Melissa Errico

Melissa Errico
Born	Melissa Errico (1970-03-23) March 23, 1970 New York, New York
Occupation(s)	Actress Singer Recording Artist Writer
Years active	1982–present
Spouse	Patrick McEnroe (19th December 1998 – present)
Children	Victoria Penny McEnroe (b. 21st April 2006) Diana Katherine McEnroe and Juliette Beatrice McEnroe (b. 19th November 2008)
Website	http://www.melissaerrico.com/

Melissa Errico is an actress, singer and recording artist. In addition to establishing herself on the Broadway stage in dramas and musicals, Melissa has appeared in prime time TV shows, feature films and concert halls across the world. She has released three solo studio albums to date.

The early years

Melissa Errico was born in New York Hospital and lived in New York City for five years while her New Jersey-raised father completed medical residency and her Brooklyn-native mother was a schoolteacher in Harlem. Both of first-generation Italian descent, her parents ultimately relocated the family to Manhasset, Long Island where her father established a medical practice in Orthopedics. Melissa's parents saw the early spark of inspiration when they took their daughter to see the Broadway revival of “On Your Toes." Uncannily, it was at the same theater (The Virginia) exactly ten years later where a 22-year old Melissa starred as Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady," winning such accolades as "a beguiling newcomer" (NY Times). Growing up, Melissa combined her aptitude for gymnastics and ballet with a passion for musical theater and she performed in local theater groups on Long Island. She competed in gymnastics at a national level and by 6th grade spent summers at French Woods Camp for The Performing Arts.

Starting her professional career at the age of 12, Melissa appeared on national television in the Sunbow Entertainment production, syndicated children’s TV series “The Great Space Coaster" (created by Kermit Love (original Muppet designer for Jim Henson) and Jim Martin (Emmy award winner for “Sesame Street”). At French Woods, she was cast in major roles from her first summer at the age of 12 as Hedy La Rue in "How To Succeed..," followed by Eva Peron in "Evita" (opposite composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown), Carla in "Nine" and Charity Barnum in "Barnum". During two school years, Melissa was a member of the teen performance group “NY Cabaret Troupe” and regularly showcased with the group.

Education

Melissa Errico was accepted at Yale University and during her first year she drove into the city regularly for auditions. One afternoon, Melissa was seen waiting in a hallway for a summer stock call back for the role of Josie Cohan (originated by Bernadette Peters) in an upcoming Rhode Island Theater by the Sea’s production of “George M." Approached by Cameron Mackintosh's production team Melissa was asked to audition for the role of Cosette – she won the role and toured for a year in the First National Company of “Les Miserables”. She later returned and graduated from Yale University with an honors degree in Art History & Philosophy. While a student in New Haven, Melissa played Irina in "The Three Sisters" with Edward Norton. During the summer of her junior year, Melissa studied acting, with a focus on Chekhov, Shaw & Shakespeare at the University of Oxford, England where she took a master class with distinguished actor Jeremy Irons (with whom she would later co-star in two productions of the classic musical “Camelot" at The Hollywood Bowl and an acclaimed one-night only staged concert on Broadway at the Shubert Theater). She was accepted into the Yale Graduate School of Drama but opted instead to star in “Anna Karenina” as Princess Kitty on Broadway at The Circle in the Square. During this production, she was spotted by the producers casting the revival of "My Fair Lady."

The Ziegfeld connection

Her maternal grandmother was an operatic, lyric soprano; her sister, Rose, who went on to become a successful Ziegfeld Follies girl, was known to have been one of the favorite dancers of the famed impresario (also appearing in the original production of "Show Boat" in 1927). Melissa is a member of the New York Ziegfeld Society.

