Melissa Errico Tackles Middle Age and Musicals in New Essay for the New York Times

Is 46 too old to play the ingenue? This is the question being asked by Broadway leading lady, Melissa Errico, in a new essay for the New York Times.

As the actress prepares to reprise the role of Sharon in the revival of "Finian's Rainbow" at Irish Repertory Theatre, a role she has played twice in her nearly thirty year career, she reflects on the challenges and perceived artistic limitations of ingenue roles.

Ms. Errico, who made her name portraying many of the great leading ladies of the musical theatre, is keenly aware of the inevitable expiration date on her status as an ingenue. As the actress nears an age where "ingenue police are knocking on her door", she ponders the age disparity for female stage roles as well as the uncertainties facing women of a certain age within the performing arts.

She writes: "The truth is that women in musical theater still tend to be segregated: romantic innocents or worldly dames. Where is the elusive middle? What roles are there for actually aging, still human women? Very few come to mind: Arlene in "Baby." Anna in "The King & I." I'm not ready to be Auntie Mame or Norma Desmond yet."

Read the full story at The New York Times

Melissa Errico has starred in seven Broadway musicals and released several major solo CDs:Blue Like That (EMI/Capitol Records), Lullabies and Wildflowers (VMG/Universal),Legrand Affair (Ghostlight/Sony) and the most recent (2015) What About Today? Melissa Errico Live at 54 Below (Broadway Records) which was followed up immediately by a DVD. Her digital release More Lullabies and Wildflowers was released on Mother's Day 2015 as a benefit for the tenth anniversary of her charity, The Bowery Babes, a NY 501c-3.