ABOUT THE DOLLS
The Manhattan Dolls originated in New York City in 2009 and are swing-style female vocal trios with the sound of The Andrews Sisters. Started by former USO Girl, The Dolls travel the world performing for military events, air shows, award ceremonies, parades, jazz clubs, concert series, you name it! They have been featured on The Rachael Ray Show, BBC Radio London, Fox and Friends, LX 4 NY, The Tucson Morning Blend, Cincinnati Local 12 and more. They have had the pleasure of performing with famous bands including The Jive Aces in the UK, The Cotton Candies in France and The George Gee Orchestra and The Stan Rubin Orchestra in NYC. The Manhattan Dolls are available for private bookings and are constantly touring the US and abroad.
MEET THE DOLLS
Heather Doll
Heather is the CEO and founder of The Manhattan Dolls. After touring the US as a USO Girl, Heather wanted to continue the mission of performing for our troops and veterans. Heather spent 11 years in New York City performing in off-Broadway showcases, Broadway tours, and regional theaters all over the country. Favorite productions include The Producers, Ragtime, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and many more! Heather also toured with Barry Manilow as one of his back-up singers in his Ultimate Manilow Tour. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Heather is also a skilled classical singer. Heather now resides in her hometown of Tucson, where residents may recognize her from her time as a host on The Morning Blend morning show. Heather feels privileged to travel and honor our brave men and women in the military. Love to Greg.
Vanessa Doll
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Vanessa grew up a proud Air Force "brat" with the fortune of traveling and living all over the world. Watching air shows and performances by Air Force performers, "Tops in Blue" are some of her favorite childhood memories. She settled back in Arizona (where her family is originally from) and graduated from the University of Arizona studying music, Spanish and anthropology with a focus on ethnomusicology. She studied classical and jazz vocal performance in college and after graduation continued performing in such shows as Nunsense, The Music Man and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Vanessa has since had a career in social services but is thrilled to get back into performing, especially for the armed forces active duty and veterans. She owes it all to her family, especially, Brice, Eliza and Violet.
Miranda Doll
Miranda is the Dolls dance captain. A native of Tucson, Arizona, she graduated from University High School and the University of Arizona with a degree in Theatre and Music. For the last several years, Miranda has traipsed all over the United States as an itinerant musical theatre performer. Some of her favorite roles include Tanya in Mamma Mia (Thingamajig Theatre Company), Magnolia in Show Boat (Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre), and as Mrs. Cratchit three different times, twice at the Gaslight Theatre 10 years apart (wow!), and once at Circa '21 Dinner Theatre. In addition to performing, she has a voracious appetite for science fiction/fantasy and mental puzzles, and once learned to solve a Rubik's cube in under a minute to win a bet. This last year has given her a chance to enjoy being in one place for a while and her new full time job is cuddling her four guinea pigs.
Brianna Doll
Brianna is a graduate of the University of Arizona's School of Music and now resides in NYC. As a native Tucsonan she became involved in art at an early age, first dabbling in theater then expanding to music. She has studied in Eugene Oregon with the Oregon Bach Festival. Saarburg Germany for the Saarburger Seranden chamber music festival and Mendocino California for the Redwoods Opera workshop. She spent the past summer performing 11 shows in 11 weeks with the College Light Opera Company. She is beyond thrilled to be a Doll!
Taylor Doll
Taylor is so excited to be a Manhattan Doll! She has loved music her whole life. In her youth, she often made others sit through her impromptu performances alongside her sisters. You can catch her performing at Little Anthony’s Diner on select weekends as both Marilyn Monroe and Sandy from Grease! In addition, she is the co-costume designer at the Gaslight Theatre and has performed as a swing for their productions since 2019. She would like to thank her friends and family for all their support, especially her mother, who placed her in piano lessons all those years ago!
Chelsee Doll
Chelsee was born in Tucson, Arizona and grew up in the 1.1-square-mile town of Neodesha, Kansas. She returned to the desert and graduated from the University of Arizona summa cum laude. An old soul indeed, Chelsee found her happy place when she joined The Manhattan Dolls in 2016. Being able to sing her favorite era of music around the world is an overwhelmingly ideal opportunity for her. Chelsee is filled to the brim with gratitude for this vintage group and all those who make its success possible. Toto, she's got a feeling she's not in Kansas anymore.
Erin Doll
Erin is thrilled to be joining The Manhattan Dolls! A transplant from Rehobeth Beach, DE, she grew up in Tucson, AZ. After getting her degree in Musical Theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, she returned to Tucson by way of Chicago and North Carolina, where she performed and also found her love of cuisine and wine and all things culinary! She finished her massage therapy degree and after spending countless hours practicing “quiet” she returned to the stage at the Gaslight Theatre where you can find her singing and dancing today! She is honored to be able to perform for the troops and veterans!
Kelly Doll
Kelly is beyond thrilled to be a Doll! Born and raised in Tucson, she was brought up in a very musical family. Kelly studied theatre at Pima Community College and received the Spirit of Ben Vereen Award at the Regional High School Musical Theater Awards. You can also find her singing and dancing her heart out as part of the opening cast at the Gaslight Theatre. Kelly is ecstatic to perform with such talented Dolls and bring smiles to veterans’ faces.
Haley Doll
Haley is a Tucson native with extensive vocal training and a love of performing. Growing up in a home always filled with music, she was inspired early on by her parents’ love for all things music. Haley has performed with several local theaters, including Arts Express Theatre, Old Tucson, Invisible Theatre, and the Gaslight Theatre, and is thrilled to begin this exciting new chapter with such a talented group. She is incredibly grateful to share the stage with these wonderful ladies, who have already made her feel right at home, and to her family and friends for their endless love and support.
Nya Doll
Nyasia is a dynamic vocalist with a passion for both music and performance. Inspired by her first experience seeing Phantom of the Opera, she brings emotion, strength, and storytelling into every song she sings. With a background in theater and a love for expressive artistry, Nyasia adds both power and elegance to the group’s sound.
Emma Doll
Emma is a native Tucsonan and lover of the performing arts. First chair soprano of the Arizona All-State Jazz Choir a few years back, she specializes in vocal jazz with tight, crunchy harmonies and absolutely loves the music that came out of the 1920's-1960's eras, so she is right at home with the Dolls! Raised by two parents who fell in love while in a band together in the '90s (one of whom is still a music teacher to this day), Emma was destined to perform. She has been a part of the musical theater world since middle school, performing consistently with Arts Express Theatre for the past four years, and loves every minute of it! Being a part of the Dolls is the perfect combination of all the styles of performing that Emma loves. She feels immensely grateful that she has the opportunity to do all of this while traveling the world! Outside of performing, Emma is studying Psychology with a minor in Music at the University of Arizona and volunteers with her therapy dog to bring a smile to those in need. She has a passion for performing and for helping others, but also loves the simple pleasures like hiking, dancing, and Trader Joe's! Emma would like to express her profound gratitude for the neverending support from her family and friends, and for the Dolls who welcomed her in with overwhelming love.