Career

Theater

Having led musical theater companies on Broadway, Melissa has also appeared in straight plays, both high comedy and dramatic, by writers as varied as Oscar Wilde and Wallace Shawn. This is supported by her six Drama Desk award nominations in categories with such peers as Laura Linney, Viola Davis, Anne Hathaway and Alison Janney. Melissa is the recipient of a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Michel Legrand's "Amour"), four Outer Critics Circle Awards, five Drama League Honors, two Helen Hayes nods and a triumphant Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actress in “One Touch of Venus." She is the first recipient in history of the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Her stage roles include:

Role	Production	Location	Year
Cosette	Les Miserables	USA	1988
Princess Kitty Scherbatssky	Anna Karenina	Broadway	1992
Eliza Doolittle	My Fair Lady	Broadway	1993
Princess Maria	Call Me Madam	City Center Encores! New York	1995
Venus	One Touch Of Venus	City Center Encores! New York	1996
Gwendolen Fairfax	The Importance Of Being Earnest	Off - Broadway	1996
Betty Comden	Make Someone Happy	New York	1997
Tracy Lord	High Society	Broadway	1998
Barbara	Major Barbara	Off - Broadway	1998
Anna Karenina	Anna Karenina	Off - Broadway	2000
Anne Boleyn & Princess Elizabeth	Rex	Off - Broadway	2000
Isabelle	Amour	Broadway	2002
Dot/Marie	Sunday In The Park With George	Washington	2002
Eliza Doolittle	My Fair Lady	Hollywood Bowl	2003
Polly Peachum	The Threepenny Opera	Williamstown Theater Festival	2003
Mother	Aunt Dan and Lemon	Off - Broadway	2003
Mina	Dracula - The Musical	Broadway	2004
Sharon McLonergan	Finian's Rainbow	Off - Broadway	2004
Venus	One Touch Of Venus	Fully staged concert, Avery Fisher Hall, New York	2004
Guinevere	Camelot	Fully staged concert, Hollywood Bowl	2005
Sharon McLonergan	Finian's Rainbow	Westport Country Playhouse	2005
Maria Rainer	The Sound Of Music	Fully staged concert, Hollywood Bowl	2006
Kate	Alive In The World	New York	2007
Betty Haynes	White Christmas	Broadway	2009
Candida	Candida	Off - Broadway	2010
Fiona	Brigadoon	Fully staged concert, Broadway	2010
Helen	The Gift Of The Gorgon	New York	2011
Guinevere	Camelot	Fully staged concert, Broadway	2011
Nancy	Oliver!	Fully staged concert, Broadway	2012
Clara	Passion	Off - Broadway	2013
Annie Savoy	Bull Durham - The Musical	Atlanta	2014
Maria Cosway	More Between Heaven And Earth	Off - Broadway	2014 and 2015

Roles of particular significance

• Eliza Doolittle: previewing from 26 November 1993, opening 9th December and running until May 1, 1994, Melissa starred as Eliza opposite Richard Chamberlain and Julian Holloway (who recreated his father’s role as Alfred P. Doolittle) at the Virginia Theater on Broadway. Well-received, David Richards (New York Times) commended the "beguiling newcomer" for her breakout performance - “As Ms. Errico delivers the exultant song, she does a backward somersault on the mattress, dives under the covers, pops right back out again, performs a balancing act on the headboard and generally carries on like a kid on Christmas Eve. The actress is irrepressible, gawky, and altogether endearing. Anyone playing Eliza, of course, can expect to be measured against Julie Andrews. Ms. Errico does not make so fine a fair lady, perhaps. But then I’m not sure Ms. Andrews was ever quite this frisky.” New York magazine also complimented her entrance by saying “Melissa Errico walked on stage, in her debut as Eliza Doolittle… a Julie Andrews-wannabe and walked off Broadway’s newest star.” In 2003, Melissa took to the stage as Eliza once again, this time joined John Lithgow and Roger Daltrey for a 3-week production of “My Fair Lady” at The Hollywood Bowl, singing for sold-out audiences of 20,000 people nightly. Darryl H Miller of the LA Times congratulated Melissa whose “…musical numbers were particularly enchanting, as she turned her floating, fluttering soprano to a giddy rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" and a woozily romantic version of "I Could Have Danced All Night."

