Mark Matson News

Continuing the entertainment legacies launched by her grandfathers, comedian Buddy Hackett and hit songwriter, Ron Miller, 10-year-old multi-talented singer and dancer Ashleigh Hackett releases her third music video and recording with an infectious, original new song, "Slay."

Multi-talented 16-year-old actor/singer, Oliver Richman (www.oliverrichman.com), releases new holiday music with his latest recording, “Celebrate Me Home,” – the title track to Kenny Loggins' debut album in 1977. Richman's new release is now available for digital download on Amazon and iTunes.

Multitalented 16-year-old recording artist and actor, Oliver Richman (www.oliverrichman.com), releases a moving a cappella version of the Tears for Fears 1982 hit, "Mad World," which was also covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the 2001 "Donnie Darko" soundtrack. Richman's new release is now available on Amazon and iTunes. The new music video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygb_wNwPZHc.

16-year-old actor and recording artist, Oliver Richman's (www.oliverrichman.com) new song and video “Believe” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIZ21briWaw) offers a profound expression of hope in response to these increasingly troubled times.

With the passage of time, we're faced with the inevitable reality of someday letting go of a loved one, whether an aging parent or sending a child off to college. In either case, the beauty of a parent's love endures. Veteran producer/singer/songwriter Lisa Dawn Miller(www.lisadawnmiller.com) has teamed with her son, 15-year-old actor and recording artist Oliver Richman (www.oliverrichman.com), on “Today” - a poignant, soaring ballad that marks the artists' first ever recorded vocal collaboration. The song is now available on iTunes and Amazon.

Carrying the torch of the late, legendary songwriter, Ron Miller, is his own multi-talented grandson, Oliver Richman (www.oliverrichman.com) who is releasing a special 50th Anniversary EP, 'For Once In My Life' honoring the legacy of his grandfather who passed away in 2007. The four-track EP is now available on iTunes and Amazon.

Continuing her exciting emergence as a songwriter and recording artist, veteran musical producer and stage performer Lisa Dawn Miller - the daughter of legendary songwriter Ron Miller - follows her acclaimed EP 'Hello You' with 'My Turn Begins Today,' a six-track set that is the second in a unique rollout of three debut EP releases.

Fast emerging as a songwriter and recording artist, veteran musical producer and stage performer Lisa Dawn Miller – the daughter of legendary songwriter Ron Miller – makes her highly-anticipated debut as a singer-songwriter with Hello You, a five-song set that is the first in a unique rollout of three EP releases.

Produced by the Hackett Miller Company, Inc., the show is directed by Hackett from a book by himself and Miller, who also play lead roles in the production.

BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE - Commencing another successful touring season, currently in its 7th year, the hit show, Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show (http://www.sandysratpack.com), opens at the Bucks County Playhouse on October 6th and runs through October 18th. The South Bend Tribune writes of the show's producers and stars Sandy Hackett (son of legendary comedian, Buddy Hackett) and Lisa Dawn Miller (daughter of legendary songwriter, Ron Miller), "That personal attachment allows this husband-and-wife team to channel their childhood memories with credible insight into the four legendary personalities that no novice to the Rat Pack lore could pull off."

In 1970, legendary Motown songwriter Ron Miller penned the song, 'Heaven Help Us All,' becoming one of Stevie Wonder's first major hits. With its gospel-infused sound and poignant, timeless lyric, the song has been covered by multiple major label artists including, Joan Baez and Richie Sambora. The last song ever recorded by Ray Charles for his album,Genius Loves Company, Charles won multiple Grammy Awards (posthumously) for his version in 2004. Now, Miller's grandson, 14-year-old singer and multi-talented performer Oliver Richman (www.oliverrichman.com), releases a new recording and music video for a new generation. Click below to listen!

Multi-talented artistry, fast-rising 9-year-old singer and performer Ashleigh Hackett has a very important question for her growing fan base as she releases her energetic new dance/pop single and its fresh, playful video

Gearing up for the release of ?'Can You Feel It,' the follow-up single and video to her debut release 'Let's Go!', multi-talented 9-year-old singer and multi-talented performer Ashleigh Hackett (www.ashleighhackett.com) will headline at the 27th Annual Kids Fair in Charleston, S.C. March 22.

Carrying on the family entertainment legacies launched by her grandfathers, comedian Buddy Hackett and songwriter, Ron Miller, 8-year-old singer, dancer and multi-talented performer Ashleigh Hackett (www.ashleighhackett.com) makes her debut as a recording artist with an infectious, original new song, 'Let's Go!,' inspired by her love for 'Dance Moms,' the Lifetime reality series and its central figure, Abby Lee Miller. The video can be viewed below!

There is only one REAL Rat Pack Experience! Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show plays Jacksonville's Times-Union Center's Moran Theater on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 8:00PM for one performance only!

Poor, plain, easily ignored Nemorino. He's so in love with the beautiful Adina, but she doesn't love him back. Ultimately, lovesick Nemorino is forced to buy a love potion from a charlatan to win Adina's heart. While that may be the plot of Gaetano Donizetti's comic opera, it doesn't take a potion to fall for Austin Lyric Opera's superb production of The Elixir of Love. Every element of this superbly crafted production will win the love and adoration of the audience. Opera lovers will be entranced, and opera newcomers will be enchanted. If you are an opera novice or are under the impression that you hate opera, give this one a chance. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to follow this simple, charming, humorous show, and you'll be glad to know that given its 2 hour and 30 minute running time, it's a relatively brief affair.

My apologies to Verdi and Mozart. No one does romance like Puccini. If you were lucky enough to catch Austin Lyric Opera's recent production of Tosca, I assume you'd agree with me. The production is easily among the best productions in ALO's recent history.

When it comes to operas by Giuseppe Verdi, Don Carlo has to be the most challenging one to produce. Which version do you use? The French version? The Italian translation? Given the over four hour running time of the full version, where do you make cuts, and why? And once you answer those questions, there's the content to deal with. How do you pack in the opera's themes of love, war, betrayal, politics, and the Spanish Inquisition? The later question is one that Austin Lyric Opera's current production fails to answer. While Don Carlo is 3 hours and 30 minutes of aural bliss, the story is handled in a clumsy and sometimes unfortunate way.

Los Angeles-based teen entrepreneurs Emily Matson and Julianne Goldmark, the duo behind Emi-Jay, Inc., announced their 2013 partnership with Step Up Women's Network. Founded in 2008, the luxe hair accessory company partners with Step Up Women's Network to encourage girls across the nation to fulfill their goals and unlock their ultimate career potential.