Ben Vereen, Tony Yazbeck & 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.

TONY YAZBECK, March 16 at 7PM:

"In the words of legendary tap dancer Maurice Hines, 'Class is like pornography. You know it when you see it.' Tony Yazbeck brings this elusive essence of old-timey Broadway class to his 54 Below debut, representing a dying breed of showmen that keeps the word debonair from falling into complete extinction."-Theatermania. The acclaimed star of this season's On the Town revival, perennial song and dance man Tony Yazbeck heats up the stage with the return of his 54 Below tour de force performance in The Floor Above Me, a thrilling evening of tenor melodies and tenacious tap dancing! The beloved Broadway vet-Gypsy (Tulsa), Little Me at Encores!, 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 and On The Town co-star Clyde Alves 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 Coldplay, 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 the professional and personal journey that has established him as a stalwart New York song and dance man. Please join Tony Yazbeck at 54 Below for The Floor Above Me (with musical direction and arrangements by Jerome Korman, evening co-written and co-directed by Howard Emanuel & Tony Yazbeck) for an unforgettable evening of story, song and dance! $35-45 cover charge. $80 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

THE BEST OF 'BROADWAY SINGS', March 16 at 9:30PM:

The team from the acclaimed concert series is back with 15 stand-out performances from the past seven BROADWAY SINGS concerts. Over a dozen Broadway performers will be accompanied by a 7-piece jazz band playing the dynamic arrangements from the series The New York Times calls "sheer brilliance." Past concerts include Broadway Sings Adele, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Justin Timberlake, and P!nk. The shows are produced by Corey Mach and music directed by Joshua Stephen Kartes. The concert will feature performances from: Ben Fankhauser (Newsies), Jay Armstrong Johnson (On the Town, Hands on a Hardbody), Eric Michael Krop (Godspell), Corey Mach (Hands on a Hardbody, Godspell), Tracy McDowell (Motown), Saycon Sengbloh (Holler If Ya Hear Me, Hair), Libby Servais (Lysistrata Jones, Wicked), Keala Settle (Les Miserables, Hands on a Hardbody), Alysha Umphress (On the Town, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) and Raena White (The Lion King), (All performers subject to change.) $30-40 cover charge. $70 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

BEN VEREEN, March 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21 at 7PM:

"Mr. Vereen is a song and dance man who never lets up. He wins you over with his sheer energy, good will and showbiz know-how." -The New York Times. "The 65-years-young star is expending enough energy up there to power all of the Big Apple." -Theatermania. Join Ben Vereen at 54 Below for an unforgettable evening of song and story. The Broadway legend returns to our stage with his acclaimed show Steppin' Out, including new songs! The New York Daily News wrote, "Vereen blows onto the stage with a gale force ready to sweep the audience up, up and away"... so be prepared to be knocked off your feet by this riveting performance. A Tony and Drama Desk Award winner for his renowned performance in Bob Fosse's Pippin, Mr. Vereen's Broadway credits include: Wicked, I'm Not Rappaport, Chicago, Hair, Fosse, Jelly's Last Jam, Jesus Christ Superstar, and A Christmas Carol. In 2010, Ben completed a successful run in the world premiere of Fetch Clay, Make Man, directed by Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys) at the McCarter Theatre. Film: Idlewild, All That Jazz, Sweet Charity, Funny Lady (Golden Globe nomination), Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Once Upon a Forest. Television: The legendary television miniseries "Roots," "How I Met Your Mother" (recurring), "Grey's Anatomy" (Prism Award), Tyler Perry's "House of Payne," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," Hallmark's "An Accidental Friendship" (NAACP nomination), "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe," "Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style," "Ellis Island" (Golden Globe Nomination), Anne Rice's "Feast of All Saints," "Zoobilee Zoo," and "Star Trek - The Next Generation." Ben's most recent feature film was Paramount Studios' Top Five starring Chris Rock and he is co-starring with Richard Gere in the upcoming Time Out Of Mind. $50-65 cover charge. $95-110 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

RICHARD HOLBROOK, March 17 at 9:30PM:

