The one-and-only Melissa Errico lights up the stage in Irish Rep's revival of Lane & Lerner's On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
. Melissa stars as Daisy Gamble (a sweet chronic smoker with a gift for flowers living in NYC) and Melinda Welles (the 18th century British aristocrat she was in a former life).Melissa returns to Feinstein's/54 Below on August 6 & 7 with Broadway Romance
, a new concert with her Passion and Finian's Rainbow co-star Ryan Silverman. Those two marvelous voices duet all night long with songs from the shows that they have appeared in together, shows they would love to appear in together, and more.BroadwayBox caught up with the Tony nominee to discuss sharing the stage with Silverman, keeping your voice healthy and limitless, and staying present rather than looking for what's next.
1. You have a standing working relationship with Irish Rep. What is your dream project there? If they were to revive anything for you to star, what would you choose?
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2. As a terminal ingénue, how have the demands of what’s expected of an ingénue in today’s musical scene changed since you played Cosette or Eliza?
I saw an ingenue recently that simply knocked me over and made me feel that she had mastered the old and the new. Christy Altomare (in Anastasia). Her acting was strong and self-possessed, she’s feminine and funny, she’s earthy but has grandeur. She sings beautifully but not only elegantly—she’s modern and has that strong mix in her voice. I loved her! Let’s go ask her!
3. What do you love about working with Ryan Silverman as a scene partner? What have you learned from working with each other?
I love Ryan for a lot of reasons...it’s not easy for actors to publicly state why they enjoy each other...gosh I hope he doesn’t read this...I like performing with him because he’s masculine and warm-hearted, plus he loves to sing .... yes, he loves doing it, and so do I...and he takes a huge pleasure out of making sound and music, and I enjoy seeing him soar. His voice soars with pleasure. He’s a very happy person and that creates a lot of freedom for me in rehearsals, to experiment and feel he’s flexible as we play with the words. He & I have fun, and don’t lock ourselves down with strict plans. Let’s make sure he never reads this interview, ok?
4. What outlet does cabaret provide you? How does it feel connecting to the audience as yourself rather than a character?
It’s not that different for me, as I always feel I am sharing myself. It’s just not as hidden behind the story of a musical. Cabaret is fascinating, isn’t it? What is it but a string of songs over an hour, with the connection being: what I want to sing to you today, and why...and then, how it will feel will be new every time? Obviously, there’s no written plot to protect. In a musical, you have to make sure the story gets told, and you use every ounce of what’s available in yourself to serve that story. In a concert, you open up your own story more, and choose which chapters of your life & mind you are going to share tonight. Then you can explore instrumentation to personalize it, shape it to your own attachment to the song. Some people buy diamonds or beach houses, or cars or whatever... all I ever want to have is the luxury of another arrangement!!!
I hope I answered your question—I love concerts because I love sharing a room with the kind of people who love show music.
5. How do you care for your voice? What’s your secret to sounding so great and so consistent?
Thank you for that. I have worked so hard to balance the demands of motherhood with singing. That just means time management and getting more and more focused on every way to live the calmest and most healthy life I can. Some people have vices like smoking or drinking—mine was making too many babies. Ok. seriously....This winter, I took a course in TM, a kind of meditation. I think it is effecting the quality of my sleep really positively and I think it deepens everyday breath. I study voice every week, and I continue to get ideas from new rising star teacher/performers like —and I must blatantly recommend her here— the singer Alexa Green. She is wonderful with students! I am currently teaching a 5-week master class at HB STUDIO (called Singing The Story: Acting A Song) and I brought her in today to discuss technique with my students—many who want to master mix belting and the high belting that is getting more & more common—and I found myself learning from her. Watching that your technique helps ride the air up and over the throat, so you have minimal pressure and fatigue. Always seeking the maximum sound for the least effort, which doesn’t mean low energy. So, that’s one thing—always learning. (Never forget to take lessons and work on the whole voice. If you’re belting every day, as I am with Daisy in On A Clear Day, work your soprano. Don’t let limits creep in.) And drink more water than you even think you can stand!!
Don't miss seeing Melissa Errico in concert with Ryan Silverman at Feinstein's/54 Below on August 6 & 7, and in 'On a Clear Day You Can See Forever' at Irish Rep off-Broadway through September 6.