• Venus: From 28 – 30 March 1996, Melissa made one of the most talked about and lauded appearances of her generation at The City Center Encores! Directed by Leonard Foglia (Master Class), she played the titular role in Kurt Weill's “One Touch of Venus." The only performer in over twenty years of the famed Encores! series to win an award, Melissa was named Outstanding Actress in a Musical (1996 Lucille Lortel Award) and she continues to revive this role in concert. The reviews were “love letters” from the likes of the New York Times - “suddenly, an overnight sensation. As Venus, the Roman goddess of love, Ms. Errico stole the show.” (Peter Marks), “Melissa Errico is, in a word, divine.” (Ben Brantley) and Backstage “Melissa Errico must be a magician as well as the loveliest, most exciting, most desirable goddess ever to appear among mortals” (David Rosenberg). The first complete recording of the score in history, starring Melissa, was released 13 May 2014 on Jay Records and was supported by a Barnes & Noble tour hosted by Ted Chapin. On October 7, 2013, Melissa sang the complete show in a filmed concert at Symphony Space with Le Train Bleu orchestra conducted by Weill specialist James Holmes to rapturous notices.

• Dot/Marie: In 2002, Errico was selected by Stephen Sondheim himself to star as Dot/Marie in “Sunday in The Park with George” for The Sondheim Celebration at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The production ran at the Eisenhower Theater, 31 May – 28 June. Melissa took to the stage with cartwheels in the opening number and appeared undressed in a bathtub of bubbles for the “Color and Light” sequence, replacing Bernadette Peter's iconic vanity table with her own Trademark image reminiscent of Impressionist Era iconography. Sondheim made lyric changes to accommodate the bathtub theme, adding in the words "soap" and "more scent." Melissa's work was recognized with a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Leading Actress in a Musical. Charles Isherwood of Variety documented she was “…in radiant voice…is particularly fetching as the young Dot…more demure than Bernadette Peters’ prickly original” while Mark Eden Horowitz in the Sondheim review raved of her portrayal saying” …Errico was languorous, playful, sensual and seductive. Errico’s Marie was knowing, sharp and both proprietary and protective in her love of George and Elaine. The most winning surprise was a perfect Charleston accent – the seeming proof of her pedigree.” Melissa reprised this performance at Avery Fisher Music Hall soon after. In subsequent years, Sondheim has invited her to sing from it at his 75th Birthday Concert on March 21st, 2005 directed by Richard Maltby, Jr and in Mike Nichols starry two-night benefit "Short Talks on the Universe" directed by Daniel Sullivan, also with Kevin Kline and Bette Midler. In June 2014, President Emeritus Michael Kaiser celebrated his farewell as acting president of The Kennedy Center and requested Melissa sing excerpts from "Sunday..." at a prestigious event in The State Department.

• Candida – Directed by the Oscar-winning set & costume designer, director and author Tony Walton, Melissa took on the title role in the Irish Repertory Theater’s revival of George Bernard Shaw’s play. The production ran 24th February – 25th April in 2010. Achieving another Drama Desk Award nomination for her portrayal, Melissa was reviewed as “…flawless in her performance of the title role, being at once luminous, tough-minded, and deceptively romantic. It's Errico's job in the play to make us understand why every man in the room, in their own way, is in love with Candida, and she does so with a lovely, understated performance.” (Theatermania ) while Variety approved, saying “Errico brings so much depth and common sense to her much-desired character that one never questions why all the fuss is being made about her.” (Sam Thielman).

• Annie Savoy – based on the MGM movie, Melissa won the lead role of Annie in the world premiere of the new musical, “Bull Durham” which played 3 September – 5 October 2014 at the Alliance theater in Atlanta, Georgia. Starring with fellow Broadway star, Will Swenson, Melissa obtained critical acclaim – “As the titillating tutor, Errico lands and decisively delivers one of the best roles of her career.” (Frank Rizzo, Variety).

