The Rapids Theatre is pleased to announce the date of our First Annual "Christmas at The Rapids" concert on Fri Dec 17th at 6pm. We are honored to have the fabulous John Stevens and Melissa Kate performing live with The 18 piece George Scott Band! A portion of the ticket sales will go directly to Carolyn's House! Stay tuned for more details!

John Stevens finished 6th in the 3rd season of American Idol, paving the way for him to p...ursue his dreams. John spent the summer of 2004 touring with the "top 10" from season 3, appearing in 49 shows in 46 cities across the USA and Canada. He also had the opportunity to appear on several national television shows including: Ryan Seacrest Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Live with Regis and Kelly. June 2005 brought the release of "RED" his first solo album on Maverick Records, a five-day appearance at the prestigious Feinstein's Jazz Club at The Regency Hotel, NYC and graduation from high school. John has since appeared at Shea's Buffalo, as well as many other Jazz clubs across America.

John enrolled at Berklee College of Music and worked with various faculty and students in projects and performances on campus. John also began teaching kids ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old at the School of Rock in Watertown, MA. Concentrating on vocal technique and stage performance with his students, he has found teaching very rewarding. In May 2009, John graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music.

After graduation, John returned home to Buffalo, NY for the release of "Home For Christmas". This holiday album was produced, arranged, and recorded using the musicians ofthe Queen City. Continuing with this special hometown debut, the album was sold at local WNY retailers and restaurants and a portion of each album sold was donated to the American Red Cross: Buffalo Chapter.


He continues to tour as the lead vocalist with the Beantown Swing Orchestra and has just become the youngest host on WICN 90.5 FM, New England's NPR Jazz and Folk Station, hosting "A Tasteful Blend" from 6 AM to 9 AM on Thursdays and Fridays. John plans to continue pursuing a career in music: performing, teaching, recording, and writing.


Melissa Kate is an international recording artist with TM International and Van Taylor Production. She is also a stage and voice actress, writer, poet, director, bandleader and children's educator. In 1998 she earned her BFA in Musical Theater and within the year had co-founded the non-profit theater company Cobblestone Productions, Inc. which produced new theater works and East Coast premieres in New York City. Several of her on-stage performances include prominent roles in Falsettos, The Crimson Thread, Into the Woods, The Tempest and many original works.

Melissa became lead Jazz/Swing vocalist for The Yalloppin Hounds in 2000. Three years later, she was signed to an artist-development contract with Van Taylor Production, touring internationally with his band Taylor Made Jazz. International travel became a vital part of Melissa's make-up, and her own band, The Melissa Kate Project, will continue the tradition of serving our troops overseas through the Armed Forces Entertainment. She simultaneously began working with The George Scott Big Band, and became a member of the Colored Musicians Club.

Melissa has always been passionate about sharing the arts with youth. She studied and trained with the Lincoln Institute's Arts in Education of WNY branch, Community Action Organization, Lancaster Opera House's inner-city outreach program and with Young Audiences of WNY, where she currently maintains several projects and residencies in poetry/literacy, the Erie Canal, and music. Her newest pet project is The Benched Players, a troupe which uses the medium of theatrical improvisation to reach out to young children and engage their creative and critical thinking skills.

She has written and recorded an album titled Blind Faith, continues to serve our men and women overseas with powerful entertainment, and is completing several writing projects including a one-woman play and two children's books. Melissa believes the arts are our catalyst for opening the minds of audiences and children worldwide.