Ben Platt, Tony Yazbeck, NYC Cabaret Festival & More Set for 54 Below this Week

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

BEN PLATT, August 18 at 7PM:

He had the "Magic" in him onscreen as Benji Applebaum in Universal's smash hit Pitch Perfect, and he's currently starring on Broadway as Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon. Now, to celebrate finally making the move to NYC, Ben Platt comes to 54 Below to sing some of his favorites and share tales of Mormons, his fellow aca-people, and of course, his family of singing Jews. Expect everything from soul, to Pop and R&B to musical theatre and some special guests! $45-55 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

ANDREW, KOBER, August 18 at 9:30PM:

Andrew Kober, Broadway's most beloved occasionally-employed actor (Les Miserables, Hair), muses on coming out, going in, gaining weight and getting thin. Previously seen at Joe's Pub, (le) Poisson Rouge, NYMF, and the Large Auditorium at Shaker Heights High School, Koberet returns to the New York stage for one night only (...for now...). Koberet 2014 may be even more self-indulgent than the original phenomenon that took the Midwest by storm 12 years ago. It is the story of the life of Andrew Kober (thus far) set to original music by some of NYC's hottest young composers, as well as covers of classics by the likes of Billy Joel and Otis Redding. This latest incarnation will include many of the embarrassing and heart-warming tales from Andrew's childhood that audiences have come to know and love, as well as brand new material and musical moments. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll hear a story about a sex club in Paris. The performance will feature guest appearances by Andrew's Les Miserables cast mates Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody), Caissie Levy (Hair), and Samantha Hill (The Phantom of the Opera), as well as a never-before-heard duet betweenAndrew and Elena Shaddow (The Bridges of Madison County). Matt Hinkley (Violet, First Date, Godspell)music directs, and the show is produced by Erica Rotstein. $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

TONY YAZBECK, August 19 at 7PM:

Just in time for his return to the Great White Way as Gabey in next season's revival of On the Town, perennial song and dance man Tony Yazbeck heats up the stage in his 54 Below debut with The Floor Above Me-a thrilling evening of tenor melodies and tenacious tap dancing! The beloved Broadway vet-late of Little Me at Encores!, who has also appeared in Gypsy (Tulsa), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Phil Davis), A Chorus Line (Al), Oklahoma!, Never Gonna Dance and NBC's Smash-will be joined by fellow Broadway hoofer Curtis Holbrook (If/Then, West Side Story, Xanadu) and tap dance sensation Melinda Sullivan (So You Think You Can Dance, Glee). In this not-to-be-missed evening, with tunes spanning from MGM to Joni Mitchell, Tony will weave tales from his first Broadway gig at age 11 (as a Newsboy in Tyne Daly's Gypsy) to his recent turn as Tulsa in the Patti LuPone revival, as well as share anecdotes from his professional and personal journey that has established him as a stalwart New York song and dance man. Join Tony Yazbeck at 54 Below for The Floor Above Me, with musical direction and arrangements by Jerome Korman, evening written by Howard Emanuel, for an unforgettable evening of story, song and dance! $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

WRITER'S BLOCK HOSTED BY JOE ICONIS, August 19 at 9:30PM:

After a year-long hiatus, WRITER'S BLOCK is back for one night only at 54 Below. WRITER'S BLOCK at 54 Below is the place where some of NYC's most talented up-and-coming songwriters of contemporary musical theatre and beyond stop by to try new work, revisit older tunes, and maybe even make a friend or two. CRAZY-TALENTED FEATURED SONGWRITERS: For this one-night-only event we've got an all-star line up of writers stopping by, including Sam Salmond, Michael R Jackson, Rob Rokicki, Alexander Sage Oyen, Anderson & Petty, Ewalt & Walker, Will Van Dyke, Positive Feedback (Adam Blotner & Jenny Pinzari), and more! SONGWRITER'S OPEN MIC: Want to perform your own original work at 54 Below? Stop by WRITER'S BLOCK for the chance to perform in one of a few of open-mic slots! Sign up in the lobby before 9:30pm for a chance to perform; names are drawn at random. POST-WRITER'S BLOCK BONUS SET WITH JOE ICONIS AND FAMILY: After you've enjoyed listening to new work by your favorite songwriters and maybe even performed yourself, stick around for an extra special impromptu performance by host Joe Iconis and his merry band of musical theatre punks!$5 cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drinks.

