Melinda Doolittle News

Award-winning producers Michael & Barbara Ross will present Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins in Larry Parr's ETHEL WATERS: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, for a limited run, August 16 - September 2, 2012. The production will be directed by award-winning director Dennis Courtney, with musical direction by Barry Levitt.

Melinda Doolittle: Love 101 will play The Columbia Club in Indianapolis tonight, July 27 and 28 at 8:00 PM.

Melinda Doolittle: Love 101 will play The Columbia Club in Indianapolis on July 27 and 28 at 8:00 PM.

Welcome to the fifth installment of Music City Confidential, my column to collect the flotsam and jetsam, informationally speaking, of theatre in Tennessee. Sorry for the long delay since the last installment, but I've been theatering my butt off all over the Volunteer State in search of intriguing gossip and riveting news stories just for you, my gentle readers.

It's supposed to be 108 degrees in the Nashville area by week's end, which means stepping outside will likely leave you melted, quite literally and figuratively. But if you do have to venture out of doors, perhaps a trip to the theater is a good idea…it'll be dark and cool (with any luck, the AC will be working-and you know which theaters we're talking about) and you'll be entertained, perhaps even transported to another world. Or not. In the meantime, we present you with installment number four of Music City Confidential-our continuing effort to create a sense of community and build up some enthusiasm and excitement for the live theater industry here in our alarmingly sweaty region. So, press on, gentle readers and catch up on the latest adventures of the theaterati…

On Thursday, March 1, Sophia Salveson-at 19, a college student (at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago) and an aspiring actress-suffered a massive stroke that left her with little to no movement on the right side of her body and major damage to the speech and comprehension center of her brain. Taking her family and friends completely unawares, Salveson's sudden and unexpected medical dilemma sent feelings of shock, dismay and disbelief throughout the country, with its reverberations felt most resoundingly in her hometown of Nashville, where word quickly spread around town and among members of the city's music and theater communities that she had been stricken.

Just when you thought it was safe to go to the theater once again, we welcome you to the debut installment of Music City Confidential, all the news that's fit to print (or not-depending on your perspective) from Nashville's ever-growing, ever-fascinating (okay, so we obviously don't have enough to occupy ourselves) live theater industry (we're trying that out-does it work? Let us know, theaterati!) Here amid the florid prose and flowery praise, you'll find all the stories that don't quite fit elsewhere, some of 'em kind of gossipy, some of 'em stone-cold serious, some of 'em just lists of names you need to know. You'll also find photos from our new "Intermission@" series, details about the latest cast parties and various and sundry minutiae-the veritable flotsam and jetsam-from backstage, onstage, offstage and beyond…

Recently, conductor Keith Lockhart was joined by Bernadette Peters to present the schedule for the Boston Pops' Spring 2012 season. Peters was the guest during the Opening Night concert at Boston's beautiful Symphony Hall. As stellar as she is, Peters is only one of the sensational artists who have been scheduled to appear with the Boston Pops which is celebrating its 127th season. On June 5th, 6th and 7th, Broadway's Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley will perform "A Tribute to Cole Porter". American Idol's Melinda Doolittle will join Gospel singer Crystal Aitkin and Charles Floyd for the 20th Gospel Night Celebration on June 9th. Although many people know Steve Martin as a comic actor and playwright, he is also a very serious musician who will be bringing his bluegrass band, The Steep Canyon Rangers, to play with the Pops on May 29th and 30th. Anne Hampton Callaway, who is one of the premier interpreters of the American Songbook will bring her unique stylings to what is being billed as "The Barbra Streisand Songbook" on May 15th and 16th. Singer Maureen McGovern will join the Pops to sing selections from her Broadway show LITTLE WOMEN as a tribute to the novel's author Louisa May Alcott.

The event will feature Broadway star Alli Mauzey (Wicked, Hairspray) reprising her role as Cinderella, and new to the cast this year is Melinda Doolittle ('American Idol') as one of the stepsisters. More Broadway stars and the Nashville Symphony will join in to make this special evening a memorable celebration of the important work that Show Hope is doing.

Anticipation is building for Show Hope's third annual presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical Cinderella, Enchanted Edition, which takes to the Schermerhorn Symphony stage on Thursday, April 12, with Jessica Grove taking over the role of Cinderella previously played by Ally Mausey and Ryan Silverman as her Prince (the role played the first two years by Anthony Fedorov).

The event will feature Broadway star Alli Mauzey (Wicked, Hairspray) reprising her role as Cinderella, and new to the cast this year is Melinda Doolittle ('American Idol') as one of the stepsisters. More Broadway stars and the Nashville Symphony will join in to make this special evening a memorable celebration of the important work that Show Hope is doing.

As we continue our march toward the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, I'm hoping that you'll be leaping forward into seeing some of the great productions that are presently playing or soon to open at any number of our California Central Coast live performance and theatre venues!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Winter 2011 season with the return of "American Idol" finalist, MELINDA DOOLITTLE from February 22 to March 5.

MUSICAL THEATRE TALK with TRISH CAUSEY features Broadway stars, creative teams, coaches, and cabaret performers

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Winter 2011 season with the return of "American Idol" finalist, MELINDA DOOLITTLE from February 22 to March 5.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its 2011 season with appearances from numerous Broadway performers including: Laura Benanti, Ana Gasteyer, Kate Baldwin, and many more.

For Sondra Morton, the owner and artistic director Act Too Players, every day has its own special set of challenges and sources of inspiration - and, quite frankly, she'd have it no other way. In fact, she thrives on the pace and excitement that is all in a day's work as she inspires and trains budding thespians in Middle Tennessee through the company's efforts.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Winter 2011 season with the return of "American Idol" finalist, MELINDA DOOLITTLE from February 22 to March 5.

Feinstein's at Loew's Regency has announced it's winter/spring 2011 season, which includes appearances by Brooke Shields, Kate Baldwin, Jarod Spector and more!

Jorgensen has decked its halls, and the Boston Pops are coming over for the party.