Melinda Schneider will be on stage at Avoca Beach Theatre on November 24 to pay tribute to the legendary Doris Day.
The world lost one of its biggest stars with the passing of Doris Day in May 2019 at the age of 97, leaving behind an incredible body of work including iconic movies and unforgettable songs.
Doris Day had millions of fans around the world including chart-topping Australian singer songwriter Melinda Schneider, who has recorded two albums of Day’s songs, co-written and starred in a theatre show based on Day’s life, and had sell-out tours celebrating her work.
Melinda Schneider’s show, A Farewell To Doris, is a nostalgic concert with timeless hits such as Que Sera Sera, Sentimental Journey, Everybody Loves a Lover and Secret Love plus classic songs from the movies Calamity Jane, Love Me or Leave Me and The Pajama Game, as well as a number of Day’s big band standards.
Schneider’s love affair with Doris Day started when she saw Calamity Jane when she was just eight.
“I thought she was the best of everything a woman can be, and when I grew up I wanted to be just like her,”she said.
“Whenever I revisit some of her old movies, I’m transported back to that place, a place of happiness and pure joy.”
In 2010, Schneider released the acclaimed tribute album Melinda Does Doris – A Tribute To Doris Day, which debuted at #1 on the ARIA jazz and blues chart, remaining there for nine weeks.
The following year Schneider starred in her own hugely successful original theatre show, Doris Day – So Much More Than The Girl Next Door, which she wrote with David Mitchell of Dusty/Shout fame.
Before the show was staged, Schneider sent Day the script.
“I wanted to make sure she was happy with the way we had portrayed her, and she came back giving me the thumbs up, which made me very happy,” Schneider said.
Then Schneider created a concert production of the show, Melinda Does Doris: A Tribute to Doris Day, which was on national tour in 2016, followed by a second Doris Day album, Melinda Does Doris…Again – The Movie Songs.
In June 2017 she teamed up with Tom Burlinson for another sold-out performance at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, as well as in Melbourne and Brisbane, celebrating the hits of Doris Day and Frank Sinatra in a show called Young At Heart.
“Doris was multi-talented, a true triple threat: a world-class singer, dancer and actor,” Schneider said.
“But it is her beautiful spirit that will stay with me.
“Doris was so likeable and exuded such sincerity and joy and all that is good.
“There will never be another like her.
“Singing her songs and telling her incredible story of resilience has been an absolute honour, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to celebrate her wonderful talent with audiences once again.”