CHRIS PINNELLA, August 20 at 7PM:

Often described as Michael Bublé meets Josh Groban, singer Chris Pinnella makes his 54 Below debut, backed by his six-piece band. Easy on the ears and the eyes, Pinnella has the polished looks-and velvet pipes-of a legend-in-the-making. With an authority no amount of chutzpah can fake, Pinnella will perform selections from the Great American Songbook as well as contemporary pop standards like the Beatles' "All My Loving," Billy Joel's "NY State of Mind," and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," to name a few. The evening will also showcase fresh arrangements by Pinnella and jazz great Gary Mazzaroppi of the Les Paul Trio, who also serves as Pinnella's bassist. Come to 54 Below to soak up the voice Talkin' Broadway calls, "a soaring, rich baritone that just leaves you speechless." MORE ABOUT CHRIS PINNELLA: With a style and voice all his own, Chris Pinnella seamlessly fuses together the worlds of classical, jazz, and rock to reinvent the classical crossover genre for a new generation of fans. Pinnella's live concerts incorporate his multi-faceted talents, especially his aptitude for creating energetic and emotionally driven performances which have garnered him an extremely diverse legion of fans, ranging from young to old. With numerous professional credits including national tours, off-Broadway, & concert appearances worldwide, Pinnella has produced two sold-out solo engagements at the 540-seat Algonquin Arts Theatre in New Jersey and has played the 200-seat McLoone's Supper Club to packed houses 10-times to date, all within 2 years. In addition, Chris has played Birdland, The Rainbow Room, The Explorers Club, and the Allen Room at Jazz! At Lincoln Center to critical acclaim. Chris also frequently performs around the world with the platinum-selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra, collaborating both onstage and in the recording studio as one of their lead vocalists."Pinnella has the same charm & charisma as the young Marlon Brando." - Dallas Morning News. "Pinnella delivered with rock n' roll good looks and stunning vocals." - New England Music News. "A unbelieveable night out...outstanding!" - Asbury Park Press. "His voice is pure perfection." - The Coast Star. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

DORIS & ME: CELEBRATING DORIS DAY WITH SCOTT DREIER, August 20 at 9:30PM:

Doris & Me is a show celebrating one man's quirky, lovable obsession with music and movie icon Doris Day. As the ultimate obsessed fan, Scott Dreier creates more than your typical tribute show-this is the celebration of a timeless artist, as Scott takes the audience with him on a sentimental journey to nostalgic times gone by. As he lovingly shares through classic treasured songs, personal anecdotes, humor, heart and many Doris Day stories and history, Scott never lets us forget how much he loves her and why he has become Doris Day's biggest fan. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

CARNER & GREGOR, August 21 at 7PM & 9:30PM:

Join Carner & Gregor in a one night blow-out concert featuring some of the most talented college musical theatre performers in the country. Having received submissions from students at over 75 different schools, Carner & Gregor have invited a select group of performers to make their New York debuts in this very special evening. Joining to welcome them to the big city will be some of Broadway's biggest stars and a Broadway band. Many alums from this 4-year-old series have already performed on Broadway and in national tours-and alumna Danielle Wade even won Over the Rainbow Canada, going on to star as Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of The Wizard of Oz. Be the first to see some of Broadway's next generation-and welcome them to New York! Featuring: Hannah Zazzaro (Clearwater, Florida, University of Cincinnati- College Conservatory of Music Class of 2015), Kyle Segarra (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Arts Class of 2016), Tiffany Ames (Charlottesville, Virginia, Oberlin College Class of 2017), Morissa Trunzo (Missoula, Montana, Point Park University Class of 2016), Daina Goldenberg (Seattle, Washington, University of Washington Class of 2017), Lydia Hall (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England), Zachary Stewart (Fort Mitchell, Kentucky), Mia Fitzgibbon (New York, New York, Indiana University Class of 2016), Kayla Eilers (Louisville, Kentucky, Indiana University Class of 2016), Nat Zegree (Kalamazoo, Michigan, Indiana University Class of 2015) and Emily Schultheis (Evansville, Indiana, Indiana University Class of 2015.) $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

MARK NADLER, August 22 at 8PM:

"New York City may be crawling with contenders for the coveted imaginary title Mr. Show Business, but my vote would go to Mark Nadler, the hyperkinetic piano man and pop nostalgist who displays such voracious exuberance... he's an immensely talented latter-day Al Jolson." -Stephen Holden, The New York Times. Award-winning entertainer Mark Nadler takes you on a tour of the sex, booze, drugs & even murder from the wildest decade of the 20th Century. Says Clive Davis of The London Times, "The nearest most of us get to the music of the Roaring Twenties is a late-night rerun of Some Like It Hot or two tickets for Chicago. With Mark Nadler as your guide, you get an even richer sense of what it was like to live, or rather party, through the Jazz Age. By the time he has sung his last song & thundered through his final piano solo, you may want to text your local bootlegger & order a fresh supply of illicit gin." $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

