churches and organizations while sharing the spirit of Christmas and the reason for the season with all involved.

Castaldo's holiday concerts fill the hearts of audiences with the spirit of the holidays. Accompanied by the Castaldo String Quartet, he performs classic Advent and Christmas carols from his chart-topping, best-selling album, "Extravergine: Christmas in the Mediterranean" as well as his new "Christmas in Italy" CD.
Castaldo is an award winning, Italian tenor, who sings in the style of Andrea Bocelli. When putting his voice to a particular melodic song, the results are nothing short of wondrous. Castaldo's rich operatic voice, strong but soft, is perfect in pitch and tempo and always on key. Castaldo, who studied music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, has toured North America and Europe, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Rainbow Room, Shea Stadium, Toronto's Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Italy's Teatro F. Cilea and Pescara Opera House. His passionate performances consistently thrill audiences with sweeping romanticism. For more information about Michéal Castaldo, visit www.michealCASTALDO.com.