New Lookie Loos and Extensions

A wonderful video by Craig Brockman of Broadway World from the opening night for Adam and Anthony.... Your favorite Gorilla Mama is featured:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=20449
In other news...drumroll please....I've just been extended again until Labor Day (Sept. 2nd). I guess my vaca will have to wait until the summer is over... That's alright though. I am having a ball!
Tarzan won the double header on Thursday against Atlantic Theatre Company and Inherit the Wind/Coram Boy. So, we're still in the running! Look for our schedule this week on www.broadwayshowleague.com starting tues or wed. Come and support and be ready to JUNGLE YELL!!!
Love,
Merle

Catch This!

Catch this!
Were you at the Nederlander last night? I was. And I was blown away. That standing ovation before the show even started was incredible. If you haven't gotten out to see Anthony and Adam yet, what are you waiting for? I'm having the best time. And "Tango" is just a complete joy!
Questions answered:
SOFTBALL: This Thursday, first game is at 11:30am against Atlantic Theatre Company on field 6. Second game, hinging on WHEN we win the first game, will be at 1:45pm on field 4. Wear your green and support Team Tarzan!!! These are the Central Park Fields found when you come in on Central Park West @64th St. www.broadwayshowleague.com for more info.
GIG: Dates being rolled around. I'm not going to drop the ball on this one. Promise!
LAST RENT PERFORMANCE: As of right now, my last night on the Nederlander stage will be Saturday August 11th. Mama Gorilla is tired. She's ready for a vacation. But I will try to hang in there until then...

Got Pictures?

Hey Gang,
I've had a ton of great pictures sent to me recently and I'd like to show them off. If you have pictures of you with me or just other fun shots you think I'd like, send them over to me! And the lovely Cindy J will be posting you on myspace page!
MerleyQ@aol.com
Look forward to seeing what you've got!

Love,

Merle

Tango Anyone?

Well, well, well... I thought I had put up my tango shoes. But I was wrong. It is OFFICIAL. I will be tangoing with Anthony Rapp in the RENT! And, if you missed me opposite Adam Pascal in Aida, you can see us on stage together again at the Nederlander as Joanne and Roger who do not interact at all... he he
Tarzan closes July 8th and I will be on stage at RENT July 9th. This will only go until the middle of August, so get on it, get there, give me a jungle yell!
Movie coming up, gig coming up, and so much more...

Love,

Merle

Closure

Hey guys...Yes, the news is true. It was a surprise, but all good thing must....well, you know. Tarzan closing is July 8th @6:30pm. But please keep checking back in the next couple of weeks. I have several things in the works and it stands to be a very busy second half of the year for your beloved monkey mama. I promise this isn't the end. And yes, I WILL still work on the gig very soon.... Much, much love. And many posts to come. But right now, I'm looking to relax for a second. All my love, Merle

Undercover Showtunes with NYMF

Hey Gang! Just a note to tell you that I will be performing in “Undercover Showtunes,” the second night of NYMF’s highly-anticipated Spring benefit concert series to raise funds for the 2007 NYMF Festival. The evening will feature an extraordinary and eclectic group of Broadway, TV and film performers bringing out the theatrical side of the music world’s most beloved rock and pop songs, an approach that met with great acclaim in their kickoff concert of songs by singer/songwriter Ben Folds.
Also peforming will be: Gloria Reuben, Alison Fraser, Christian Campbell, Mano Felciano, Michael Winther, Stephinie D'Abruzzo, Peter Friedman, MMIriam Shor, Ann Morrison, Mary Faber and Natascia Diaz.
Undercover Showtunes will take place on Monday, June 18 at 7 PM at the Zipper Theater in New York. They are located at 336 W. 37th St. between 8th and 9th Aves.
Featured songwriters include Paul McCartney & John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Rufus Wainwright, Marc Cohn, David Bowie, Stephin Merritt, Fiona Apple, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Elton John, Harry Nilsson, The Decemberists, Bjork and many more. Hope to see you there!

Love,
Merle

P.S. There are lots of fun new things coming up for you to check out, so keep checking back and I'll keep you posted!

Hidden Sky @ Joe's Pub

Yay! Hidden Sky returns. A concert presentation at Joe's Pub Monday May 14th. Manoel Felciano, Marya Grandy, Me and the Gang all back together. See you there!
And for all of you who might be involved in grading pilots for the national tests or whatever they do...Continue to push for "I'm Paige Wilson", the new Rod Lurie project I was so blessed to have a terrific role in. This will, hopefully, be a great piece of television with an incomparable group of people!

