Billiards and Broadway come together for Hurricane Relief
It's not very often that the disparate worlds of Billiards, Musical Theater, and disaster relief come together, but that was exactly what happened last December 16 in the Long Island, New York home of Dr. Louis Pannullo.
Jeremy Stolle and Elizabeth Welch, performers in the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera, joined renowned pianist Philip Edward Fisher for a benefit concert to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy relief.
The event was a brainchild of Pannullo, a dentist who has sponsored the World Straight Pool Championship with the help of Dragon Promotions' Charlie Williams. Dragon Promotions is responsible for bringing the Womens' World 10 Ball Championship to the Philippines as well as a host of other Pool events.
With Williams' help Billiards heavyweights like OB Cues and Championship Cloth came in to help make the concert a reality.
"We are thrilled to be a part of such a cool event. We know it's not everyday a cue company gets an opportunity to be a part of a noble cause and, at the same time, a musical spectacle!", said Shane Sinnott, Sales & Marketing Manager for OB Cues.
"Championship Cloth is very happy to participate in this relief cause for Hurricane Sandy. It's a great idea and we are very honored to be a part of it", said Fred Cohen, President of Championship Brands, LLC.
Pannullo is an avid Pool enthusiast who, like many New Yorkers, was affected by the hurricane that slammed into the Eastern seaboard in November.
Power was cut in his home but he continued seeing patients in his office during the crisis with the help of a generator.
The leading lights of the American Pool scene regularly see Pannullo for their teeth, namely Jeanette Lee, Thorsten Hohmann, Allison Fisher, and Williams.
Pannullo actually met Fisher the pianist through Hohmann, who made his acquaintance in a Pool tournament. Apparently Fisher is an avid Pool player.
In a span of a few weeks the concert was arranged and on the 16th 70 generous souls crammed themselves into Panullo's living room for a truly special night.
The trio of stars served up popular hits from My Fair Lady, Les Miserables, Wicked, Sound Of Music, Beauty and the Beast, and of course, Phantom of the Opera as the finale.
A San Francisco native, Stolle, a Baritone, has played Raoul and the Phantom for the Broadway production of Phantom of The Opera, the longest-running show in Broadway history.
Another rising star in Musical Theater, Welch plays Christine in the New York cast of Phantom but the soprano has also performed as Cosette in Les Miserables and Belle in Beauty and the Beast.
US$12,000 was raised for those affected by the storm. The money was donated to the Salvation Army.
But more importantly, everyone was treated to an unforgettable night of music.
"I am truly grateful for the generosity of these three individuals, Philip Edward Fisher, Jeremy Stolle and Elizabeth Welch. As the night passed it felt surreal to be in the presence of such great talent ; the energy in the room was palpable.”
Pannullo was more than just a host. A pianist himself, he also performed alongside the stars.
“Accompanying them through many of the pieces was a once in a lifetime experience and comparable to my high run of 46 against John Schmidt in the 2011 World 14.1 Championships. I'm not a professional musician nor a professional pool player, but for certain, one day I'll have a few great stories to tell my grandchildren. There are interesting similarities between top professional pool players and world class musical stars. Both have a quality that is hard to describe, but when they perform, it's magical!" he said.
Of course the night would not be complete without some Pool in Dr. Pannullo's home table.
Stolle shows his Pool prowess in this clip.
Fisher also received an impromptu pool coaching from one of the world's top player/coaches and promoters, Charlie Williams.
"Last Sunday was unbelievable. To have the privilege of taking part in a fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy alongside Broadway stars Jeremy Stolle and Elizabeth Welch, and also get some great coaching. It really does not get much better than that!"
Fisher, an Englishman, studied at the famed Julliard School of Arts as a classical pianist. Fisher tours year around and performs around the world from Italy, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Kenya, Zimbabwe, the Ukraine, and United States.
"The evening went so well and the people who attended were so lovely. In Phantom of the Opera we perform in front of 1600 people nightly, so the charity event was so much more intimate. It was so enjoyable to see the faces of the audience up close and so engaged in the show. And all for a terrific cause. I would absolutely do it again", said Elizabeth Welch.
Needless to say, the evening was a break-and-run out for Hurricane victims.
You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333. Follow Dragon Promotions on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/dragonpromotionsnews?ref=ts&fref=ts