THE SKIVVIES, August 22 at 11PM:

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! This "musically thrilling" undie-rock, comedy-pop duo don't just strip down their musical arrangements, they literally strip down to their underwear to perform their distinctive mashups and eccentric originals for cello and ukulele, with touches of glockenspiel, melodica, and a surprising array of under-used instruments. Award-winning singer-actors Lauren Molina (Marry Me a Little, Sweeney Todd, Rock of Ages) and Nick Cearley (Pageant, All Shook Up) became YouTube sensations as The Skivvies, with living room videos that displayed their powerful harmonies as well as their powerful abs. Those clips led to live shows that The Wall Street Journal called "smart, sophisticated...ingenious," and Out Magazine, "The Skivvies have managed to carve out a niche that we never knew needed to exist: part Weird Al- parody and part sexy burlesque...an unusual explosion of satire and sultry." They also have a single and music video directed by Augusten Burroughs, bestselling author of Running With Scissors. They will be joined by special guest stars who will strip down and rock out. Expect a hilarious evening of genre-hopping pop perfection. www.theskivviesnyc.com. Guests include: Charlie Rosen, Hunter Ryan Hedlicka, Ephraim Sykes, Natalie Joy Johnson, Nicholas Rodriguez and Lesli Margherita. $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

CHESTER GREGORY, August 23 at 8PM:

Back by popular demand! Join Chester and Grammy award-winning composer Rob Lewis in an exclusive one-of-a-kind evening! Broadway knows Chester from his roles in Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Tarzan, Cry-Baby, Shrek the Musical and many others, but this August get up close and personal with Chester and prepare to go on a musical journey celebrating the biggest hits from Broadway, Jazz, Soul & Gospel. One night only! $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

THE SONGS OF ANDERSON & PETTY WITH LISA O'HARE AND MORE, August 23 at 11PM:

Anderson & Petty, the transatlantic songwriting duo, present selections from their new song cycle, Lost, and also their recent album, You Are Home - The Songs of Anderson & Petty, which features both Broadway and West End stars including Frances Ruffelle, Colleen Sexton, Cynthia Erivo, Gina Beck and Autumn Hurlbert. They have had concerts at the Duplex and the Triad in New York and in London at the Delfont Room at the Prince of Wales Theatre, the Union Theatre and the prestigious St. James Studio. Their songs have also been featured in concerts at the Bruno Walter Auditorium in New York and in London at Café de Paris, the Actors' Church and the Garrick Theatre. You can find them on twitter at @andersonpetty. Their 54 Below debut concert will feature performances from Lisa O'Hare (A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder), Christina DeCicco (Evita, Sister Act), Nikki Renée Daniels (Porgy & Bess), Megan McGinnis (Little Women), Natalie Gallo (Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!), Jennifer Perry (Kinky Boots), Liz Larsen (Beautiful), Nick Cosgrove (Jersey Boys), Benjamin Eakeley (Cabaret), Jen Burleigh-Bentz, Curtis Wiley, Aurelia Williams, Brandon Andrus, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Colleen Sexton and more to be announced! $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

NYC CABARET FESTIVAL, August 24 at 7PM & 9:30PM:

54 Below inaugurates a brand new festival saluting some of the finest talents in the NYC cabaret community. This August, join more than seventy uniquely gifted entertainers, among the most highly regarded in the city, as we celebrate work ranging from original compositions to treasured standards by the greats & absolutely everything in between. The NYC Cabaret Festival shines a bright spotlight on this most unique craft, & propels it into the future! Sunday, August 24 @ 7pm: Raissa Katona Bennett, Tony DeSare, Natalie Douglas, Debbie Gravitte, Jeff Harnar, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Heather MacRae, Phyllis Pastore, Sarah Rice, Alice Ripley, Steve Ross and Chip Zien. Sunday, August 24 @ 9:30pm: Carole J. Bufford, Alexis Cole, Kat Gang, Sean Harkness, Deanna Kirk, Lina Koutrakos, Lorinda Lisitza & Ted Stafford, Marissa Mulder, Christine Pedi, Jana Robbins, Nicholas Rodriguez, Jay Rogers and Jonathan Whitton. $30-40 cover charge for the 7pm show, $25-35 cover charge for 9:30pm show. $25 food & beverage minimum.

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