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By Sandi Durell

 

 

Melissa Errico is a proud mama of three female children (2 of them twins); she’s authentic, warm and welcoming with a voice that knocks your socks off. I guess I could stop right here, but there’s so much more to say.

 

With only a two night stint, April 1 and 2, at New York’s favorite nightclub Feinstein’s/54 Below, she chose to title her show Funny! I’m a Woman With Children (from Styne/Sondheim’s Small World – lovingly sung) and present a personal evening of stories and songs about life, career, family (she’s married to tennis star Patrick McEnroe) and, yes, about children. With some inside scoop on her courtship and marriage to Patrick (they did know each other since they were 5), and all those chats at the Corner Bistro, it’s now 20 years later and they’re finally all caught up about tennis and theater.

 

Hailing from a musical family – Dad is a Doctor who plays a mean piano, her brother Mike, a guitarist (who joined her on the romantic “Blue Like That” – title song 2003 debut CD, Capitol Records/EMI), she describes herself as a young girl who loved brown, Jane Austin and happy wearing a Habit in The Sound of Music. She’s what is known as a question person . . . maybe because her Mom told her to ask and mingle!

 

She’s still the most recent Eliza Doolittle, having starred in Broadway’s My Fair Lady in 1993, and regaled the audience with a cut song from that show, “Shy.”

 

From a sensitively nuanced “The Way He Makes Me Feel” (Michel Legrand/The Bergmans), to a loving “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” flowing into “Marry Me A Little”(Ewan MacColl/Stephen Sondheim), what’s important in her life came through loud and clear.

 

Her voice flows effortlessly – a rippling stream of clear, crystal notes with a beautiful cadence and a purring, rich vibrato. Add to this her genuineness and humor and you’ve got a voice and personality that captivates the heart and soul.

 

Lucky fans will be seeing a lot more of Ms. Errico now that the word is out she’ll be starring in the upcoming May Encores! production of Do I Hear a Waltz? (Rodgers/Sondheim), giving us a glimpse of what she’ll sound like singing the title song, and a perfect ending to a glorious musical evening with maestro Tedd Firth on piano, the evening directed by Robbie Rozelle.

 

 

www.Feinsteins/54Below.com

 

www.MelissaErrico.com