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SCREENING OF ASBURY PARK MUSICAL MEMORIES, PART 1 ON OCTOBER 4   

A public screening of Asbury Park Musical Memories, Part 1 will be held in Pollak Theatre on October 4, 2012. Screening begins at 7:30 p.m. with Q&A to follow. The panel will include Producer/Director Susan Pellegrini, Associate Producer/Supervising Professor Donna M. Dolphin, Editor Tom Kubacz, Monmouth University student Michael Dressler, and musicians from the film. The event is open to the public.  Tickets are $5 and available at the door.  Each ticket counts as a tax-deductible donation to the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation.  Free tickets are available to Monmouth University students with an ID.

Asbury Park Musical Memories, Part 1 documents the musical history of the city from the 1930’s through the 1970’s in the words of those who lived it. Included in this rare footage are interviews with Asbury Park musical icons Billy Brown, Bobby Thomas, Bobby Bandiera, Nicky Addeo, Vini Lopez and Willie Mitchell, among others. The experience of life on the West Side of Asbury Park during the 30’s through the 60’s comes to life in the recounting of histories by many of those who were part of the scene. The early days of rock as it evolved at The Student Prince, Mrs. Jay’s and The Stone Pony is also chronicled by those who lived it.

What makes this project even more special is that Synergy Productions of Asbury Park collaborated with students from Asbury Park High School and Monmouth University. The high school students were empowered to be on the production crew and were also interviewers. The Communication majors from Monmouth University worked on the crew, interviewed, and mentored the high school students. Two Monmouth students earned internships with Synergy Productions as a result of this collaboration.

The project started small, as a simple oral history record. When the scope and importance of the project became apparent, the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation felt compelled  to produce a companion piece. Producer/Director Susan Pellegrini (Synergy Productions), Associate Producer Donna M. Dolphin (Monmouth University), and Editor Tom Kubacz (Synergy Productions)  are collaborating with APMHF on Rock and Roots: Celebrating Our Musical Heritage Year.

Asbury Park Musical Memories, Part 1 screened to standing room only at the Garden State Film Festival in March 2012. The official premiere of the film launched the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation on April 28, 2012, and was another sell out. The film will screen as part of Glory Days: A Bruce Springsteen Symposium on September 15, 2012.

For more information contact:

Susan Pellegrini, Synergy Productions, spellegrini@synergyproductions.net, 732-895-1705

Prof. Donna M. Dolphin,  ddolphin@monmouth.edu, 732-571-4428 or  609-618-7072

Monmouth University Department of Communication, 571-3449

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Media contact: Petra Ludwig at 732-263-5507