An Evening With Melora Hardin
Experience the formidable talents of Melora Hardin who, for the first time, is taking her act on the road. Star of NBC’s “The Office,” Broadway’s “Chicago” and multiple #1 Box Office Movie Hits, Melora delivers an evocative, intimate, fun evening of music laced with sultry humor: featuring standards, Broadway, and original songs.
Melora Hardin
MELORA HARDIN is perhaps most recognized for her on-going portrayal of 'Jan Levinson' on the U.S. version of the hit television series "The Office." Last season on "The Office" viewers saw and heard her sing a hilarious version of "Son of a Preacher Man" in The Baby Shower episode.
Hardin's impressive career spans a variety of mediums, including numerous television series, films, live concerts and music albums. In 2009, Hardin starred in two high-profile feature films, "17 Again" opposite Zac Efron, and "Hannah Montana: The Movie" both debuting #1 at the box office on back-to-back weekends. Her other big screen credits include: "Thank You for Smoking," "27 Dresses", "The Comebacks," "The Hot Chick," "Soul Man" and "Absolute Power" with Clint Eastwood & Gene Hackman. Recently, Clint Eastwood personally requested that Melora perform at the Thalians Ball were he was being honored. Hardin just made her directorial debut with the feature film entitled, "YOU," currently available on DVD and online at Amazon.com, iTunes and youthefilm.com.
Melora has been so busy as a working actress since the age of 6 that she only just got around to creating her first singing act in 2008, with the director Richard Jay-Alexander and musical director, Ben Toth. "At The Watercooler," played for 3 nights to rave reviews in LA at The Catalina Jazz Club on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.
On stage, she played the lead role of 'Fantine' in the August 2008 Hollywood Bowl concert rendition of "Les Misérables," also directed by Richard Jay-Alexander. She followed that performance by making her Broadway stage debut earlier this year starring as 'Roxie Hart' in "CHICAGO."
Writing and performing songs since the age of 8, she has sung in many productions including the Disney feature "The Rocketeer" where she was honored to work with the legendary arranger Billy May. She also played the chanteuse ghost in the Disney TV movie "Tower of Terror" and a crazy cabaret singer in the short-lived series "Man & Machine" where she was produced by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo fame. Hardin has produced and self-released two albums called "The Meloradrama" and "Purr" both of which have a large cult following. While in production working in New Orleans this year on a new film called, "Knucklehead," opening wide on November 12th in which she stars, she simultaneously recorded a live album titled, "All the Way to Mars" making this Hardin's third album.
"All The Way to Mars" features songs from Broadway, standards, Pop, and a few that she wrote herself. People who have heard advances of the upcoming album are amazed by the versatility and range that Hardin exhibits. The album was released on the LML Music label on February 9, 2010 and currently available in stores nationwide and online at Amazon & iTunes.
Hardin currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband actor/writer, Gildart Jackson, and their two young daughters.
People are saying...
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“Melora Hardin's new album ALL THE WAY TO MARS traverses the galaxy in a madcap manner most immediately reminiscent of a '60s cocktail hour album and for that frivolous and fun factor alone it deserves high praise.… Hardin displays a distinct dexterity with comedic material too rarely represented on recordings of singer/actors and cabaret artists of her ilk.… Hardin has proved with this album that she is equally at home on the screen, the stage and the recording studio.… All in all, this album is, truly, out of this world.”
— Pat Cerasaro (BroadwayWorld.com) -
“To hear a big record like this, it's almost symphonic in places and really refreshing.”
— Rick Florino (Editor, ARTISTdirect.com) -
“One of my favorite tracks on the disc is Melora's cover of 'I Dream A Dream,' a song experiencing a resurgence of epic proportions thanks to Susan Boyle. But Ms. Hardin wipes the Dame Boyle; hitting notes the cat lady could only dream a dream of.… 'All the Way to Mars' – it's the perfect mix of Broadway classic, popular radio hits and original compositions.”
— Jarett Wieselman (NYPost.com) -
“Hardin can belt – she offers impressive takes on Andrew Lippa's 'Raise the Roof' and Les Miserables heartbreaker 'I Dreamed a Dream' – but it is actually the middle part of her chest voice that is the most beautiful, with its rounded, silky, vibrato-filled tone.”
— Andrew Gans (Playbill.com) -
“Actress Melora Hardin is a performing powerhouse, and she wants everyone to know it.”
— Alex Davies (Wireless FlashNews) -
“Melora Hardin's voice has everything a singer (or listener), would want; sophistication, sweetness, soulfulness. This highly trained singer has a great variety of music on her new CD, "All the Way to Mars." Once again, Melora proves she's one of the best in the business.”
— Clint Eastwood -
“Melora Hardin's voice is a treasure. This new collection, a total inspiration. I just love every minute, and so will you.”
— Adam Shankman (Hairspray, 82nd Annual Academy Awards, So You Think You Can Dance) -
“It was so much fun working with Melora Hardin on 'Hannah Montana: The Movie,' that when I found out she sings and writes I couldn't believe it. Well, here's the proof. She's a knockout talent and so is her new album 'ALL THE WAY TO MARS.' An out of this world singer, with so many 'colors' to her voice, that it should be illegal. Gee… do you think I liked it?”
— Billy Ray Cyrus -
“All The Way To Mars is brilliant fun. Melora's beautiful spirit and voice infuse the music and bring all the fabulous songs shimmering to life.”
— Zac Efron -
“You ain't seen nothing yet. Melora Hardin acts, dances, and with this album, All The Way to Mars, belts it into the stratosphere. She's what you call a real life triple threat.”
— Kenny Ortega -
“Melora was stellar as 'Roxie Hart' in CHICAGO and with her new album "All The Way To Mars" she blew me away. She gives everyone a glorious, musical listen to her rich, emotional and powerful voice. Give the album a listen as you'll experience all of Melora's charm, warmth, drama and comedy on this wonderful recording.”
— Barry Weissler (Producer, Broadway's "Chicago") -
“I love Melora Hardin's new album. Ok, I knew she could act and sing, but who knew she could write too? Great songs, great production, great artistry!!”
— Brian Stokes Mitchell -
“Melora Hardin's debut solo album demonstrates her wonderful command and range of styles, from jazz and theater, to cabaret, comedy and pop, with often beautiful vocals and sensitive interpretations of lyrics.”
— Maury Yeston ("Nine") -
“Melora gives us the quirky, off-beat, sexy humor we've come to expect, but then surprises us with a wonderful voice, too. Her album is a delight.”
— Paige Davis (TRADING SPACES, CHICAGO, SWEET CHARITY)
