Joey Contreras to Bring IN THE WORKS, WITH SPECIAL GUESTS to Feinstein's/54 Below

Joey Contreras will bring "In the Works, with Special Guests," to Feinstein's/54 Below on April 18, 2022. Having amassed millions of streams and acclaim from his various theatre albums, Joey is playing selections from three of his new stage musicals. From the New York love stories heard in his popular show, In Pieces, the heartfelt yet haunting meditation on grief and identity in Forget Me Not (with Kate Thomas), and the fiery hot pulse of Heartbreakers in Hell (with Benjamin Halstead), audiences will be treated to the Broadway pop versatility Joey Contreras brings to the canon of exciting new musical theatre.

In Pieces reflects on the romantic journeys of six individuals, as they share, ponder and look back on the chosen paths and partners along the way. Set in New York City, there's the scary excitement of being vulnerable and saying yes to whatever adventure is ahead. The magical first kiss. An unlikely friendship. Well-kept secrets. The monotony. The rebound. An awkward reunion on the 1 train. And the honest conversations of deserving more. All these pieces of a life that at times connect and disconnect, but once at a distance, come together to create a universal remembrance of what it's like to be young and learning in love. The star-studded highlights recording, In Pieces: A New Musical (Highlights) released by Broadway Records in 2021 featured performances by American Idol's David Archuleta, Andrew Barth Feldman (Dear Evan Hansen), George Salazar (Superstore), Solea Pfeiffer (Hamilton), Ben Fankhauser (Newsies) and more. The underground popularity of the show has spawned multiple licensed productions in the US, UK and Australia in its first year. Producers are eying a 2023 commercial run.

In Heartbreakers in Hell, there are exactly nine ways to break a heart, and there's a special place in Hell for each type of heartbreaker. This modernized, pop-music adaptation of "Dante's Inferno" intertwines Dante Aligheieri's medieval mythic Hellscape with the realities of modern day dating. We follow Dante, a contemplative poet, as he journeys deeper and deeper into the fiery depths, falling in and out of love with the sinners, monsters, and demons within each circle of Hell. "Ye who enter" should expect an experience like the intimate, conceptual storytelling of the musical "Company," erupting with the ferocious grandiosity of a Lady Gaga arena concert. A concept EP and visual album, Heartbreakers in Hell: The First Date Mixtape, was released in February 2022, featuring performances by Keri René Fuller (Six), Deon'te Goodman (Hamilton), Katherine Thomas (Ragtime), Nick Martinez (Bat Out of Hell), Megan Masako Haley (Mean Girls) and more.

Forget Me Not is an original story that explores grief, identity and missing white woman syndrome (heavily discussed in the media most recently with the Gabby Petito case). In Forget Me Not, a whale washes ashore in a coastal town in 1998, and brings a burst of attention to the remote community. Townspeople initially welcome the interest, but that all changes, when a journalist decides to reopen a cold case that has long haunted them. Ten years prior to the whale, three local women were strangled on the beaches of Forget-Me-Not Cove, but the murderer was never found. When Pete Medina, the brother of one of the victims, returns home after a decade to reinvestigate, he and his fellow townspeople are forced to confront the grief they have buried. This stunning dive into the past leads to an explosive reveal, and ultimately, collective healing. Forget Me Not is a new ensemble musical that not only upends the murder mystery trope, but urges us to wonder what we would do to keep from being forgotten. Jacob Dickey (Company) and Kerstin Anderson (My Fair Lady) have been attached to the project over the last five years. A concept EP is planned for a Winter 2022 release.

Joining Contreras are Keri René Fuller (Six, Jagged Little Pill), Jacob Dickey (Company, Aladdin), Deon'te Goodman (Hamilton), Cailen Fu (Mean Girls), Nick Martinez (Bat Out of Hell), Ben Fankhauser (A.D. 16), Leslie Hiatt (The Evolution of Mann), Diana Huey (The Little Mermaid), Brad Greer (Anastasia, The Bridges of Madison County), Henry Platt ("Sing On!"), Mia Gerachis (Jekyll & Hyde, Creator of Bored Belting), Sean Doherty (The Lightning Thief), Noah Virgile (The Royal Family of Broadway), Denise Neumerkel, Max Heitmann, and Senzel Ahmady, The evening is produced by Contreras and Zachary Hausman.

Performance Details:

New York City

Monday, April 18th at 9:30pm

Feinstein's/54 Below

54 W 54th St. Cellar, NYC 10019

For tickets, please visit...

https://54below.com/events/joey-contreras-friends-in-the-works/

Joey Contreras is a New York based, Mexican-American musical theatre and pop songwriter, internationally known for his various projects, performances and studio album releases. He is a Fred Ebb Award finalist, a two-time Jonathan Larson Grant finalist, and an alum from the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project and NYU Grad MT Writing Program.

His musical "In Pieces'' is currently licensed worldwide. A highlights album was released by Broadway Records in 2021. His musicals with Kate Thomas include All The Kids Are Doing It (O'Neill NMTC Finalist), Forget Me Not and Elements. He is the composer of Heartbreakers in Hell, a modern day adaptation of Dante's Inferno written with bookwriter/lyricist Benjamin Halstead. Additionally, he has composed for the Walt Disney Company, The 5th Avenue Theatre and various short films.

He regularly teaches songwriting through private coaching and group master classes at universities and theatre programs worldwide. Find more at http://www.joeycontreras.com and follow along on all socials: @joeycontreras.

Feinstein's/54 Below is committed to the health of its performers, staff, and guests and has created a Safety Plan to ensure safe conditions along with optimum performing conditions. The new policies require that performers, production, kitchen, and dining room staff, as well as all audience members show proof of vaccination to enter the premises. Additional information on our safety protocols can be found here.

Feinstein's/54 Below has installed improved air circulation and filtering systems as well as added plexiglass barriers between some tables. Based on CDC and New York State guidelines at the time of performance, safety protocols and seating capacity may change and policies may be adjusted as is appropriate.

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, is a 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, Feinstein's/54 Below is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style. Feinstein's/54 Below presents iconic and rising stars from the worlds of Broadway and popular music and has set a new standard for culinary excellence worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage. The management team includes proprietors Steve Baruch, Richard Frankel, and Tom Viertel, and restaurant general manager Mandisa Boxill.

Feinstein's/54 Below is one of the most in-demand performance venues in the city, presenting over 700 shows each year. Unique in its mission, it has become an indispensable member of the Broadway eco- system, providing a safe place for seasoned and emerging artists to hone their craft, try out new music, grow their fanbases, and gather as a community. It's streaming programs and YouTube videos have garnered millions of video views introducing Broadway talent to new audiences and showcasing the art of cabaret to fans across the world.

Located at 254 West 54th Street, the club presents live shows at 7pm and 9:30pm. Late night programming will resume in the coming months. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com.

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