THE MUSICAL
“Best Musical of the Festival” –Orlando Freeline Media, 2022
By: Elizabeth Allen Turner
About
The Show
“We must tell the story of our ancestors and of their contributions to society, who have made us who we are today!”
An original family-friendly show, giving a slice of life inside the 1940's Italian-American immigrant experience. This uniquely crafted musical by Elizabeth Allen Turner, whose great-grandparents arrived at Ellis Island from Gambettola, Italy,is great fun and inspirational to those who find themselves in the situation of starting over in life.
Ciao Bambino is the story of a courageous Italian woman who moves to New York City in 1945 seeking a new life. It is an Italian-American story of overcoming heartbreak and language/social barriers in New York during the 1940s. New to the country, Elizabetta navigates the delicate balance of trying to fit into “American” society while also staying true to her “Italian” traditions. By pursuing love and music, she discovers passion and joy where she least expected it.
This cultural theatre experience is filled with passion, determination, love, and laughter for the entire family.
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MUSIC
Top three songs voted by our audiences!
The Ciao Bambino Family!
Elizabeth Allen Turner
Book, Music, & Lyrics
A Soprano originally from Portsmouth, New Hampshire (The Italian North End of the Seacoast) is an accomplished performer who has captivated audiences across the globe. Trained in classical, jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary styles. Elizabeth’s warm voice, playful attitude, and vibrant inner beauty come alive on the stage, on screen, and in the studio.
Elizabeth earned her degrees in Vocal Performance from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (B.M.) and in Contemporary Performance and Production from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain (M.M.). Most recently, Elizabeth completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation (Ed.D.) at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, where she serves as the Director of Vocal Arts and resides with her Swiss Husband, composer and pianist Andreas Häberlin. In her spare time, she enjoys cantoring for masses at the Chapel of St. Anthony. Elizabeth has previously worked for Concord Music Publishing in NYC as Licensing Coordinator for Boosey & Hawkes (Live Performance, Radio, TV/Film).
She is also known for performing and originating the role of Elizabetta in Ciao Bambino. Favorite past performances include: Disney Live! (Int. tour), Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Ogunquit Playhouse, RWS, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Texas Family Musicals, Amore Opera, NY Lyric Opera, Opera Viva, and Regina Opera. She has served as Director and Musical Director with the Queens Theatre, Brooklyn Arts Council, 92Y, Long Lake Camp for the Arts, TADA! Youth Theatre, Mainstages, and Inside Broadway.
Tante Grazie to everyone who has helped bring Ciao Bambino to life, especially to husband Andreas Häberlin, for bringing a happy ending to this musical! “She said yes!”
Vincent Pelligrino
Director and additional writer
Vincent Pelligrino is the Assistant Professor of Theatre at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City Florida, specializing in Acting, Musical Theatre, and Directing. Originally from Michigan, he holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from West Virginia University. Regional acting credits include Greenbrier Valley Theatre (Chicago), Meadowbrook Theatre (A Christmas Carol), RWS Entertainment (Holly Jolly Trolley), Broward Stage Door Theatre (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Producers) and Carnival Cruise Line (singer/dancer). In 2018, Vincent directed the NYC premiere of the original Italian-American musical Ciao Bambino as well as the concert version at Opera America in 2019. Vincent has also made contributions to the book of the show. As an educator he has worked with Marquis Theatre (Northville, MI), Queens Theatre (Queens, NY) and Broward College (Fort Lauderdale, FL). Vincent also works frequently with Emerald Coast Theatre as an actor (First Date, A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play) and as a director, music director and choreographer (Popcorn Falls, Florida Girls, Rainbow Fish, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Xanadu). Ciao Bambino is a passion project because of his own Italian-American heritage and love musicals that exude joy.
Andreas Häberlin
Orchestrator & Arranger
A native of Berlingen, Switzerland, Andreas spent his youth playing the organ in church by the countryside of Lake Constance. Mr. Häberlin obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Composition and Music Theory from the Zurich University of the Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and a Master of Music in Scoring for Film, Television and Video Games from the Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. Currently, he is staff accompanist at St. Thomas University in Miami, FL and adjunct music faculty at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
As an accomplished Jazz pianist and pit orchestra musician, past performances include the Courtyard Hereford, Liverpool Empire, and Unity theatre in the UK, and the Schauspielhaus Zürich. A former ballet accompanist for the LIPA dance department, and the Cobble Hill School of Ballet. He is the 2016 composer award recipient of the Swiss Förderbeitrag of the Kulturamt Thurgau. Mr. Häberlin is endorsed by Waves Audio, has released music software content with AIR Music Technology, and is a published composer with Molenaar Edition. He has provided musical arrangements, transcriptions, and engraving for the recent albums and performances of David Foster, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé, Harry Belafonte, Colbie Caillat, Snarky Puppy, Royal New Zealand Ballet, and the American Ballet Theatre.
Lucy Murray
Marketing Coordinator & additional writer
With a background in marketing and accounting, Lucy is a volunteer who is helping to promote the production of Ciao Bambino. Lucy saw the staged reading of Ciao Bambino at the Florida Festival of New Musicals and instantly fell in love with the storyline and music!
Originally from Massachusetts, Lucy obtained a Masters of Science in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She later moved to Colorado where she completed a Masters in Taxation at the University of Denver and became a CPA. Throughout her career, she has worked as a consultant in marketing research, accounting and employee benefits firms. Lucy is now retired, living in Florida where she tutors math and enjoys participating in the arts and culture community.
Past Events
Ciao Bambino at Gulf Coast State College
Location:
AMELIA CENTER THEATRE
5230 W Highway 98
Panama City, FL 32401, USA
Performances were held over two weekends in 2023 on:
Friday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m.
Friday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m.
Our wonderful cast, crew, and director!
Donations
What better way to support our show than through our "Fun Pasta" fundraising campaign? Pasta for you and proceeds help us bring another production to a theater near you! Beautiful gifts and meals for the holidays. Grazie mille.
