Stas and Stella's Mostly Traditional Polish Wedding by Ronald Urbanczyk

Product Details

Synopsis

Join in and celebrate at Stas and Stella's Mostly Traditional Polish Wedding! This is not just another audience participation ethnic wedding! The musicians play key roles in presenting this Polish tradition but the guests are the real stars as they volunteer to portray the bridal party and family members. The book focuses on many Polish traditions, Polish customs, Polish foods, and traditional Polish Wedding music and dance! The author touches on the traditions and customs that his grandparents brought to this country and have, in some cases, been forgotten or changed through the generations. The story centers around six musicians who grew up together in a Polish neighborhood. As the evening unfolds, you will experience a traditional Polish Wedding, the way it might have been held 50 years ago and at the same time, learn about the customs and traditions of a small Polish Community in Western New York State.

Biography

Ron Urbanczyk earned both a Master and Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He held the title of Corporate Director of Performance Development at a leading Multi-national printing company where he managed several departments, including industrial engineering, productivity support, technical writing, training and development, and commercial technology evaluations. Ron has also led corporate productivity improvement, waste reduction and cost reduction projects. Studying job activities and analyzing work places throughout his entire working career, has led Ron to become proficient at organizing, planning, scheduling and implementing improvement programs. So why is Ron writing a play?

Ron is the type of individual who challenges himself to undertake new projects. This is his first attempt at fiction and theatrics. He is an accomplished musician and songwriter, plays the accordion, bass guitar, concertina and keyboard, and is one of only a hundred or so musicians specializing in "Northern European" ethnic music, most often referred to as Polka Music in the United States today.

Ron has performed this music for almost 40 years and over these years, has helped to preserve many of his family's Polish traditions, including those surrounding the Traditional Polish Wedding. These traditions are brought to life in this book and play in a somewhat cynical, but amusing way.

Over the years, Ron has performed at hundreds of weddings, so he has some experience in how wedding receptions should be run. This experience was the most valuable asset Ron had in writing the script and music for this book.

Ron's first book, The Fundraising Guide for Chairpersons, focused on the planning and coordinating phases of fundraising events and working with volunteer workers. This book brings out his creativeness not only in storytelling but also in detailing a production with musical adaptations.