54 SINGS SIDE SHOW, Beth Leavel & More Set for 54 Below this Week

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

BETH LEAVEL, March 3 at 7PM:
Tony Award winner Beth Leavel makes her solo concert debut at 54 Below! Join us for an evening of songs and stories collected from her amazing 30-year showbiz journey. From her Tony-winning, scene-stealing performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone to her Tony-nominated performance in Baby, It's You! to leading the cast of Mamma Mia! in spandex and spangles, Beth has become one of Broadway's favorite leading ladies. She has also starred on Broadway in Elf, Young Frankenstein, The Civil War, Show Boat, and both original and revival productions of 42nd Street! This is a celebration of Beth's Tony and Drama Desk-winning career with new songs, old favorites and a few surprising stories. So, "Stumble" into 54 Below and spend an evening with Ms. Leavel! $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

WILLIAM FINN'S RIDICULOUSLY TALENTED COMPOSERS AND LYRICISTS YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW BUT SHOULD: PART II, March 3 at 9:30PM:
Join two-time Tony Award winner William Finn for a night of "Songs by Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists you Probably Don't Know but Should," celebrating the work of young writers mentored by the composer of Falsettos, A New Brain, The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, Elegies, and this season's Little Miss Sunshine. Originating at Barrington Stage Company (BSC) and now in its 8th year, the "Ridiculously Talented" concert series has become a hallmark of BSC's Musical Theatre Lab, where Mr. Finn serves as Artistic Producer. Mr. Finn explains what makes a good song great as he hosts this evening of personal favorites from the BSC series, featuring past cast members to be announced, and showcasing work by Danny Abosch, Nikko Benson, Noel Carey, Maggie-Kate Coleman, Jeremy Desmon, Vadim Feichner, Josh Freilich, Oliver Hauser, Joe Iconis, Anna Jacobs, Salomon Lerner, Sean Patterson, Eric Price, Sam Salmond, Jahn Sood, Joseph Trefler, Sarah Underwood, Joel Waggoner and William Finn! The concert is produced and directed by Shakina Nayfack. Jeremy R. Lyons music directs. WITH: Aidan Gemme, Alyse Alan Louis, Anne L. Nathan, Celisse Henderson, Elizabeth Stanley, Jeremy Morse, Joelle Lurie, Michael Linden, Mykal Kilgoer and George Salazar. $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

ANNE BOBBY, March 4 at 7PM:
Celebrate the end of winter with Anne Bobby as she shares stories never told and brings songs rarely (or barely) heard out of deep freeze, in her solo cabaret debut. Known for roles on TV (Mad About You) and film (Happiness), Anne made her Broadway debut at 16, and a year later starred in Marvin Hamlisch's cult classic, Smile. Now she's gathered the discarded gems from thirty years of workshops, out-of-town tryouts and black-boxes - plus a few new favorites. It's a celebration of everyone from Alan Menken to Pete Townshend, Steven Lutvak to Neil Gaiman, Marc Blitzstein to Bruce Springsteen, as well as should-have-been-hits from Galt McDermott, David Spencer, Jimmy Roberts, Keith Herrmann, Daniel Maté and more. Join Anne (and very special guests) in welcoming spring, waking up old memories and making new ones. $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

RANDY GRAFF, March 5 at 9:30PM:
George Gershwin. Carole King. Betty Comden. Harry Nilsson. Barry Manilow. Barbra Whatsername... What do these great writers and artists have in common? They were all born in Brooklyn! Also from the fourth largest city in America is Tony Award winner Randy Graff (City of Angels, LES MISERABLES), who will sing the music of artists from her hometown, backed up by a slammin' trio of musicians. Made in Brooklyn is the personal and musical story of Randy herself - one more great performer from Canarsie! $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

