Elvis Impersonator Justin Shandor to Headline 8th Annual Are You Dense? MusicFest

The eighth annual Are You Dense? MusicFest headlined by Las Vegas-based Elvis impersonator, Justin Shandor, is taking place at the Palace Theater in Waterbury on Saturday, Jun. 18. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, raffle and music by The Sounds of Leo, and the show begins at 7:15 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit Are You Dense Inc., a global organization founded by Woodbury resident Dr. Nancy M. Cappello to educate the public about the impact of dense breast tissue on missed, delayed and later stage breast cancer and to increase survival in the fight against breast cancer. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone 203.346.2000 or at the Palace Theater Box Office, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury. V.I.P. tickets are $75 and include premier seating, as well as a post-show reception and meet-and-greet with the evening's performers.

Shandor, who is making a rare East Coast appearance for this engagement, has been the named "The World's Ultimate Elvis" by Graceland. He has been making a living impersonating Elvis since he was sixteen, and in August of 2010, he won the Ultimate Elvis Contest in Memphis, TN, which secured his endorsement from Graceland. The response to his recreation of "The King's" music has included sold out crowds, standing ovations, women weeping, and rave reviews from fans and the media.

Returning to the Palace to join Shandor on stage is Prospect, CT-native Vincent Ingala on the drums. Ingala has previously played for Shandor in Vegas as part of his show band.

Also back to perform at the MusicFest are the Royal Kings, who will sing hits from the 50's and 60's in their four-part harmony signature style.

Event organizers have also invited a special guest to be part of the festivities - former actress, Mother Dolores Hart, from the Abbey of Regina Laudis, who gave Elvis his first on-screen kiss. Mother Dolores will be signing copies of her book "The Ear of the Heart" and reminiscing about her Hollywood years.

During the night, Dr. Julie Gershon, a breast radiologist from Avon, will be awarded the Champion Award for her educational state-wide breast health program that includes breast cancer risk factors, of which dense breasts is one. Jan P. Kritzman, a breast cancer survivor and patient advocate, will also be honored with the Esther Award. Kritzman credits the Are You Dense organization for providing her with valuable information from their website that saved her life.

The event's Pink Presenting Sponsor is GE Healthcare. Pink Ribbon Partners include The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, Philips, FujiFilm and Life Saving Images. Media sponsors are WATR 1320 AM and the Republican-American.

A second organization, Are You Dense Advocacy Inc., was formally incorporated as a 501(C)(4) public charity in 2011. Dr. Cappello works with advocates across the nation and currently 27 states have followed Connecticut's lead and enacted density reporting legislation. She also advocates in Washington, D.C. as federal reporting bill was reintroduced in 2015.

In addition to presenting her mission across the country, she has lectured in Italy, Canada, Puerto Rico and Tokyo. Her story has been covered in major media outlets. She currently writes a blog that is published in the Huffington Post. For more information about dense breast tissue, the MusicFest and sponsorships visit AreYouDense.org.

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