Melissa Manchester News

The 24th Annual LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement during the 2013 season, were presented on Sunday, November 3 at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse Thirty-five awards were bestowed upon 13 different Southern California theatre companies. Leading the pack with 12 was Center Theatre Group (seven for The Nether at the Kirk Douglas Theatre; three for Joe Turner's Come and Gone at the Mark Taper Forum; one for The Scottsboro Boys at the Ahmanson Theatre; and one for The Royale at the Kirk Douglas Theatre). CTG was followed by 3-D Theatricals with five awards (four for Parade and one for Shrek the Musical). The Chance Theater and La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts took home three awards each (including Best Season for La Mirada); Circle X Theatre Company, the Fountain Theatre, and the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble tied with two each. Check out a look back at the red carpet arrivals, award ceremony, and more below!

The 24th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement during the 2013 season, were presented on Sunday, November 3 at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse Thirty-five awards were bestowed upon 13 different Southern California theatre companies. Leading the pack with 12 was Center Theatre Group (seven for The Nether at the Kirk Douglas Theatre; three for Joe Turner's Come and Gone at the Mark Taper Forum; one for The Scottsboro Boys at the Ahmanson Theatre; and one for The Royale at the Kirk Douglas Theatre). CTG was followed by 3-D Theatricals with five awards (four for Parade and one for Shrek the Musical). The Chance Theater and La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts took home three awards each (including Best Season for La Mirada); Circle X Theatre Company, the Fountain Theatre, and the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble tied with two each.

On December 9, 2013 92Y celebrates songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night with Janis Joplin). Confirmed artists performing expected and unexpected interpretations from Stoller's genre-spanning career in blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll and jazz include legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers, Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino, Sally Kellerman, Bettye LaVette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists perform some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Leiber will be the subject of a special tribute during the evening. Stoller is planning to be in attendance for the celebration.

Composer, conductor, genius, mensch: Marvin Hamlisch (June 2, 1944 Aug. 6, 2012) earned four Grammys, four Emmys, three Oscars, three Golden Globes, a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize before his untimely death, making him one of only two PEGOT winners ever.

Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy and Tony winners, as well as just about every former child star gathered to help PROTECT help abused children by placing their signature on a bike donated by Margaret Cho that will be auctioned in November.

"If he weren't such a superb musician, Peter Nero might be easy to dismiss as a mere great entertainer" (Philadelphia Inquirer). Harris Center at Folsom Lake College welcomes the legendary Peter Nero to Stage One for two separate programs over two nights with bassist Michael Barnett. Hailed as one of the premier interpreters of Gershwin, will perform The Gershwin Project, and Classic Connections, an evening dedicated to showing how jazz and classical standards are more closely related than people might think.

Stage star Reva Rice starred in the 'Music on the Rock' series concert: Donna Summer & the Sound of the 70s, which opened on October 16th at Flat Rock Playhouse. Rice has been a star of shows on Broadway, the West End and Las Vegas. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!

The Blue Angel, a new musical based on the Heinrich Mann novel and the 1930 German film classic, will receive a private lab production on Friday, October 18, 2013 in New York City.

Stage star Reva Rice will feature in the next 'Music on the Rock' series concert: Donna Summer & the Sound of the 70s opening tonight, October 16th. Rice has been a star of shows on Broadway, the West End and Las Vegas.

A NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin began previews on September 20 and opened on Thursday night, October 10 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 W. 45th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for opening night arrivals and brings you photos of the stars below!

Actress, singer-songwriter and musician Melissa Manchester returns to the Suncoast Showroom tonight and tomorrow, October 12 and 13.

Primary Stages presents the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). The production opened last night, Tuesday, October 8, and features Francois Battiste (Broadway's Magic/ Bird) as Reggie Jackson and Elston Howard,Chris Henry Coffey (Off-Broadway's Water by the Spoonful) as Joe DiMaggio,Bill Dawes(Broadway's Lombardi) as Mickey Mantle/Thurman Munson,Christopher Jackson(Broadway's In the Heights, Memphis) asDerek Jeter, Wendy Makkena (Broadway's Side Man) as Carmen Berra, Keith Nobbs (Broadway's Lombardi) as Billy Martin, Richard Topol (Broadway'sThe Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) as Yogi Berra, John Wernke (Broadway's The Lyons) as Lou Gehrig, and C.J. Wilson (Happy Now? at Primary Stages, Broadway's The Big Knife,Glengarry Glen Ross) as Babe Ruth. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street. Check out a look back at the opening night festivities below!

THIRTEEN's American Masters explore his prolific life and career in the series' Season 27 finale Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love, premiering nationally Friday, December 27, 2013, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

'it gets better' Stage Production From Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) Boldly Reaches Out To Utah Youth With October 11th Engagement Week-long local community dialogues and school outreach in Ogden begin Oct. 7

Considered one of the premier interpreters of American standards, the two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy nominated Michael Feinstein will bring his new show, Swingin' Back Home, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for four performances only - tonight, September 11 and September 13, 14 and 15, 2013.

A universal story, uniquely told. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents In My Corner, a singular new play byLizbeth Hasse and Joe Orrach that works boxing, tap dance and music into the story of a street smart, wise guy Puerto Rican kid from New York City who comes of age in the ring and at the barre. Jeremiah Chechik (Benny & Joon, Diabolique) directs Orrach in an exhilarating performance that takes off to the beat of an original score by Matthew Clark, performed live on stage by Clark on piano, Eugene Warren on bass and percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez. In My Corner opened for a nine-week run at the Odyssey Theatre on Sept. 6. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

3-D Theatriclas presents Funny Girl Sept 6 - Sept 22, 2013 at the Plummer Auditorium, and Sept 27 - Sept 29, 2013 at Redondo Beach. Funny Girl is a musical with a book by Isobel Lennart, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The semi-biographical plot is based on the life and career of Broadway, film star and comedienne Fanny Briceand her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein. Its original title was My Man.

Legendary recording artist Melissa Manchester has begun work on her 20th album, with an entirely new twist for the singer/songwriter; rather than working through a major record label as she has always done, Melissa is producing the album herself, and releasing via a fan funding effort. She is assisted on several songs by jazz guitarist and WAVE radio favorite Terry Wollman. This is Melissa's first crowd funding project in a career that spans some 40 years. Fans can be a part of the new project by contributing via Indiegogo at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/melissa-manchester-you-gotta-love-the-life. Contributors can select premiums ranging from hand-written lyrics to Manchester hits to an in-home concert by the artist.

Actress, singer-songwriter and musician Melissa Manchester returns to the Suncoast Showroom October 12 and 13.