Melissa Manchester News

Jim Caruso's Cast Party returns to the West Coast for two nights only, Wednesday and Friday, November 7 and 9 at 7:30pm.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its sixth season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits 1776, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone with direction by Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Jeremy Ramey and musical staging by Michelle Lauto.

Palm Beach notables Rob Russell & Michael Masci joined forces to have a 'soft unofficial opening' of the Palm Beach music season with a one night only performance at Cafe Centro in West Palm Beach last night and Broadwayworld was there.

Following a sold-out engagement in 2015, Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress Melissa Manchester returns to Feinstein's at the Nikko with her new show, The Fellas, on Friday, October 5 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, October 6 (8 p.m.). More than 25 years after Melissa Manchester released "Tribute," her 1989 album that honored the great female singers who influenced her, she turns the tables with "The Fellas," a radiant new encomium to the men, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, and Dean Martin, and the iconic songs they made famous. In this intimate evening, Manchester will salute the men (and ladies) of song, as well as perform several of her own classic hits.

Acclaimed vocalist Todd Murray will make his Feinstein's at the Nikko debut today, August 23 at 8 p.m. Joined by renowned pianist and composer Quinn Johnson, Murray will perform an evening of old and new American standards, including songs by Cole Porter, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sade, and more. Tickets range in price from $22.50-$50 and are available now by calling 866-663-1063 or visiting www.ticketfly.com.

In some ways, attending a Melissa Manchester concert is akin to the atmosphere, familiarity, and warmth you have in a house of worship.  Last night during her performance at Barrington Stage Co. Mellisa's music evoked the same feelings you have when listening to familiar melodies and words that have been with you and most of the 'congregation' their whole lives. Mellisa has a breathtaking voice and phrasing which kept the BSC audience mesmerized with the songs and stories from her extraordinary career.  There were songs that the Grammy winner either wrote or chose to sing in an evening that  highlighted tunes from her new album The Fellas.  In it Melissa honors the great male singers that have influenced her. As well as having a full performance schedule Melissa also teaches music at the University of Southern California.  

It was musically 'back to the future' as an icon of popular music, Bronx born, California based Melissa Manchester thrilled old and new fans at Feinstein's/54 Below last night.

The founder of the original Commodores is back and he's returning with his signature sound intact with a new high energy show called Thomas McClary's The Commodores Experience.

William Finn was in the house to introduce Comedian, Actress, Writer, and Broadway star Leslie Kritzer to the audience in Mr. Finn's Cabaret last night. The Berkshires answer to Feinstien's/54 Below and Birdland is housed below Barrington Stage Co's St. Germain Stage and has some of the most consummate Broadway and Cabaret stars on it's intimate stage this season. Charles Bush and Marilyn Maye are on the schedule this summer as well as Melissa Manchester on the Mainstage.

Next month, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Acclaimed vocalist Todd Murray will make his Feinstein's at the Nikko debut on Thursday, August 23 at 8 p.m. Joined by renowned pianist and composer Quinn Johnson, Murray will perform an evening of old and new American standards, including songs by Cole Porter, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sade, and more. Tickets range in price from $22.50-$50 and are available now by calling 866-663-1063 or visiting www.ticketfly.com.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Melissa Manchester in The Fellas on July 13-15, 2018. Let's hear it for the boys!  More than 25 years after releasing her 1989 Tribute album that honored the great female singers who influenced her, Manchester turns the tables with The Fellas in a nod to the legendary male vocalists, including Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett and Dean Martin, and the iconic songs they made famous.

Grammy Winner Melissa Manchester Joins The Coachella Valley Symphony for a very special 'one night only' concert that will feature her greatest hits and more on Saturday, May 12 at 7:00 pm at The McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. Ms. Manchester may be best known for her hits 'Midnight Blue', 'Whenever I Call You Friend' and 'Don't Cry Out Loud' but her illustrious career also includes work on stage, in film and television. I had the opportunity to catch up with Ms. Manchester as she was preparing for her upcoming concert in the desert. Here are a few excerpts from that interview.

Oleg Frish, the colorful and personable singer, is touring the U.S. in 2018 in a show titled Swing Around The World. Known as the "Human Jukebox" and a "Songapedia" because of his encyclopedic knowledge of music of the 1940-80 era, Oleg Frish is an entertaining and charming singer who performs swing classics, jazz standards, tunes from the rock & roll and disco eras, and songs from his native Russia. He not only sings in English and Russian but occasionally in Spanish, Italian, French, Ukrainian, Japanese, German, Swedish, Polish and Yiddish, swinging all the time.

'Love Don't Need a Reason: A Benefit for Marsha Malamet' on Tuesday, May 29th at Catalina's Jazz Club. VIP Tickets are $75.00 (receive a free CD download) General Admission Tickets: $50.00. Ticket link: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/love-dont-need-a-reason-catalina-bar-grill-tickets/8341565?pl=cbg        

Theatre Arlington's 45th Anniversary Season is ready to cut loose...footloose that is, with the production of Footloose the Musical, opening on May 11th. The stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie is based on Pitchford's original screenplay. 

Acclaimed Jazz harpist-pianist-vocalist Corky Hale will present a 103rd Birthday Show honoring Billie Holiday on Sunday, April 8 at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.  Hale is one of the few people still performing who was actually a close friend of Holiday's, playing for her on the 'Stars of Jazz' TV show, and on several recordings and live appearances, and this will be her fourth annual birthday salute to the singer.

Award-winning actor/director Frank Ferrante re-creates his acclaimed New York and London stage portrayal celebrating America's greatest comedian - Groucho Marx.  You will feel as though Groucho is back, as Ferrante sings, dances and performs classic routines on the North Coast Rep stage, April 23 & 24 at 7:30pm.

Tony Award winning choreographer and director George Faison (The Wiz) presented Andre De Shields, a two-time Tony nominee, Drama Desk nominee, Emmy winner and multi-Audelco Award and Outer Critics Circle Award winner, with the 2018 Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Annual Bistro Awards Gala, held at Gotham Comedy Club in New York on March 12th. De Shields received the Bistro Awards' highest honor for his five decades of stage and nightclub accomplishments.

Russian-Born Singer, Entertainer and TV/Radio Personality Oleg Frish Celebrates his 25th Anniversary in the United States with an Extensive Series of Concerts.