Many of us were heartbroken over the cancellation of the annual Romanza Festivale. Every year, Romanza has brought the arts of the city to life with free concerts and performances and events that celebrate the vibrancy of the arts community in St. Augustine. The Festivale had originally been scheduled for 17 days from May 1 to May 17, but all in-person events had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency. But even though we won’t get to sit in an audience this year, you can still experience the Festivale virtually! You can enjoy all of the talented participants in Romanza’s free “Home Stream” Festivale.
The livestream events will take place the weekend of May 15-17. Simply go to www.RomanzaFestivale.com when the portal is open, to see the free streaming video. The first show, “Shell Shock”, will begin Friday May 15 at 7:30pm. The schedule of times for the two dozen or so other shows, and their sequence, is still evolving at this time, but it will be listed soon on the Romanza Festivale website with the video portal. On Saturday, May 16 starting at 10am, they’ll be streaming all day and overnight on the website – more than two dozen concerts, plays, dance showcases, poetry readings, and more. Streaming on Sunday, May 17 will also begin at 10am then continue all day and overnight with seven of the Celtic bands from Romanza’s Celtic Music & Heritage Festival.
ROMANZA PERFORMERS
* indicates St. Augustine-based performers
| “SHELL SHOCK”
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Award-winning play from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, written and performed by Tim Marriott, TV star from the UK, with comments by Mr. Marriott and Fen Marriott, licensed therapist
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| A Classic Theatre *
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Monologue by Harolyn Sharpe
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| Florida Storytelling Troupe* |
Kathy Kniery, Margaret Kaler and Guy Fussell
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| Ancient City Poets *
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Chris Bodor with Kimmy Van Kooten and Robert Waldner. Music by Sam Pacetti
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| Dancers from Kaleidoscope* |
Including SJCCA Dance Collective – Kaila Schippani, Director; Rhythm Theory Tap Ensembl, Blue Lotus Bellydancers, Matanzas Tap
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| Honey Burton * |
Tango dancer extraordinaire
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| Astralis Chamber Ensemble * |
Peter Pan Fantasy by Rubtsov. Flute, trumpet, piano ensemble presenting 3 major works: Trio Sonata by Stephenson; Concertina by Dorft |
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| Deux Saisons * |
Keri Lee Pierson and Christopher Schoelen – soprano and classical guitar performing Spanish and American music
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| First Coast Opera *
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Highlights from their past seasons
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| Island Duet *
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Caren Umbarger and Paul Umbarger Violin and guitar – performing their own compositions |
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| Mama Blue *
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Full hour of Mama Blue’s incredible song stylings
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| North Florida Women’s Chorale * |
Kerry Fradley, director. half of concert presented in December
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| RareSong *
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First Coast Renaissance Ensemble Early music ensemble of recorders, percussion, cello and voices |
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| Ray McDonald*
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Organ demonstration of the Aeolian Skinner instrument in Memorial Presbyterian Church Recital and demonstration of organ construction |
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| Sam Pacetti *
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Guitarist celebrating St. Augustine in words and music with his special brand of storytelling through music
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| Sposi Cantanti – 3 married couples * |
Full hour of incredible vocals – solos and duets. Including operatic arias as well as songs from Musical Theater. Arranged by Lisa Lockhart |
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| Sposi Cantanti – Leila Warren * |
5th grade violinist presenting her music along with Sposi Cantanti
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| St. Augustine Community Chorus *
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Highlights from their last 3 concerts – MIke Sanflippo, conductor With St. Augustine Youth Chorus: Kerry Fradley, conductor
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| Albannach
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Celtic Band, Scotland
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| Emish
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Celtic Band, New York
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| Jamison
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Celtic Band, Philadelphia
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| Seven Nations
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Celtic Band, California, Toronto, & Florida
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| Steel City Rovers
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Celtic Band, Hamilton Ontario
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SATURDAY SCHEDULE
ACT 1: Begins 10am
- St. Augustine Community Chorus, Mike Sanflippo, director and St. Augustine Youth Chorus, Kerry Fradley, director
- SJCCA Dance Collective, St. Augustine HS – Kaila Schippani
- Astralis Chamber Ensemble: (flute, trumpet, piano) Trios by Rubtsov and Stephenson
ACT 2: Begins 11:20am
- RareSong Early Music Ensemble
- Island Duet – Caren and Paul Umbarger
- SJCCA Dance Collective, St. Augustine High School – Kaila Schippani
“If I Had a Boat”; “Fight Club” - David Fussell – Florida Storytelling Troupe,
“Cousins Visit St. Augustine, 1892”
ACT 3: Begins 12:35pm
- St. Augustine Concert Band
- Margaret Kaler, Florida Storytelling Troupe
“Tourist Trap” - Blue Lotus World Dance – Sword Dance with Gina Marie and Sandra
- Matanzas Tap – Judy Woodruff
“Blues in the Night” - Ray McDonald – Music Director at Memorial Presbyterian Church
Demonstration on the Aeolian Skinner Organ
ACT 4: Begins 1:45pm
- First Coast Opera Highlights taken from: “Bernstein’s Broadway”; “Mario Lanza – Hollywood Tenor”; “Opera’s Most Haunting Melodies”
- Ancient City Poets featuring Chris Bodor, Kimmy Van Kooten, Robert Waldner with Sam Pacetti on guitar
- David Fussell, Florida Storytelling Troupe
“Country Love” - North Florida Women’s Chorale in concert: Kerry Fradley, Director
ACT 5: Begins 3:10pm
- Rhythm Theory Tap Ensemble – Jenn Vermes
- Deux Saisons – Keri Lee Pierson, soprano and Christopher Schoelen, guitar concert of Spanish and American songs
- Margaret Kaler – Florida Storytelling Troupe
“Sea Witch” - Astralis Chamber Ensemble – “Concertino” – Dorff
ACT 6: Begins 4:20pm
- Honey Burton – tango artist
- Kathy Kniery – Florida Storytelling Troupe
“The Trial of the Pine Tree Stump” and “The Legend of the Moss” - Sposi Cantanti – headliner – the Singing Spouses with Leila Warren, violin
Lisa Lockhart, Dirk Gavin McCoy, Shannon Kessler-Dooley, John Dooley, Olga Perez Flora, and James Flora. - A Classic Theatre – Harolyn Sharpe – monologue – with Dennis Fermin, guitar
ACT 7: Begins at 6pm
- Sam Pacetti
- Dennis Fermin
- Mama Blue
The show will loop beginning at 10pm.
Participating groups or solo performers will receive a $200 stipend from Romanza for their performance and will also receive 100% of any donations (which are tax-deductible) made online during their performance. In response to hardships created by event cancellations and venue closures related to the Coronavirus, Romanza intends this arrangement to help sustain the viability and vibrancy of St. Augustine’s arts community into a healthy recovery when the crisis is past.
Romanza believes in supporting the arts and our local artists. Romanza Festivale has been able to operate at a level of increasing support to our community artists and musicians by paying for performances, stipends, sponsorships, awards, scholarships, and significant promotion.
For more information and to access the streaming portal, visit www.romanzafestivale.com.