CAROLE J. BUFFORD, March 6 at 7PM:
Carole J. Bufford returns to 54 Below after her recent sold out debut at the club. This performance will be of her Nightlife Award-winning show SPEAK EASY, performed with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, New York's premier vintage jazz band. Writing about Carole, Stephen Holden of the NY Times called her, "a sizzling cabaret performer who in her show SPEAK EASY offers the fullest realization I can remember of a 1920s girl gone wild. Ms. Bufford has a bright, rangy voice and big blue eyes that emit snapping electrical charges. She can be dangerous, but she is also funny." Speak Easy celebrates the Prohibition era and its greatest, swinging-est tunes. Carole has since been called (also by the NY Times) "a 21st century Barbra Streisand." After making her London debut in January of 2014, critics there made similar comparisons, likening the experience of seeing her to discovering the young Barbra and witnessing the early Judy Garland. Carole's performance of SPEAK EASY will be a one night only event. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

GHOSTLIGHT: THE SONGS OF MARTIN & REALBUTO, March 6 at 9:30PM:
Featuring performances from Mandy Gonzalez (In the Heights, Wicked), Jason Gotay (Bring It On, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), Christina Sajous (American Idiot, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), Trevor McQueen, Kimberly Faye Greenberg (Danny & Sylvia, One Night with Fanny Brice), Abigail Ludrof, Natascia Diaz (Seussical, Man of La Mancha), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), and more! Join us for an evening of songs from the Broadway-bound musical Ghostlight, recently a hit at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, as well as other songs by the popular up-and-coming writing duo of Tim Realbuto and Matthew Martin. Tim and Matthew are joined by Mandy Gonzalez, Jason Gotay, Christina Sajous, Trevor McQueen, Kimberly Faye Greenberg, Abigail Ludrof, Natascia Diaz, Jenna Leigh Green and more, as they celebrate the future of Broadway and also pay homage to music of the past. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

GUNS, March 6 at 11:30PM:
GUNS is a dark, funny, difficult, uproarious cabaret that takes on the issue that this country is addicted to - weapons that kill instantly. With original songs by students and graduates of NYU, who comprise a musical theatre meets grunge-rock band, they cover every aspect of our country's relationship to the weapons that identify our violent core. Extremely funny, while also very scary, and at times tragic, this piece uses theatre to confront this very topical issue. The cast includes: Anna Bianco, Sam Finn Cutler, Jon Garrity, Alex Gibson, Katie Looney, Elliot Morse, Rachel Music, Jay Reed, Nick Rivera & Jon Sokolow, and the piece is conceived and directed by Elizabeth Swados (Runaways, Doonesbury). It was begun as a project at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Drama Department and now has grown into its own identity and fire. $10 cover charge. Two drink minimum or $20 food & beverage minimum.

THE NEW STEW REVIEW, March 7 & 8 at 8PM:
After five years spent meditating in the wilds of Brooklyn's Prospect Park, Stew comes levitating back to the Broadway scene with a preview of new songs from upcoming shows, old faves, a big band and a bundle of special guests, for two nights of suspense, grooves and surprises. A Tony Award winner for Passing Strange and leader of The Negro Problem, Stew is making his 54 Below debut. The evening will be an eclectic mix of his theatre work and other collaborations, featuring some very special guests. Be the first to hear songs from The Total Bent, Family Album, Resurrection City, and more. The New York Times calls Stew's work "wonderful, and a welcome anomaly on Broadway, filled with vigorous new artistic blood." Join us for an evening with this acclaimed artist as he rocks 54 Below like it has never been rocked before. $45-55 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

54 SINGS SIDE SHOW, March 9 at 7PM & 9:30PM:
"Come look at the freaks!" 54 Below continues our series celebrating the tunes of our favorite musicals with Bill Russell and Henry Krieger's brilliant Side Show. Expect belting galore as all of your favorite tunes are revisited, including "Say Goodbye to the Freak Show," "Leave Me Alone" and, of course, "Who Will Love Me as I Am?" Director by Bill Russell. With Lauren Kennedy, Norm Lewis, Jeff McCarthy, Hugh Panaro, Alice Ripley, The Skivvies and more! $60 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (866) 468-7619.

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