Friends Academy alum, Broadway star, and NYT essayist Melissa Errico ’88 performed her new holiday show, The Secret Diary of Mrs. Santa, at the Tilles Center last Saturday night.
Billed as the untold story of Mr. & Mrs. Santa’s courtship and life at the North Pole, the show combined memoir-style narratives, moving renditions of traditional songs such as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Silver Bells,” and original songs performed with energetic flair for a limited-run show that toured in Pennsylvania, New York and Texas.
Melissa, who wrote nearly the entire show during a 48-hour window around Thanksgiving, was backed by a jazz trio that featured her brother, Michael, Class of 1984 at Friends Academy, on the drums, and pianist Billy Stritch, who famously toured with Tony Bennett as his pianist and musical director.
After the show, Melissa met with a Friends Academy contingent that included Head of School Paul Stellato, his wife, Maureen, alumni, former parents, current students, FA colleagues, and other guests. One young student asked Melissa what it takes to make it on Broadway, or if it’s just a matter of pure luck?
“It takes both hard work and luck,” she said. “You have to be able to perform to that level, and you have to be seen by the right people who can give you an opportunity. But you always have to put in the hard work in order to have the luck. If you don’t, you won’t be ready for the opportunity when it comes.”
Melissa began her Broadway career as one of the leading ladies of her generation. At 19, she debuted as Cosette in Les Misérables and later played Eliza in a Broadway revival of My Fair Lady. Her career highlights included being nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in Amour.
Beyond the stage, she’s worked in TV & film (Billions and Blue Bloods, for example). She also pens a regular column for the New York Times, Scenes from an Acting Life, that chronicles the misadventures of a “girl singer on the road.”
To learn more about Melissa’s career and upcoming shows, visit her website: melissaerrico.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at @melissa_errico_fairymom.
Inline photo by Jack Roman for Friends Academy