Sorry for the late notice for those of you who were at the show yesterday. My apologies again for not letting you now I'd be out. I will be gone from Tarzan all week while shooting a pilot out of town. I'll return on Wednesday April 4th. Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Love,
Merle

Away for the weekend...

Helloooo aaaalllll... Just a little heads up that I will not be at the Rodgers this weekend March 2nd-March 4th. A little time away for a wedding. Enjoy Natalie and Andrea as Kala. They are great girls! -M

WORKING Concert

For those of you who missed the concert, here is a great clip of it:
http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=544158
Yummy....

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it, blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for the Creator, there is no poverty. -Rainer Maria Rilke

http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Photo_Op.aspx?ci=543857
Come out and see the Actors' Fund Benefit of WORKING this Monday Feb. 19th @ The Zipper Theatre. We're having so much fun and I think you will too...

Dreamgirls

I went to the premiere of Dreamgirls last night. Let me tell you...this is a terrific film. A star was born last night! Jennifer Hudson should take home an oscar and I told her as such. Such a talent, so amazing and also so lovely and humble. I didn't think anyone would ever be able to touch Jennifer Holliday. But this girl really turned it out. RUN to see this movie. It's important for anyone who has ever loved the legacy of Broadway theatre.

Lookie Loos from the Only Make Believe Benefit

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/103585.html
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=13543

Dear Diary,
Today I met Audra McDonald. I. LOVE. HER.
M

Vacation and New Gig

Hello all! My vacation is finally here!!! It's been quite a year. I'm very proud of this year, but mama is tired... I'll be gone from Tarzan Oct. 30th-Nov. 6th. You can find me during that time on an island far away.

November 6th, I will be back to appear in a benefit:
http://www.onlymakebelieve.org/fund/gala.html

And lastly, I'm starting to wrap my mind around the next solo performance. I've gotten a lot of feedback that many people were disappointed by scheduling. So, here's your chance to voice. If you were there, what did you think? If you weren't and wanted to be, what time of year is better for you?

Talk soon!
Love,
Merle
www.myspace.com/merledandridge

More Gig Pictures and Dates to Know

Here are a couple more pictures from the gig.

Things to know:
I'll be taking my first 2 days off this weekend Sept. 23rd and 24th.

I'll be appearing in the Hidden Sky reading at Ars Nova on Oct 1. @ 10pm with Manoel Felciano and Marya Grandy.

Upcoming reading of The Boys are Comin' Home. More later.

Love,
M

Time of My Life!

Hey all! Thank you for the terrific turn out Monday night. I had so much fun playing with everyone. It felt great to just stretch my legs creatively with people I love. I hope you had as good a time.

Tune in to the Today show this Saturday morning! I'll be singing live...

Love,

Merle
www.myspace.com/merledandridge

It's Here!

The gig is tommorrow. I couldn't be more excited. The band, the singers...wow, all amazing. I'll see you there!

Love, Love, Love,

Merle

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

I've been thinking a lot lately about my start on Broadway. I think it's because of how much I loved the group, how proud I am of all of them and how in love I am with them still. This is the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2000 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (now the Hilton Center). We were the second show to occupy that theatre. Ragtime was the first (and what an honor to follow that show).
But if you look closely, you'll see a kind of "Who's Who of People I Love".
You probably can't find me. I'm in the back sandwiched between two of my favorite people. I'm 3rd from the right in the back row (gees, I feel like i'm looking at an elementary school photo) between Manoel Felciano (Tony nominee this year for Sweeney Todd) and Jason Pebworth (the greatest Judas I've ever seen and a dear friend) Jason struggled for years with his band Halogen. Just recently they changed their name to Orson and are a huge hit overseas! Yay!
To Mano's left, Tony Vincent, then Max VonEssen (Dance of the Vampires), Bonnie Panson, Patrick Vacariello, Ira Mont (Equity Vice-President). Let's see...down front and center, Deidre Goodwin (Chorus Line, Chicago The Movie...the sweetest woman alive). Down the row to her left you'll see Christian Borle (Spamalot) and Lisa Brescia (closed Aida as Amneris). Others: Shayna Steele, Michael Seelbach. I could talk about them all forever. I loved this time and I love that it brought me to where I am now.