David Hyde Pierce, Andrea Burns & More Perform the Songs of Sam Davis at 54 Below Tonight

Jonathan Larson Award-winning composer Sam Davis makes his 54 Below debut with a concert of new songs celebrating the release of the original cast album of his hit Off-Broadway musical comedy Bunnicula tonight, July 21st at 7 PM.

The evening will also feature songs from his other new musicals including the hilarious send-up of classic Shakespearean drama The Scottish Musical, the adult romantic comedy His and Hers, and Leaving Home, three one-act musicals about the lives of young women emerging from childhood innocence into the darker, more intriguing world of adulthood. The evening will also feature performances by the original Off-Broadway cast of Bunnicula, as well as a special appearance by that musical's bookwriter, the one-and-only Charles Busch. Directed by Bunnicula lyricist Mark Waldrop with performances by Broadway's David Hyde Pierce, Liz Callaway, Andrea Burns, Charles Busch, Edward Hibbert and plus many more, you don't want to miss this incredible evening of music with a stellar lineup of talent. For more information, visit www.samdavismusic.com.

Home After Dark: The Music of Sam Davis will feature performances by Nick Blaemire, Andrea Burns, Charles Busch, Liz Callaway, Sarah Corey, Drew Gehling, Edward Hibbert, Matthew Scott, Kirsten Scott, and David Hyde Pierce, plus cast members from Bunnincula the Musical: Ashley Campana, Abe Goldfarb, John Garry, Robert Anthony Jones, Prescott Seymour.

Sam Davis is a composer, conductor, pianist, and arranger. Broadway credits as conductor include Curtains, The Apple Tree, Follies, Cabaret, and the upcoming Big Fish. Other theater work includes music supervisor for Dreamgirls in Korea, Japan, South Africa, at the Apollo Theater, and on national tour. He was also music director/vocal arranger for Romantic Poetry at Manhattan Theater Club, orchestrator for Jason Robert Brown's The Trumpet of the Swan at the Kennedy Center, music supervisor/arranger for Radio Girl at the Goodspeed Opera. Sam has written arrangements for such performers as Bette Midler, Kelli O'Hara, Chita Rivera, Kristin Chenoweth, Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Debbie Gravitte, and Patrick Wilson, and his orchestrations have been performed by the Philadelphia Pops, the Boston Pops, the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the New York Pops, and the National Symphony, among others. As composer: Bunnicula (Daryl Roth Theater), The Scottish Musical (Penn State New Musicals Festival), Dysfunctional Fables (Orlando Fringe Festival), and A Good Boy (workshopped at the University of Michigan.) Sam recently recorded Love on a Summer Afternoon, an album of his music released on the P.S. Classics label. He is also the composer of the title song for Rebecca Luker's Greenwich Time, and two of his songs appear on Georgia Stitt's debut CD This Ordinary Thursday. Other recording work for P.S. Classics includes Kitty's Kisses, When the Wind Blows South, Warm Spring Night, and Dream True. He is a founding member of the New Voices Collective at Symphony Space. He is also a winner of the Jonathan Larson Award, and of an Emerging Artist Award from the University of Michigan School of Music, of which he is a 1998 graduate.

Mark Waldrop (Director/Lyricist/Writer) served as Production Supervisor and contributed special material for Bette Midler's Divine Miss Millenniumtour. Broadway: Bea Arthur, Just Between Friends, direction and special material, (2002 Tony Award nomination, Unique Theatrical Event.) Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles: Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly, direction, book, and lyrics, (1997 Drama Desk Award, 1997 Outer Critic's Circle Award, OBIE; Best Director nominations: Drama Desk and L.A. Ovation Awards.) Off-Broadway directing credits: NEWSical, Game Show, Pete 'n' Keely, Listen to My Heart, John Epperson's My Deah, Inventing Avi, Capitol Steps, and Whatnot (Richard Rodgers Production Award.) Also: Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 (City Center Encores;) Hey Love, the Songs of Mary Rodgers starring Faith Prince (Rainbow & Stars.) Regional: Romeo & Bernadette at New Jersey's Paper Mill and Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouses; ...Forum, Little Shop and Gypsy starring Betty Buckley at the Paper Mill; Into the Woods and Gypsy starring Judy Kaye at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater; Cinderella, Annie, and Sound of Music (Olney Theater Center, MD); Joseph..., Damn Yankees (The MUNY, St. Louis); Russian on the Side (Chicago and San Francisco,) Souvenir (Greenville, SC.) He has also made a specialty of directing solo cabaret and concert performances for performers like Sutton Foster, Brooke Shields, Rebecca Luker, John Lloyd Young, and Edward Hibbert at venues like Feinstein's, Joe's Pub, 54 Below, and the American Songbook Series at Lincoln Center. A prizewinning lyricist (1995 Edward Kleban Award) and writer, Mr. Waldrop has written the lyrics for three TheaterWorks USA scores - Gold Rush, A Christmas Carol and Bunnicula. He contributed lyrics toHoward Crabtree's Whoop-dee-doo, Pete 'n' Keely, and Three of Hearts. He also wrote script and lyrics for Radio City Music Hall's acclaimed 75th Anniversary Christmas Spectacular. As a performer, Mr. Waldrop appeared in the original Broadway casts of Evita, La Cage aux Folles, and The Grand Tour. Regionally, he performed in Oh, Coward!, Jacques Brel..., and Hot 'n' Cole, a Cole Porter revue he co-authored. His voice can be heard on the soundtracks of Disney's Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Mulan as well as on the cast recording of Hey, Love.

54 BELOW, Broadway's nightclub, is the new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife. A few blocks from the heart of Times Square and just below the legendary Studio 54, 54 BELOW is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style. In their description of 54 BELOW, The New York Times writes "the club has the intimacy of a large living room with unimpeded views and impeccable sound; there is not a bad seat. Its sultry after-hours ambience is enhanced by brocade-patterned wall panels planted with orange-shaded lanterns. And the atmosphere is warmer and sexier than in Manhattan's other major supper clubs." The New York Post calls the venue "a gorgeous new cabaret space.

With its heavy lineup of moonlighting Broadway stars, 54 BELOW has the congenial feel of a theater hangout where stars go to unwind and sing the songs that really matter to them. It's a pleasure to share their joy." Bloomberg News calls 54 Below "the place for Broadway stars past and present to get up close and personal with audiences and material." Designed by Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty and architect Richard Lewis, lit by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, and with sound by Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski, 54 BELOW features an in-your-living-room intimate relationship between its performers and audiences. Tony Award winner Scott Wittman serves as Creative Consultant and MAC Award Winner Phil Geoffrey Bond serves as Director of Programming. André J. Marrero is the Executive Chef of the new venue, which provides a food and beverage menu from early evening through the wee hours of the morning that is worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage. Bringing together his love of the arts with his passion for cooking and hospitality, Chef André has created a market driven contemporary bistro menu that includes ingredients sourced from all over the world.

54 BELOW is owned and operated by Tony Award-winning producers Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, and Steven Baruch. 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly and has audio and video recording capabilities.

Photo by Walter McBride

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