Melissa Manchester News

Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Melissa Manchester has done it all.  Her first singing job, as a solo singer/pianist in the clubs of New York, is where she met Bette Midler.  She was hired as a back-up singer for Bette, as one of the famous, “Harlettes,” and six months later, she had her own recording contract!

Hell in a Handbag Productions' sell-out hit BETTE, LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS has added one additional performance, extending through August 28, 2015 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood.

SWEET POTATO QUEENS will have to wait until fall to take the stage.

TUTS Underground presents a reading of a new musical!

A new musical set to premiere at TUTS Underground!

Feinstein's at the Nikko will welcome Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress, Melissa Manchester, for two performances only - Tonight, July 10 (8 p.m.) and tomorrow, July 11 (7 p.m.).

FEINSTEIN'S AT THE NIKKO WELCOMES GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER MELISSA MANCHESTER, FOR TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY JULY 10 & 11, 2015!

Feinstein's at the Nikko will welcome Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress, Melissa Manchester, for two performances only - Friday, July 10 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, July 11 (7 p.m.). Manchester will perform songs off her acclaimed new album, 'You Gotta Love the Life,' as well as some of her greatest hits.

Following last year's sold out benefit, the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (STAGE) is delighted to announce the All-Star cast participating in the 31st annual gala, 'To Broadway, From Hollywood....With Love,' being held tonight, May 9th, at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. David Galligan directs with Brad Ellis serving as Musical Director for his first time.

"One Starry Night: From Broadway to Hollywood," a one-night-only musical and entertainment extravaganza in benefit of the ALS Association Golden West Chapter, was presented Monday, April 20 at the historic Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, CA. Thanks to performances and appearances by an exciting gathering of Broadway and Hollywood talent, and the greater Los Angeles community at large, the evening raised nearly $200,000. BWW TV's Los Angeles Correspondent and Co-Producer Michael Sterling, along with Co-Producer/Videographer Paul Preston of Digital Mind Productions, spoke to the stars as they walked the red carpet prior to the evening's festivities.

The Friars were laughing and crying out loud last night as they saluted Melissa Manchester.

Murderous bank-robbing lovers, holiday grump meets Little Match Girl, tiaras the size of Texas and the ultimate teenage popularity contest (hair scrunchies included) - TUTS Underground's 2015/16 season delivers new theatrical productions never seen before in Houston!TUTS Underground, Theatre Under The Stars' (TUTS) alternative and contemporary series, is thrilled to announce the new season running in Zilkha Hallat The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin presents critically acclaimed jazz vocalist April Hall on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. The concert, rescheduled from February due to a Valentine's Day snowstorm, is featured as part of BLACK BOX Jazz, one of four dynamic music series launched this year at the new theater, music and event venue.

Following last year's sold out benefit, the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (STAGE) has announced the All-Star cast* participating in the 31st annual gala, 'To Broadway, From Hollywood….With Love,' being held on Saturday, May 9th, at 7:30pm at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA. David Galligan directs and serving as Musical Director for his first time is Brad Ellis.

Following last year's sold out benefit, the Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event(STAGE) is delighted to announce the All-Star cast* participating in the 31st annual gala, "To Broadway, From Hollywood….With Love," being held on Saturday, May 9th, at 7:30pm at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA. David Galligan directs and serving as Musical Director for his first time is Brad Ellis.

In late March (I'm bringing you up to the minute news), TUTS Underground staged the first ever reading of SWEET POTATO QUEENS. The piece put me in the mind of stories and movies like the DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD or SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS. Basically, anything with sister in it. That's no insult. Sandra Bullock in YA-YA is as good as Sandra in GRAVITY. I dare you to say otherwise.

The comics given the job of making the Friars laugh last night were not fooling around and the club rocked with laughter. The stand up comedy of MC Dave Konig, George Vanarthos, Michelle Tod, Nancy Lombardo, Michele Balan, Maria Schultz, Ross Bennett and producer Cory Kahaney were well received by members who have been well trained in the art of laughing by fellow Friars. Ross Bennett, recently a smash on David Letterman was especially effective. The intimate setting of the club's Milton Berle Room has been the scene of many fun filled evenings, and numerous comics have launched their careers in the mahogany walled space.

THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's new theater, music, and event venue, presents a wide-ranging lineup of live music entertainment this April. Events are slated to feature singer-songwriter Ayla Brown, Opera for Kids, and jazz vocalist April Hall. THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), is located at 15 West Central Street.