Melba Moore News

Haul out the holly and put up the tree because the annual star-studded holiday event SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert returns to New York City on Sunday, December 2, 2018 for its 7th consecutive year, once again benefiting the programs and services of The Actors Fund.

Byron St. Cyr, 2018 MAC Nominee, returns to Don't Tell Mama with a new solo show, Byron St. Cyr Swings Down Broadway. This new evening of music celebrates Byron's love for show tunes and jazz music with swinging arrangements of showtimes both old and new.

HIV Experience Resources Organization (HERO)is proud to present The Fifth Annual Broadway & Ballet HERO Awards on October 22nd at 8pm at Stage 48, 605 West 48th Street, honoring Tony, Emmy, Drama Desk and People's Choice Award winner Lillias White, Housing Works/HIV Law Project,and break-out star from Head Over Heels,Bonnie Milliganfor Outstanding Broadway Debut. The event benefits HERO - HIV Experience Resources Organization, a 501c-3 volunteer based charitable organization that promotes safe sex practices and provides resources to people newly diagnosed and living with HIV. To be hosted by Ben Cameron, the Broadway and Ballet HERO Awards features 14 spectacular performances by stars from the worlds of Broadway and Ballet that will perform together.

HIV Experience Resources Organization (HERO)is proud to present The Fifth Annual Broadway & Ballet HERO Awards on October 22nd at 8pm at Stage 48, 605 West 48th Street, honoring Tony, Emmy, Drama Desk and People's Choice Award winner Lillias White, Housing Works/HIV Law Project,and break-out star from Head Over Heels,Bonnie Milliganfor Outstanding Broadway Debut. The event benefits HERO - HIV Experience Resources Organization, a 501c-3 volunteer based charitable organization that promotes safe sex practices and provides resources to people newly diagnosed and living with HIV. To be hosted by Ben Cameron, the Broadway and Ballet HERO Awards features 14 spectacular performances by stars from the worlds of Broadway and Ballet that will perform together.

Performances have begun for American Captives: Lena Baker & Sandra Bland, written and performed by Connie Winston and directed by Rhonda "Passion" Hansome. The limited engagement will play at Dixon Place Fridays and Saturdays through October 20 at 7:30pm.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

The sultry soul duo Tanya Holt and Robert H. Fowler celebrate the US release of their UK chart-hopping album 'Can We?' in a special one-night only engagement at The Green Room 42 at Yotel, 570 Tenth Avenue, 4th floor on Saturday October 20 at 9:30pm. While their project sheds multiple hits on various charts in the UK and internationally (three singles have earned Top 5 positions, including on the official UK Soul chart) Holt and Fowler, who both hail from New York (she's from Queens; he's from the Bronx), have just released the album here. According to album producer Dwayne C. Palmer - the singers' frequent collaborator and the honcho of the project's label, Lovebeams -- this is the kickoff of a live promotional tour for "Can We?" dates to be announced.

Michael Boyd's SOLDIERS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS Co-Presented by The Theater at the 14th Street Y and Andy Gordanier, running September 27 - October 7, 2018 in a limited engagement at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, 334 East 14th Street.

Byron St. Cyr, 2018 MAC Nominee, returns to Don't Tell Mama with a new solo show, Byron St. Cyr Swings Down Broadway. This new evening of music celebrates Byron's love for show tunes and jazz music with swinging arrangements of showtimes both old and new.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

Michael Boyd's SOLDIERS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS Co-Presented by The Theater at the 14th Street Y and Andy Gordanier, running September 27 - October 7, 2018 in a limited engagement at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, 334 East 14th Street.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the Super Showcase performance of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

DeEtta West is featured in the role of Idella Landy in the production of Purlie, opening at the Orange Box Theater on September 29. DeEtta accepted the role as a personal tribute to her late brother, Cleavon Little, winner of the Tony Award in 1970 for his performance as Purlie in the hit show. The show runs through October 7, 2018 (Orange Box Theater @ Mark SQuared Studios, 1804 Montreal Court, Ste B, Tucker, GA 30084)

Legendary actor, director, singer & choreographer Maurice Hines is set to play The Triad (158 West 72nd Street) on Saturday 8/25 at 7pm. Hines is the brother of the late dancer Gregory Hines and best known for starring in Frances Ford Coppola's 'The Cotton Club', Broadway's 'Sophisticated Ladies,' 'Eubie' 'Jelly's Last Jam' & 'Uptown. He will be joined by The Diva Orchestra starring Sherrie Maracle; tickets are $25-$150 and can be purchased online at www.TriadNYC.com. Lee Summers and Peter Martin are producers.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the Super Showcase performance of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

To acknowledge the Summer of 2018, Young Pals Music has released the new single 'Where Do You Want To Be Tomorrow' along with its music video (click here). This marks the eight release accompanied by the music video from the upcoming album 'Pop,' the first full-length namesake collection from New York City-based songwriter & producer Ayhan Sahin. The joyous chug-along song hints at the best of 70's acoustic rock, with the insistent snap of percussion, a cascading fan of acoustic guitars, and a surprising injection of horns that help propel the infectious beat to toe-tapping bliss. Hearing 'Where Do You Want To Be Tomorrow,' ELO's Jeff Lynne would most certainly offer an affirming thumbs up. The album 'Pop' features 12+ diverse vocalists & musicians across a myriad of styles, including R&B & soul, dance, jazz, country and of course...pop. All songs are co-written and co-produced by Sahin with hit songwriter Bernadette O'Reilly, who has also worked for three decades in artist relations, management and song placement. Among the songs released under 'Pop' are Randy Jones' dance club anthem, 'Hard Times' that launched at No. 42, as the second-highest entry among five new songs on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, for the week of August 26, 2017 with Jones being the only member of the Village People to score a solo hit. Previous single 'Another Bad Mistake' featured lead vocals from beloved disco act Anita Ward, renowned for her seminal No. 1 'Ring My Bell,' which hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100, Disco, and Soul Singles charts in 1979. The album 'Pop' is the first namesake project for award-winning Turkish-born songwriter & producer Sahin. In April, he was awarded The Akademia Music Award for Best Rock Song for 'Pop' single 'Drink' as well as the best music video for 'L.A. Nights.' Meanwhile, he has achieved notoriety in a range of musical genres, from pop, rock and dance to musical theater, while working with Olivia Newton-John, Mexican superstar & Broadway actress Bianca Marroquín, Melba Moore, Phoebe Snow, Turkish superstars Sezen Aksu and Sertab Erener, Sandra Bernhard and five 'American Idol' finalists. He has appeared on Telemundo, while his music has been featured on CNN, The Los Angeles Times, Playbill, MTV, Yahoo! Music and 'The Wendy Williams Show'; and heralded by USA Today, New York magazine, MTV and The New York Daily News.

BroadwayWorld reported on June 29th that Tony winner Liliane Montevecchi passed away at 85 years old. Take a look back on some of our favorite memories of Montevecchi, in the photos below.