Television

Maintaining a prolific theater career, Melissa has carved out an impressive track record in television, having worked with directors and creators such as Steven Soderbergh, Spike Lee, Tom Fontana and Darren Star. She was a series regular on Star's CBS' “Central Park West” and Darren went on to cast her in a recurring arc on "Miss Match." Melissa has made strong guest appearances in internationally syndicated shows such as “Blue Bloods” (an intensely dramatic storyline as a Hasidic widow) and “The Good Wife” (both CBS) to her current work on Cinemax’s “The Knick” and “Billions” for Showtime.

She has sung on PBS, featured at The Kennedy Center singing from The King and I, as well as on many talk shows including Rosie O'Donnell, Caroline Rhea and Martha Stewart.

As a parallel to her major TV commitments, Melissa has appeared in high-profile pilots for new shows:

• “Smog” written and directed by Jon Favreau, produced by writer/director Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Mad about you, Entourage) and was one of the first single camera comedies (non-studio sitcom) on TV. It starred Vince Vaughn and Noah Emmerich - Melissa was a series regular.

• The Spike Lee-helmed show, “M.O.N.Y” was produced by Tom Fontana for NBC in 2006 and charted a term of office for the Mayor of New York portrayed by Bobby Cannavale (Melissa played his wife).

• Produced by Kelsey Grammer, Melissa starred in her own NBC sitcom pilot entitled “Neurotic Tendencies” which told the story of a downtown actress’ relationship with an older man from the day they both hailed the same NYC taxi cab.

• "The Fighting Fitzgeralds" written and produced by Ed Burns, starring Brian Dennehy for CBS - Melissa once again was a series regular.

TV highlights:

Show	Role	Year
Billions	June	2015
The Knick	Catherine Christiansen	2014
The Good Wife	Ingrid Ballantine	2013
Blue Bloods	Rivka Morganthal	2013
Martha Stewart Living	Herself	2012
A Gifted Man	Julie Tucker	2011
Good Morning America	as Betty Haynes	2009
Six Degrees	Sarah	2006
Sci-fi Investigates	Herself	2006
M.O.N.Y (pilot)	Mrs Capanelli	2006
Miss Match	Laurel	2003
Law and Order	Lindsay Tucker	2003
57th Annual Tony Awards	Herself	2003
Short talks on the Universe - benefit performance	Herself	2002
The Rosie O'Donnell Show	Herself	2002
Ed	Liz Stevens	2001
Neurotic Tendencies		2001
Norm	Kim Cattino	2001
The Fighting Fitzgerald's (pilot)		2001
Smog (pilot)		1999
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade	as Tracy Lord	1998
Kennedy Center's 25th Anniversary	Herself	1996
Central Park West	Alex Bartoli Fairchild	1995 - 1996
The Cosby Mysteries	Tricia Scott	1995
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade	as Eliza Doolittle	1993
As The World Turns	Rebecca	1987
The Great Space Coaster		1982

Film

Melissa has appeared in mainstream and independent films working with directors and co-stars alike including: Angelina Jolie, Jim Caviezel, Kevin Bacon, Dennis Quaid, Robert Vaughn, Kyra Sedgwick, Stephen Herek and Don Scardino. She’s has appeared in thrillers, comedies and dramas.

Film	Role	Year
Broadway - The Next Generation	Herself	2016
Max Rose	Voice	2013
Patrimony	Caroline	2011
Loverboy	Miss Silken	2005
Life Or Something Like It	Andrea	2002
Mockingbird Don't Sing	Sandra Tannen	2001
Frequency	Samantha Thomas	2000
Picture This	Eve Weidegger	1999
Bury The Evidence	The wife	1998
Loose Women	Gail	1997

Melissa recorded her first film theme song for the movie, “Max Rose”in 2013 which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The soundtrack features an original score by multi award winning composer Michel Legrand and Melissa sings the main title track “Hurry Home” which can be heard throughout the film and during the closing credits. Filmmaker, Gary Gardner made a short film of the recording sessions for the song which can be seen on YouTube and features Melissa.

