Emmy winner at Matt Denny’s

Tracy Newman, who won an Emmy and Peabody Award for writing the “coming out” episode of the “Ellen” TV series with star Ellen DeGeneres and later turned to singing/songwriting, performed Tuesday evening (July 10) at Matt Denny’s Ale House as part of the restaurant’s weekly live Songwriter Serenade program.

Newman's band. Photo by J.C. Hyke

Tracy Newman at Matt Denny's July 10, 2012. Photo by Stephen O'Bryan.

Newman, a founding member of the popular improvisation group The Groundlings, the co-creator of “According to Jim” with Jim Belushi, and a former staff writer on hit series such as “Cheers,” “The Nanny,” “Hiller & Diller,” and “The Drew Carey Show,” performed original acoustic folk songs alongside band mates from 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. on the restaurant’s covered patio at 145 E. Huntington Drive.

After an award-winning debut CD, “A Place in the Sun,” Newman is currently working on two more with her band that includes Gene Lippmann, Rebecca Leigh, John Cartwright, John O’Kennedy and Doug Knoll (the “Reinforcements”).