melissa manchester and paul williams appear together, Thursday, Mar. 20, 8 p.m., at Westbury Music Fair.
It's been ten years since her last album. Now, with the recent release of her new album "When I look Down That Road" and a new tour, she's reinvigorated and ready to return to her fans.
"I left (recording), Manchester said, because I was making records that sounded less and less like me. I tried to please people intstead of believing in my own strength."
She kept herself busy writing for theater and films, and raising her children. Then she connected with legendary songwriter Paul Williams. From there, a new collaboration was born, which led to the new album and tour.
"It's an evening of songs and stories," Manchester said, of her current show, which is performed as theater-in-th-round. "We sing each other's songs and talk about songwriting. The 'backstories' are interesting to the audience."
Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning songwriter Paul Williams is recognized as one of America's most prolific and gifted lyricists and composers. His standards have been recorded by many diverse musical icons. On the big screen, he has provided song scores for the Streisand/Kristofferson remake of "A Star Is Born," which included the ballad "Evergreen." For the season finale of 'Alley McBeal,' he wrote "I Know Him By Heart," performed by Vonda Shepard.
Tickets are $40 and available through Ticketmaster at (631) 888-9000 and online at cc.com and musicfair.com.
Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury.
ALWAYS FUNNY
THE BROKERAGE CLUB 2797 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore, 785-8655. Varied show schedule, including Improv Show, The Comedy Shop,Open Mike Night, Joe Vega, Mitch Walters, Mitch Walters, Goumba Johnny, Stern show, Melanie, and much more.
GOVERNOR'S Comedy Cabaret and Restaurant, 90 Division Ave., Levittown,
731-3358 (www.govs.com). Comedian showcase Thursdays with host John Trueson, 8 p.m., $10 plus two beverage minimum.
ALWAYS FUN
Baldwin Skate PARK, Baldwin, offers state-of-the-art skating surfaces and modern equipment for skateboarders and in-line skaters. Skaters must be at least seven years old to use the facility. For more information, call 379-3779.
EISENHOWER PARK, East Meadow, is a great place to bring the family on a sunny day or play some golf. For more information, call 572-0200; golf ticket office, 572-0327.
GRANT PARK, Hewlett, has several different parks, for kids of all ages. For more information, call 571-7821.
lido golf Course, Lido beach; Merrick Road park and Golf course, Merrick; North Woodmere Park (9 Hole), North Woodmere, offer year-round golf. For more information, call Lido Golf Course at 889-8181, Merrick Road Golf Course at 868-4650 or North Woodmere Park at 571-7814.
Newbridge Arena, Bellmore, offers ice skating for the entire family. A great place for a birthday, the rink offers instruction at all levels of figure skating and hockey. Hockey programs include clinics and leagues for youth and adult. For more information, call 783-6181.
Echo Park Indoor Pool Complex, is a great place for year-round fun. A special lap swimming period is offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7-10 a.m. For more information, call 483-7400.
Exhibits and more...
A moment in time--An exhibition of photographs by lester E. Schenkman offers a glimpse of life in a completely different world. They are featured in Schenkman's new book, "Impressions." The exhibit runs through Mar. 31. Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside. 766-4341.
A Walk Through The Ages: Chinese Archaic art from the sondra landy goss collection features more than 40 ceramic, jade and bronze objects from 3400 BCE to 220 CE. The exhibit provides a rare look into Chinese history and culture. Hillwood Art Museum, C.W. Post Campus., Northern Blvd., Brookville. 299-4073.
coming up on the SEason: migrant farmworkers in the northeast traces the path of fruits and vegetables we eat and the lives of people who grow and harvest them in the Northeast. Based on five years of fieldwork and documentation, the exhibit examines the world behind the supermarket shelves. Oral history is combined with photography by Drew Harty. There is a special section about Long Island's migrant workers. Long Island Museum, Route 25A, Stony Brook. (631) 751-0066.
pres. lincoln's funeral procession in New York city and Over There! world war I and world war II posters and Artifacts are Hofstra Museum's historically-themed winter exhibits. View a unique collection of manuscripts, illustrations and art works, along with World War I and II posters and personal articles the soldiers carried with them. David Filderman Gallery and Emily Lowe Gallery, Hofstra University's South Campus, Hempstead. 463-5672.
