At its heart, MELISSA ERRICO SINGS HER NEW YORK is not a show about New York, or songs about New York, although both of those things are prominently featured. Rather it is about one woman's lifelong experience of New York City, with all of the dreams, obsessions, joys, heartbreaks, terror, and rapture that come with living, working, and loving in the world's most exciting and most irritating city. It is about a woman who made the short journey from Long Island with nothing but some dance shoes, a voice, and a dream and acquired a home, friends, a career, a husband, and a family, along with a journal full of memories and experiences. In short, a life.
Specifically, an old man tired of watching his beloved Washington Senators lose makes a deal with Mr. Applegate, aka the devil (Ray Walston), to become a 22-year-old superstar named Joe Hardy (Tab Hunter) and take the team to the World Series.
Now add a steady stream of unforgettable songs by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, including “Heart,” “Six Months Out of Every Year” and a sizzling performance of “Whatever Lola Wants” by Mr. Applegate’s demonic temptress Lola, played to perfection by multiple Tony Award-winning actress Gwen Verdon, and we have a big winner.
Also, top off the fun with choreography by legend Bob Fosse highlighted by the numbers “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo,” “Two Lost Souls” and “Who’s Got the Pain,” the latter teaming up Fosse with Verdon in a dynamite dancing duet.