Larry Rivellese hit the big time on NBC-TV this week and now he’s returning home for his first singing appearance in The Villages since the Steve Harvey show.
Rivellese will open the “Flags, Freedom and Fireworks” show on July 1, at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Savannah Center. Evolution Dance is putting on the musical and dancing extravaganza to honor America’s veterans and celebrate Independence Day weekend.
Rivellese, who this week thrilled a national television audience of millions singing “Nessun Dorma,” will perform the National Anthem before both shows at Savannah Center. Money raised will benefit Operation Helping Hand for veterans and their families.
Tickets are available at Villages Box Office locations: $20 for Villages residents and $25 for the public.
“We are so excited to have Larry as a guest performer,” said Diane Vargas, artistic director for Evolution Dance. “People in The Villages know about his recent success on television, and for him to open our show is an enormous gift to our veterans and the rest of the audience.
“We are aware that two 98-year old World War II veterans and one soon to be 100 — will be in our audience. I can only imagine what hearing Larry sing the National Anthem will mean to them. The thought brings such emotion to my heart, it’s going to be tough for me to keep from ruining my make-up in order to begin the show.”
“I’m glad to do it to help veterans,” Rivellese said.
Rivellese’s powerful tenor voice and operatic majesty impressed Steve Harvey on the program called “Little Big Shots: Forever Young.” Rivellese was the opening act and talked about his life in The Villages and then sang. Harvey loved his performance.
“Larry, you hit it out of the park,” Harvey told the 72-year old Village of Belvedere resident, adding the singer was in “the big leagues.”