Recording career

According to music critic Stephen Holden of The New York Times, "Melissa Errico has the power to take a sumptuous Broadway ballad to the moon and back!” and she has sustained an illustrious recording career, garnering kudos for her cast soundtracks as well as solo albums. The three solo albums to date have emphasised Melissa's interest in what she has termed "new standards," drawing together songs by Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel and Judy Collins into the same collection as Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart. Melissa was first signed to a record label when she was in her twenties by Bruce Lundvall (president of Blue Note Records). She has collaborated with Randy Newman, Arif Mardin and Rob Mathes, who first worked with Melissa when she was invited to be a soloist at The Songwriters Hall of Fame concert, singing the Barbra Streisand hit "Didn't We?" for Jimmy Webb's induction. Her artistic collaboration with Michel Legrand is well known and began when Melissa appeared in Legrand’s Broadway debut, “Amour”. Legrand also wrote 15 original orchestrations of his own songs for her album “Legrand Affair,” which was recorded by Phil Ramone and included a song for a 100 piece symphony; the outcome was described by The Wall Street Journal as a “spectacularly beautiful album.” Melissa's recording of a song from David Shire's new musical "Table" was aired in April 2015 on NPR radio on The Jonathan Schwartz show for WYNC.

Solo albums

“Blue Like That” (Manhattan Records/EMI) produced by Arif Mardin and released 25 February 2003.

“Lullabies and Wildflowers” (Velour/Universal Records, later Ghostlight Records) produced by Rob Mathes and released 29 April 2008.

“Legrand Affair” (Ghostlight Records) produced by Phil Ramone and was released 18 October 2011.

“More Lullabies and Wildflowers” – 2 track single to benefit The Bowery Babes (“How Are Things In Glocca Morra ?” and “Maybe Someone Dreamed Us” – both previously unreleased) – 18 May 2015.

Cast albums

• “Call Me Madam” – Encores Cast (1995).
• “High Society” – Original Broadway Cast (1998).
• “Amour" – Original Broadway Cast (2003).
• “Finian’s Rainbow” – Irish Repertory Theater Cast Recording (2004).
• “Sadie Thompson” - World premiere recording (2005).
• “Anna Karenina” – The Broadway Musical (2007).
• “One Touch of Venus” – first complete recording (2014).

Miscellaneous recordings

• “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” – “The Musicality of Lerner & Loewe”.
• “The Mockingbird Song” – “Mockingbird Don’t Sing” soundtrack.
• “Blue Skies/It’s a Lovely Day Today” (duet with Malcolm Gets) – “The Journey Home”.
• “In Love In Vain” from “Jerome Kern: Life Upon The Wicked S.T.A.G.E.
• “There’s a Small Hotel” & “People Will Say We’re In Love” (duet with Patrick Quinn) – “Wall to Wall Richard Rodgers”.
• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from “Weihnachten with Jose Van Dam”.
• “Maybe Someone Dreamed Us” from “Legrand Affair” appears on the deluxe boxset, “Michel Legrand Anthology” (disc 10, track 16).
• “Otherwise” by Jane Kenyon – “Poetic License” – 100 poems/100 performers, part 3 (available on ITunes).
• “Hurry Home” – “Max Rose” Original Film Soundtrack.

Concerts

Melissa has sang all over the world in night clubs, theaters, opera houses and Performing Arts venues. Her appearances include shows at 54 Below, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, The Oak Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center and Café Carlyle. She was also asked to reprise her performance as Venus at City Center Encores! Broadway Bash! in November 2001. Melissa made her London debut in May 2008 when she starred in “Jerry Herman’s Broadway” at the London Palladium with Dame Angela Lansbury, Barbara Cook and Ron Raines. She’s taken part in three Symphony Space Wall to Wall events to commemorate Stephen Sondheim, Kurt Weill & Richard Rodgers in NYC. Ms Errico works regularly with symphony orchestras touring the United States delivering a range of Broadway standards from her repertoire.

Awards and recognition

Melissa has been recognized with wins and nominations for her dramatic and musical work on stage.

