Carrie Manolakos News

On Friday, February 14, 2020 at 8:00 p.m., The New York Pops is joined by guest artists Mandy Gonzalez, Carrie Manolakos, and Alex Newell for I'm Every Woman: Divas On Stage. The concert salutes the power of the female voice, and pays tribute to Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Adele, and fellow icons who have transformed the world through song.

Rex Smith and Tomasina Abate recently teamed up for a cover of the Oscar-winning Best Original Song, Shallow, from the film A Star is Born.

Taking the film and its music to the next level, The Wallis and For The Record are presenting a holiday season encore of last year's LOVE, ACTUALLY LIVE world premiere in the Bram Stoker Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills through December 29. The multimedia presentation, adapted and directed by Anderson Davis with musical supervision by Jesse Vargas, turns the theater into a giant, immersive, cinema in a three-dimensional world where the film and live action seamlessly intertwine throughout the London setting. Each scene is a festival of excellent characterizations, extraordinary lighting effects and costumes, brilliant and fast-paced direction and choreography, and the joy of great music that perfectly expresses the mood and themes of the movie and jukebox musical LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE. No doubt this suburb holiday musical will be making its return to The Wallis each December!

Casting has been announced for The Wallis and For The Record's production of LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE, the multimedia concert celebration of one of the most beloved holiday films of all time and the biggest, record-breaking hit in The Wallis' history, which is back by popular demand, now as a not-to-be-missed Los Angeles tradition with performances beginning the day before Thanksgiving (November 27) and running through the weekend following Christmas (December 29). Returning from the 2018 production are Rex Smith (RIAA Gold® recording artist), Carrie Manolakos (Broadway's Mamma Mia!, Wicked), Doug Kreeger (Broadway's Les Misérables), Tomasina Abate (For The Record's Scorsese: American Crime Requiem, Tarantino), Carson Higgins (international tour of Green Day's American Idiot) and the multi-dimensional Emily Lopez. New this year to the lineup of outstanding performers are Rogelio Douglas Jr. (In the Heights and The Little Mermaid on Broadway), Declan Bennett (Once, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Taboo in the West End, American Idiot and Rent on Broadway), Jon Robert Hall (Fox's Grease: Live, “Glee”), Chris Mann (NBC's “The Voice,” The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Tour), James Byous (Scorsese: American Crime Requiem, Netflix's 'Westside'), Ruby Lewis (Cirque du Soleil's Paramour, Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole), singer/songwriter/actress Aubrie Sellers (one of Rolling Stone's best country albums of the year), Gabriela Francesca Carrillo (American Mariachi, Netflix's Homecoming), Levi Smith (A Bronx Tale: The Musical, It's a Wonderful Life, Mary Poppins and The Music Man on Broadway), young singer/actress Nayah Damasen, John Battagliese and accomplished violinist Molly Rogers. 

The Wallis and For The Record present LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE, the multimedia concert celebration of one of the most beloved holiday films of all time and the biggest, record-breaking hit in The Wallis' history, which is back by popular demand, now as a not-to-be-missed Los Angeles tradition with performances beginning the day before Thanksgiving (November 27) and running through the weekend following Christmas (December 29).

The Wallis and For The Record present LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE, the multimedia concert celebration of one of the most beloved holiday films of all time and the biggest, record-breaking hit in The Wallis' history, which is back by popular demand, now as a not-to-be-missed Los Angeles tradition with performances beginning the day before Thanksgiving (November 27) and running through the weekend following Christmas (December 29).

The New York Pops performs the timeless music of Rodgers and Hammerstein on Friday, January 24, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. in Find Your Dream: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein joined by guest artists Laura Michelle Kelly and Max von Essen, as well as Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA. The concert spans all eleven of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic collaborations, including 'People Will Say We're in Love' from Oklahoma!, 'You'll Never Walk Alone' from Carousel, 'Some Enchanted Evening' from South Pacific, 'I Have Dreamed' from The King and I, and 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain' from The Sound of Music.

After a most successful run last December, For The Record's LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE encores at The Wallis beginning November 27, 2019. FTR pairs the actual screening of the 2003 perennial holiday hit film Love Actually with live singers and a 15-piece orchestra on stage complementing the movie's soundtrack. I got the chance to grab a few minutes and some behind-the-scenes with the prolific, ever busy, For The Record Live executive producer Shane Scheel.

Casting has been announced for The Wallis and For The Record's production of LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE, the multimedia concert celebration of one of the most beloved holiday films of all time and the biggest, record-breaking hit in The Wallis' history, which is back by popular demand, now as a not-to-be-missed Los Angeles tradition with performances beginning the day before Thanksgiving (November 27) and running through the weekend following Christmas (December 29).

FRANK WILDHORN & FRIENDS Illuminates at The Green Room 42

This. Is. Love. Charity Concert For Freedom For Immigrants, produced by Ben Caron and David Krich on November 8, 2019 at 9PM, is a concert uniting the Broadway, film/ television and music communities, featuring songs of resistance, compassion and hope to benefit a?oeFreedom for Immigrantsa?? at Sayers Club, Hollywood. The uplifting event is a one-night-only charity benefit for non-profit Freedom for Immigrants, in advocacy for a more compassionate and humane immigration policy. The event will feature songs performed by musicians and actors from the Broadway, television and film communities in solidarity with immigrants.

The New York Pops celebrates the holiday season with A Frank and Ella Christmas featuring jazz star Tony DeSare and stage legend Capathia Jenkins on Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall.

The New York Pops will honor the songwriting duo Kristen and Bobby Lopez at its 37th Birthday Gala on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. The festive concert features the couple's iconic worksa?"written with each other, as well as with other collaboratorsa?"performed by The New York Pops, under the music direction of Steven Reineke, along with a starry line-up of guest artists to be announced.

Musician/songwriter/actor/family man Brian Gallagher will west coast premiere live his latest concept album BROADWAY STARS SING THE MUSIC OF BRIAN GALLAGHER at the Colony Theatre for one night only October 19, 2019. Performing his songs will be Carly Hughes, Matt Cusson, Carrie Manolakos and, a star in her own right, Brian's wife Megan Hilty (and others, yet to be announced). I had the chance to pepper Brian Gallagher about his creative process and his not-so-secret weapon.

On September 21, SiriusXM's Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley, were joined by stars of the stage, screen, and dance floor for the latest iteration of their critically acclaimed CONCERT FOR AMERICA.

On September 21, SiriusXM's Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley, were joined by stars of the stage, screen, and dance floor for the latest iteration of their critically acclaimed CONCERT FOR AMERICA

Today's top stories: Watch the full Concert For America, 'My First Broadway Show' stickers are now available at all Broadway theatres, and more!

Last night was Concert For America in Los Angeles! The star-studded event featured performances and appearances from Melissa Benoist, Marcia Cross, Grant Gustin, Rachel Bay Jones, Jane Lynch, Melissa Manchester, Eric McCormack, Allison Smith, Elyfer Torres, Laurie Metcalf, Liz Callaway, Eden Espinosa, Carrie Manolakos, Caroline Rhea, Gina Torres, Chris Wood, Yuri Sardarov, Pasha Pashkov, Daniella Koragach, Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley, and more!

The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, opens its 2019a?"2020 Carnegie Hall season on Friday, October 18 at 8:00 p.m.

Elyfer Torres (Betty en NY), Eden Espinosa (Falsettos, Wicked), Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia!, Wicked), Allison Smith (Annie), Yuri Sardarov (Chicago Fire), and Pasha Pashkov & Daniella Karagach (Dancing With The Stars) join Concert For America!