By: Denis McKeown
British Musical Theatre Star Melanie Stace debuted her New York City Cabaret elegance June 3d at Feinstein’s with an original song “Here’s to the Ladies,” a tribute to American singers Judy Garland, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Hutton and Barbara Steisand, among others.
Opening with the classic love song, “More Than You Know,” Melanie seduced the patrons with the beautiful “Embraceable You” first sung in films by Ginger Rogers, followed by Judy Garland, and then proceeded to enchant with the plea to find “Someone To Watch Over Me,” a Rosemary Clooney favorite written by the Gershwin brothers, George and Ira.
Dressed in a long black gown studded with sequins and rhinestones, Melanie explained that she started her career as a showgirl in Italy and was impressed with the singing talent of Mina Mancini, changing into a songstress herself. Having worked in cabarets on the West Coast for six years, headlining at both The Plush Room and the RRazz Room in San Francisco and earning rave reviews, with jaunts to Seattle the nightclub spectacle “Teatro Zinzanni” for six seasons, Melanie’s lush sound befits a star of such musicals as “Gypsy” in London, where she played Louise, the Gypsy in the title, and as Polly Baker in “Crazy For You.”
Melanie gave sterling performances of Rodgers and Hart’s “Ten Cents A Dance,” made famous by Doris Day, as well as Billie Holiday’s ”God Bless The Child.”
Ms. Stace returns to Feinstein’s in September, so mark your Calendar to welcome her back in the Fall.
Posted by Sandi Durell
on June 7, 2012. Filed under Cabaret,Cabaret and Interviews - Sandi Durell,COLUMNS,ENTERTAIMENT.
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