Year	Award	Category	Production	Nomination or Win
2013	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical	Passion	Nomination
2010	Drama Desk Award	Best Actress in a Play	Candida	Nomination
2004	Drama Desk Award	Best Actress in a Musical	Finian's Rainbow	Nomination
2004	Drama League Honoree		Finian's Rainbow	Win
2003	Tony Award	Best Actress in a Musical	Amour	Nomination
2003	Outer Critics Circle Award	Best Actress in a Musical	Amour	Nomination
2003	New York Drama League Honoree			Win
2002	Helen Hayes Award	Best Actress	Sunday In The Park With George	Nomination
1998	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	High Society	Nomination
1998	Outer Critics Circle Award	Best Actress in a Musical	High Society	Nomination
1998	New York Drama League Honoree		High Society & Major Barbara	Win
1997	Bay Area Critics Circle Award	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	High Society	Win
1997	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Featured Actress in a play	The Importance of Being Earnest	Nomination
1996	Lucille Lortel Award	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	One Touch of Venus	Win
1994	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	My Fair Lady	Nomination
1993	Helen Hayes Award	Best Actress in a Musical	My Fair Lady	Nomination

Melissa is an honorary member of the Noel Coward Society following her headlining the society’s awards in 2011.

Personal life

Melissa is the middle child of Dr. Michael & Angela Errico of Manhasset, N.Y. She has 2 siblings – Mike (a singer-songwriter, author and teacher) & Melanie (a fashion and jewelry designer). She met her husband, former tennis professional and ESPN sports commentator Patrick McEnroe when they were in grade school together. They married 19 December 1998 at the Holy Trinity Church on W. 82nd Street. Making Manhattan their home, the couple have three daughters – Victoria Penny McEnroe (born 21 April 2006), Diana Katherine McEnroe & Juliette Beatrice McEnroe (born 19 November 2008). In March 2015, the family grew once again – their Yorkshire terrier pup, “Pepper” arrived.

Writing

Melissa blogs regularly, documenting her life with words and photographs. Over the course of her career, Melissa has written lyrics – “Gentle Child” appears on her 2008 solo recording, “Lullabies and Wildflowers” and she also authored “Musings” – an essay which details the chronology of her album “Legrand Affair”. Ms Errico is asked to guest lecture on acting, personal renewal and positive thinking (topics she’s blogged about in “Sounds from My Heart). She was principal speaker at the Annual Broadway Blessing in 2013 joining the ranks of such regular speakers there as Marian Seldes and Lynn Redgrave.

Social media

Her website collates Melissa’s career and achievements to date as well as being the home of her blog, “Sounds from My Heart”. She also has a YouTube, channel and maintains an active presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Philanthropy

Melissa Errico founded the original Bowery Babes in 2005 and maintains her seat on the Board of Directors for this New York based non-profit 501-c3 organization. Committed to supporting women from pregnancy through the early stages of motherhood, The Bowery Babes also works to protect and promote green or play space in Manhattan. With a membership of nearly 3000 families, the Bowery Babes are known for their multilingual playdates, picnics, lectures and vibrant online forums which are guided by a network of volunteers. The Bowery Babes and Melissa herself were the recipients of recognition from the Mayors’ office in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy for their substantial engagement and response to the plight of families in Far Rockaway. From its inception, Bowery Babes has worked with many like-minded charities, actively raising money for other non-profit organisations. Activities include toy drives, an annual holiday giving collection for Baby Buggy, supporting “Cookies for Cancer” and engaging with Bette Midler’s NY Restoration Project.

2015

Melissa has completed a full workshop and recording of the new David Shire musical “Table” with book and lyrics by Adam Gopnik (New York Magazine) She has been cast in Showtime’s new Wall Street themed TV drama, “Billions” and will appear at “The Night of a Thousand Judy’s” on June 1 at the Kaufman Music Center in New York.

External links

• Official website
• Bowery Babes
• Internet Broadway Database listing
• Melissa Errico at IMDb