The Life and Loves of a Broadway Baby: An Evening With Melissa Errico

“The Maria Callas of American musical theater,” as Opera News has called her, referencing both her silken voice and dramatic, expressive intensity, Melissa Errico is an actress, singer, and author. First known for her starring roles on Broadway, she has since become a concert, cabaret and recording artist as well; her 2018 album Sondheim Sublime was called by The Wall Street Journal “The best all-Sondheim album ever recorded.”

Melissa Errico is a Tony Award-nominated Broadway star—an actor, singer and author — who contributes regularly to The New York Times in an essay series called “Scenes From An Acting Life.” The Wall Street Journal recently referred to her as a “nonpareil cabaret singer.”

As a musical theater actress, she starred on Broadway in such musicals as My Fair Lady where The New York Times called her Eliza Doolittle “beguiling,” Anna Karenina, High Society as Tracy Lord, Amour (Tony-nominated for Best Actress), Dracula, White Christmas in the Rosemary Clooney role of Betty, and as Cosette in Les Misérables. Melissa has maintained a constant TV presence throughout her career, starring in Darren Star’s Central Park West, steady guest roles, and most recently playing recurring roles on Showtime’s Billions and Cinemax’s The Knick. She appeared in featured films such as Frequency with Dennis Quaid, Life Or Something Like It as Angelina Jolie’s best friend, Loverboy directed by Kevin Bacon, and others. At The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, she starred in The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady with John Lithgow, and Camelot opposite Jeremy Irons, which they revived for one night on Broadway. She also starred in non-musical roles in such plays as The Importance of Being Earnest, Shaw’s Candida and Wally Shawn’s Aunt Dan and Lemon at The New Group. Off-Broadway, she has performed the role of Sharon in Finian’s Rainbow three times (the subject of her debut essay for The New York Times), and starred in On A Clear Day You Can See Forever at The Irish Repertory Theatre to great acclaim. She has five Drama Desk nominations, a Lucille Lortel Award, two Helen Hayes nominations, four Drama League Honors, and a Tony Award nomination. She was honored with a Sardi’s caricature and also served a term on the National Endowment For The Arts.