Melissa Manchester Coming to TheatreZone in February 2016

Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Melissa Manchester has done it all. Her first singing job, as a solo singer/pianist in the clubs of New York, is where she met Bette Midler. She was hired as a back-up singer for Bette, as one of the famous, "Harlettes," and six months later, she had her own recording contract!

Today, TheatreZone artistic director Mark Danni announced that Ms. Manchester is coming the Naples to perform two cabaret-styled concerts in the Equity theatre group's 250-seat G&L Theatre, located on the campus of The Community School of Naples on Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19, 2016 at 8 pm. Tickets cost $75 and $50 via www.theatrezone-florida.com/tickets or call the box office at (888) 966-3352.

"Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience this talented, award-winning artist up close and personal in our beautiful, intimate theatre," urges Danni. "Melissa has headlined at Carneige Hall and Radio City Music Hall and we're confident her limited engagement at TheatreZone will sell out quickly," he adds.

Melissa Manchester's platinum selling song, "Midnight Blue," captured the hearts of fans worldwide. She received the Grammy Award in 1982 for Best Female Vocalist. In 1980, she became the first artist in the history of the Academy Awards to have two nominated movie themes in a given year: "Through the Eyes of Love," and "The Promise." Melissa went on to make Oscar history by performing both songs during the worldwide telecast.

Melissa and Kenny Loggins co-wrote the radio classic, "Whenever I Call You Friend," and her songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Peabo Bryson, Cleo Laine, and Barbara Cook, among many others. Her international hits: "Through the Eyes of Love," and "Don't Cry Out Loud" were written for her by frequent collaborators, Carole Bayer Sager, Marvin Hamlisch and the late Peter Allen.

Melissa was nominated for a Grammy in 1978 and 1979 and received the Grammy Award in 1982 for Best Female Vocalist. In 1980 she became the first artist in the history of the Academy Awards to have two nominated movie themes in a given year -- "Through The Eyes Of Love" and "The Promise" -- and went on the make Oscar history by performing both songs during the worldwide telecast.

For her acclaimed release Tribute, Melissa has come full circle, honoring the great singers who influenced her. >From Garland to Streisand, Piaf to Fitzgerald, Melissa paid homage to the icons with lush Peter Matz arrangements for this collection of classics.

Melissa's newest album, "You Gotta Love The Life" (2015) features Keb' Mo', Dionne Warwick and Steve Wonder.

About TheatreZone

Operating under the guidelines of the Actors' Equity Association and small professional theatres contract, TheatreZone is in residence and performs in the intimate 250-seat G&L Theatre housed on the magnificent campus of The Community School of Naples, one block north of Pine Ridge Road at 13275 Livingston Road.

TheatreZone Season 11 tickets are now on sale for five shows including a joint production of Xanadu with Florida Gulf Cost University's Bower School of Music and The Arts, staged in the 90-seat Theatre Lab on the FGCU campus for 10-performances, October 1 through October 10, 2015. Tickets to Xanadu cost $45 and $40 each.

Season 11 selections feature Marvin Hamlisch's Sweet Smell of Success, January 5 - 15, 2016; The Boy From Oz, February 4 - 14, 2016; Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, March 5 - 15, 2016 and Dames at Sea, April 28 - May 8, 2016. Season 11 series tickets are on sale now with the subscriber series (four shows) and a mini series (three shows). Individual ticket sales to Season 11 selections are priced at $48 - $53 plus a $2 per ticket fee.

A special one-night only Love Finds Judy Garland concert takes place Tuesday, February 16, 2016 featuring songstress Joan Ellison. Tickets cost $50.

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