Explosive Photography explores the work of leading contemporary photographers, tracing the growth of photography as a major art form. Featured are Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, Andreas Gursky, Gregory Crewdson, and John Baldessari. The exhibit runs through Apr. 25 at Nassau County Museum of Art. One Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. 484-9337.
Photorealism: Paintings and Sculpture is the companion exhibition to NCMA's "Explosive Photography." It showcases the works of young American artists whose paintings are marked by illusionistic, hyperrealistic techniques. See it through Apr. 27. Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. 484-9337.
The power of Music: Works by William Sidney mount is on exhibit at the Art Museum Members Gallery of The Long Island Museum. Seven of Long Island genre painter's William Sidney Mount's music-related works and other artifacts are on display, through June. Rte. 25A, Stony Brook. (631) 751-0066.
Theater and music
Family Values, Jason Milligan's Mafia comedy, Friday and Saturday, Mar. 19-20, 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, Mar. 21, 3 p.m. Also Thursdays. $16 Thursday, $18 Friday and Sunday, $22 Saturday. Arena Players Main Stage Theatre, 296 Rte. 109, East Farmingdale. (516) 293-0674.
Proof, The drama about family relationships, ending this weekend, Friday and Saturday, Mar. 19-20, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Mar. 21, 3 p.m. $18 and $20 (Saturday). BroadHollow Theatre Company's Centre Stage at Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (631) 581-2700.
Other people's money, The compelling drama about corporate greed, Friday and Saturday, Mar. 19-20, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Mar. 21, 3 p.m. Also Thursdays. $15 and $16 (Saturday). BroadHollow Theatre Company's Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst. (631) 581-2700.
The Murder Game, Constance Cox's drama about a philandering husband planning the "perfect murder," Friday and Saturday, Mar. 19-20, 9 p.m; Sunday, Mar. 21, 3 p.m. $18 Friday and Sunday, $22 Saturday. Arena Players Second Stage Theatre, 294 Rte 109, East Farmingdale. 293-0674 or www.arenaplayers.org.
Women's History Month Concert, Soprano Natalya Simone performs, Saturday, Mar. 20, 7 p.m. Program includes spirituals, gospel, show tunes, and more. $15. Freeport United Methodist Church, 46 Pine St., Freeport. 546-2377.
Chamber Music Concert, Hear a free program by the Con Brio Ensemble, with pianist Diana Mittler Battipaglia, violinist Alexander Meshibovsky and mezzo-soprano Grace Cho, Sunday, Mar. 21, 2 p.m. The concert features Sonatas by Beethoven and Grieg and Dvorak's "Gypsy Songs." Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, Main St., Bay Shore. (631) 224-1967.
Family
Elves and the shoemaker, An original production by Theater Workshop Entertainment, Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 20-21, 1 and 3 p.m. Fantasy Live Theater, 48 Atlantic Ave., Lynbrook. 599-1982.
Mr. Easter Bunny, An enchanting musical about a magical Easter Bunny, Saturday, Mar. 20, 2 p.m. BroadHollow Theatre Company's Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst. (631) 581-2700.
schoolhouse rock live!, A new musical production presented by Nassau Community College's Dept. of Theatre and Dance, Saturday Mar. 20, 3 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Mar. 21, 3 p.m. Little Theatre, Nassau Community, College, Garden City.
572-7676.
The Broadway Kids, The "best of Broadway," is performed by talented young Broadway stars, Sunday, Mar. 21, noon and 2:30 p.m. Recommded for ages 6 and up. $20 and $23. Landmark on Main Street, Jeanne Rimsky Theater, 232 Main St., Port Washington. 767-6444 or www.landmarkonmainstreet.org.
Goldilocks & The Three bears, A new production by Fanfare Theatre Ensemble features rambunctious bears and catchy tunes,Sunday, Mar. 21, 2 p.m. $9 ($1 additional at door). Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Ct., Oceanside. 766-4341 ext. 114.
