Take A Sentimental Journey With The Manhattan Dolls

The calendar says 2011, but it will feel more like 1940 when the Manhattan Dolls perform Friday at the

The New York-based entertainers will perform Sentimental Journey, a program of swing and jazz style music from the 1930s and 1940s. The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Foundry, 520 N. Main Center, St. Charles.

Heather Dispensa, Sheila Coyle and Sarah Drake will perform as a vocal trio in the style of The Andrews Sisters. The show will also feature a special appearance by Robert Shaw.

"The Manhattan Dolls is mine and my partner's (Sarah Drake) creation. We started it two years ago," said Dispensa, entertainment manager and first soprano with the group that will be performing Friday. "I was a USO Girl in 2008 doing a similar thing, and when I left I wanted to continue that, with a focus on the '30s and '40s."

"Heather and I worked at Spirit Cruises in New York City," Drake said. "We became good friends and she thought of me when she started this group. I've always been in love with this era—the movies and the music. My grandmother played it all the time."

Coyle joined the group early on. "I met Heather through another singing job during the holiday season," she said. "They needed a new girl who could learn the harmonies very quickly. I've been with them almost two years."

Like Drake, Coyle's love for World War II-era songs has a link to family. "This music was always part of my life," she said. "My grandmother used to sing these songs to me growing up. I think it's such beautiful music. I love singing it and listening to it as well."

And what draws Dispensa to this music?

"Both my grandfathers were World War II vets, so that started my interest in '40s music, and working with the USO really peaked my interest for me," she said. "I love the tight harmonies. The lyrics are meaningful—it was a difficult time, so every word had meaning."

But it wasn't all serious. "I love the swing music," Dispensa said. "People dance and we have a party while performing."

The Manhattan Dolls currently have six performers, so two groups can be out on tour at the same time. The Dolls perform around 120 shows a year with the busy season running from May through September. They have three programs in their repertoire: a Roaring '20s review, a Christmas holiday show and the World War II-era show they will perform Friday.

"We do popular Andrews Sisters' songs and pride ourselves on knowing the more obscure Andrews Sisters' songs," Dispensa said. "We have all our own arrangements, and we are as close to the Andrews Sisters as any group out there."

Being a Manhattan Doll isn't easy. In addition to mastering the challenging harmonies, an aspiring doll must meet other criteria. "They have to be between 5'6" and 5'9", be very personable, be a good public speaker and be able to sight-read music," Dispensa said. "It is difficult to find the right singers." 

Tickets for the Manhattan Dolls cost $20 for the general public and $15 for Foundry members.