ORLANDO – The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, and this year the nearly three-week long festival will feature the largest line-up of shows in its history.
In one of the shows, “Angelina Sings,” Long Island’s own Angelina Fazzoli-Schultz has just gotten out of rehab and is back on stage performing in a limited engagement at the Farmingdale Knights of Columbus Hall. She’s accompanied by Sister Rosemary, and Angelina sings the hits — while also hitting rock bottom — in this unforgettable cabaret.
Starring Nicole Antonia Carro as Angelia and Erik Branch as Sister Rosemary, the show was written and conceived by Nicole and directed by Clare Ghezzi, with musical direction by Erik.
Freeline Media sent Nicole some questions about the show, and Nicole forwarded them to Angelina — who responded.
“It’s not like her to be up so early on a Sunday!” Nicole noted. “I wonder if she went to bed at all?”
So here’s what Angelina had to say about the show:
FM: We’re told life is a cabaret, old chum, but it sounds like Angelina’s cabaret refutes that. What’s that all about?
Angelina: Wait a minute! That’s from a show tune, isn’t it? We don’t do show tunes in my show. Ever! NO EXCEPTIONS! But to answer your question, old chum, I do like Cabernet but I prefer a nice Chianti. But since I just got out of rehab I’m going to stick with the Pinot Grigio and other clear liquids only. That’s basically like drinking water.
FM: What inspired you to write this piece?
Angelina: My Uncle Fredo (God rest his soul) was my inspiration. He was a businessman, and he started out with a little pizza place and turned it into the finest Italian Restaurant on the Island (that’s Fredo’s Ristorante on Fulton Street for those of you who don’t know). He was always there working, so he was missing me in talent shows. He had the idea to have me sing in his restaurant on Tuesday and Sunday nights so he could catch my act. That started when I was 11.
Two years later, I won Star Search as the Preteen Junior Vocal Champion. I won a recording contract, and that was a bust, but whatever. I wasn’t cut out to put up with producers telling me what to do, trying to say that I needed studio musicians, and the kazoo isn’t a real instrument, and ukuleles have no place in rock music. I don’t need all of that!
I just like to sing for people. So I sing for people whenever and wherever I can. In addition to Fredo’s, I perform four times a year at Wick’s Farm when they do their seasonal celebrations (the Holiday show is very popular, but the Halloween show is my favorite!) and I perform every year at the Port Jeff Maritime Festival.
I’m also available for special events and funerals, but I’m not doing weddings right now. The last wedding I went to didn’t go so well since I wasn’t even invited and I allegedly tried to run the bride and the groom over with a golf cart. I’m banned from Southward Ho Country Club for life thanks to the two of them, so if you want me to sing at your kid’s bar and bat mitzvah have it somewhere else.
FM: It sounds like Angelina’s rough night will have some comedic potential.
Angelina: Comic potential? Sure, if you like to watch someone else’s life going to shit. My world is unraveling around me and you find that funny?! Listen, buddy. I was a good wife. I may have had a few pieces on the side, but so did Benny. That wasn’t nothing serious. But then he had to go and knock up that whore Irene Fatori while she was working as a server at Fredo’s, and then he starts talking about how they wanna start a family together and I should be happy for him and he still wants to be friends? FRIENDS?! That was just too much. You know what? Fuck both of them. Hey, am I even allowed to mention them with that restraining order? I better ask my lawyer.
FM: Sister Rosemary sounds like a hoot. What’s she up to?
Angelina: Well, she’s a holy sister from the Sisters of Long Island. I started out singing with Sister Teresa, (God Rest her soul) when I was just a girl at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, and when I was starting college Sister Teresa’s hands got really bad with the arthritis and she’s the one who recommended I call Sister Rosemary.
Sister Rosemary would probably be embarrassed if she knew I was telling you this, but she don’t got the internet, so whatever. I won’t tell if you don’t! But you ever hear of Rose DeNardo? She was a Broadway actress and she did a little television in the 70’s and 80’s. Well, take a good look at Rose DeNardo and then take a look at Sister Rosemary. There are pictures of her hanging out with Warhol at Studio 54! She was in a show with Tom Selleck! She was even on The Love Boat! But she disappeared around 1987 and no one knows why she walked away from all of that. I’m dying to know, but I don’t have the guts to ask her.
FM: After Fringe, where does the show go from here?
Angelina: Hopefully, by the time the French Festival is over that mix-up on the restraining order will be cleared up and I’ll get to go back to Fredo’s! But for now I’m just going to enjoy myself. I’ve been studying those Rosetta-Stone tapes, but it seems like everyone at the French Festival speaks English pretty good! Who knows, maybe I’ll meet a hot French guy who likes fat chicks. You know any of those French Canadian stripper guys? You wanna introduce us? I just wanna get laid, for chrissake.

“Angelina Sings” is being performed in the Red Venue at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center. On Friday, May 20, there will be a free performance on the Outdoor Stage at 7p.m. The rest of the show times are:
* Friday May 20 at 9 p.m.
* Sunday May 22 at 6 p.m.
* Wednesday May 25 at 10 p.m.
* Friday, May 27 at 11:30 p.m.
* Saturday May 28 at 2 p.m.

Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the book “Bloody Rabbit”. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com..