Steinway Performing Arts, Bonita Spring In cooperation with South West Florida Italian 0pera Society And Bellini Opera Theatre

Presents: A Tribute to Kathryn Grayson and Mario Lanza

1. Lara, Granda -Dino Valle 2. Kern, Bill Showboat-Beth Wininger 3. WunderbarKiss me Kate - Beth Wininger and Dino Valle 4. V. Herbert, Thine Alone- Beth Wininger 5. Donizetti, Una Furtiva Lacrima Dino Valle 6. Kern, Make BelieveShowboat- Beth Wininger and Dino Valle 7. Love is Where you Find ItKissing Bandit- Beth Wininger 8. Herbert, Lover Come BackNew Moon- Dino Valle 9. So In Love– Kiss Me Kate- Beth Wininger and Dino Valle 10. Brodszky, Be My Love - Beth Wininger and Dino Valle– Toast of New Orleans PROGRAM

Kathryn Grayson (February 9, 1922 – February 17, 2010) was an American actress and operatic soprano singer. She was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her childhood was spent in St. Louis where she studied voice before training with Frances Marshall of the Chicago Civic Opera and later was signed by RCA Red Seal records at the age of 15.

Her opera career was nipped in the bud when she was seen and heard by Louis B. Mayer and was signed by MGM to a contract without even the formality of a screen test. Her unusual combination of looks, singing voice and acting talent brought her official stardom in A major star at MGM Miss Grayson also made films at Warner Brothers and Paramount Studios.

HER Dramatic roles on television were "Playhouse 90" and "General Electric Theater." Miss Grayson was nominated for an Emmy Award for best actress for GE Theater's "Shadow on the Heart." She made her opera debut in 1960 performing "Madame Butterfly," "LaTraviata" and "La Boheme" and in 1983 starred in "Orpheus in the Underworld" for Opera New England.

Miss Grayson scored triumphs in such stage musicals as: "The Merry Widow" for which she was nominated for the Sarah Siddons Award. "Naughty Marietta" "Rosalinda "Show Boat" "Kiss Me Kate "Camelot In 1982 Miss Grayson received rave reviews for her first all dramatic stage performance in Lucille Fletcher's "Night Watch.

Miss Grayson scored triumphs in such stage musicals as: In 1983 a departure as Miss Tweed in "Something's Afoot." From 1988 through 1997 Miss Grayson toured in her one woman show, " An Evening With Kathryn Grayson. " In 1996 and 1997 Miss Grayson appeared with Van Johnson in "Love Letters" with great success. This prompted them to tour in their own production "Red Sox and Roses.

Mario Lanza (January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and 1950s. He began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 15.tenor

After appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in 1947, Lanza signed a seven- year contract with MGM's head, Louis B. Mayer, who saw his performance and was impressed by his singing. Prior to this, Lanza had made only two appearances on an operatic stage, when in 1948 he sang the role of Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly in New Orleans.Hollywood Bowl Louis B. MayerPuccini Madama Butterfly

His movie debut was in That Midnight Kiss, which produced an unlikely hit song in the form of Giuseppe Verdi's operatic aria "Celeste Aida." The following year, in The Toast of New Orleans, his featured popular song "Be My Love" became his first million- selling hit. In 1951, he starred in the role of his tenor idol, Enrico Caruso (1873– 1921), in the biopic, The Great Caruso, which produced another million-seller with "The Loveliest Night of the Year." It was the top-grossing film that year.That Midnight KissGiuseppe VerdiThe Toast of New OrleansThe Great Caruso

The title song of his next film, Because You're Mine, featured his final million-selling hit song. The song went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. After recording the soundtrack for his next film, The Student Prince he walked out on the project after an argument with producer Dore Schary over his behavior on the set. Because You're MineAcademy AwardThe Student PrinceDore Schary

Lanza was known to be "rebellious, tough, and ambitious", and during most of his film career, he suffered from addictions to overeating and alcohol which had a serious effect on his health and his relationships with directors, producers and sometimes other cast members. Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper writes that "his smile, which was as big as his voice, was matched with the habits of a tiger cub, impossible to housebreak." She adds that he was the "last of the great romantic performers".Hedda Hopper

He made three more films before dying of a heart attack at the age of 38. At the time of his death in 1959 he was still "the most famous tenor in the world". Author Eleonora Kimmel concludes that Lanza "blazed like a meteor whose light lasts a brief moment in time."

. Granada.

Bill Kern, Show Boat

Kiss me Kate- Wundabar

Thine Alone V. Herbert

Rose Marie Friml

Make Believe Show Boat

Love is Where you Find It Kathryn GraysonKissing Bandit-

Lover Come Back Herbert, New Moon

Kiss me Kate- So In Love

Be My Love From the Movie The Toast of New Orleans With Kathryn Grayson

This Presentation provided by members of the Bellini Opera Theatre of Michigan Dino Valle, Artistic Director, Giuliano Zuccato, Sculptor of the Bellini Statue Kathy Valle, Technical Assistance Vincenzo Bellini