Madison Square Music: Nellie McKay

Nellie McKay is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and former stand-up comedian noted for her multiple critically acclaimed albums. McKay has won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum in the Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, and performed on-screen in the film P.S. I Love You. She has also written original music for the Rob Reiner film, Rumor Has It, and contributed to the New York Times Book Review. Her music has also been featured on the TV shows Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Privileged and Nurse Jackie.

Her music is as tuneful and clever as the best of the Great American Songbook—part cabaret, part sparkly pop.

“Ms. McKay has gone beyond the concept of covers or even interpretation and provided a model of how to re-contextualize old songs to tell a new story,” (Wall Street Journal).