"All the elements of a great evening of cabaret come together in Richard Sings Burton - The Songs of Burton Lane. Richard Holbrook has a pleasing personality, excellent voice and interpretive skills, and the show was imaginatively directed by Dick Barclay. The room was crowded to capacity with an enthusiastic audience, and the evening was filled with songs by one of our truly great composers of American Popular Music." - Cabaret Exchange. Richard Holbrook: Richard Sings Burton - The Songs of Burton Lane is a musical tribute to this celebrated composer, beginning in the 1930's when Lane was a tunesmith of Broadway revues, continuing through his career at M-G-M as a popular motion picture songwriter of over thirty films and finally climaxing with his renowned Broadway musicals Finian's Rainbow and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. The musical selections included in this show are songs written by Burton Lane with celebrated lyricists such as Ira Gershwin, Frank Loesser, Harold Adamson, Ralph Freed, and of course, Alan Jay Lerner and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg. MAC nominee for Best Male Vocalist, Holbrook is accompanied by the fabulous Tom Nelson Trio, featuring Nelson as musical director and pianist. The evening is directed by Academy Award-winning documentary film maker Richard Barclay. Come see the unforgettable cabaret evening that the Times Square Chronicles notes is, "Richard Holbrook, with a beautiful voice, at the top of his game - performing a great tribute to Burton Lane's multi-faceted song writing career." $25-35 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

PAUL IACONO, March 18 at 9:30PM:

Star of G.B.F., FAME, and MTV's The Hard Times Of RJ Berger, Paul Iacono returns to the New York nightclub scene in his debut musical memoir, WHERE'S THE F*CKING KID? From being discovered on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" at age eight to surviving leukemia and Elaine Stritch, Paul sends up his former child actor days and the larger-than-life women who made him the bawdy little monster he is today. Reunited onstage with Grammy & Emmy Award-winning music director John McDaniel ("The Rosie O'Donnell Show," Annie Get Your Gun, Grease) and directed by Aaron Mark (Another Medea, Patti Issues), Paul swings through unconventional adolescence with painfully hilarious results. $30-40 cover charge. $65 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

MY F#*KED UP VALENTINE, March 19 at 9:30PM:

After the overwhelming success of 54 Below Sings Elaine Stritch, Director Eric Ulloa and Music Director Nate Patten return to the venue to bring you an evening blending the artistic communities of New York City. My F#*ked Up Valentine takes you on a journey through the joys and perils of dating in NYC, as told through the eyes of this city's best Broadway, literary and comedic talents. Featuring performances from: Poppi Kramer (Bill Cunningham Show, VH1, "The Biggest Loser"), Isaac Oliver (Author of Intimacy Idiot), Ben Rimalower (Bad With Money, Patti Issues), Matteo Lane (Comedy Central, MTV), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Jeremy Benton (42nd Street), Cady Huffman (The Producers), Kate Rockwell (Bring It On, Rock of Ages), Tori Scott (I'll Regret This Tomorrow, Thirsty!), Directed by Eric Ulloa, Music Directed by Nate Patten and Produced by Eric Ulloa and Dena Kology. The evening will be a benefit for The LGBT Center. $30-40 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

LAUREN STANFORD, March 20 at 9:30PM:

Late nights in Prohibition-era NYC you could find singer Helen Morgan iconically perched on the piano at her club, relying too much on brandy and 'torching' until even the most hardened gangster wept into his beer. 2013 MetroStar Winner Lauren Stanford brings Helen Morgan back to life in More Than You Know. Directed by Eric Michael Gillett with Music Direction by Mike Pettry, the play contains songs the chanteuse made famous, including Jerome Kern's "Bill" and "Why Was I Born." Stanford wrote the piece, a dramatic recreation of Helen Morgan's final night in residency at NYC's Simplon Club. Lauren Stanford was just named by Nitelife Exchange as one of the 25 People in Cabaret To Watch in 2015. Cabaret Scenes' Rob Lester said Lauren "sparkled." "She can belt or croon with yearning. Stanford comes across naturally, with a just-right mix of youthful sincerity and cleverness. Call it ingénue ingenuity." Susan Hasho at Theater Pizzazz called Lauren "a great storyteller." "She is lovely and easy to watch, capable of wrapping the audience in a sweet spell; and a welcome addition to the New York theatre/cabaret scene." $25-35 cover charge. $65 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

CAROLE J. BUFFORD, March 21 at 9:30PM:

"And now there's Carole J. Bufford, a sizzling cabaret performer who 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." -Stephen Holden, The New York Times. The Oldest Profession has always fired the artist's imagination. Whether in song, on a canvas or printed page, those girls of the night have glowed with danger, of the carnal and the chaotic. Now on the heels of her prior successes, Carole J. Bufford presents Heart of Gold: A Portrait of the Oldest Profession. Audiences will be treated to music immortalized by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Ethel Waters, Julie London, Libby Holman, Elton John, Donna Summer, Liza Minnelli, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and more! Carole peers behind the drapes at this age-old trade with material spanning over a century. So come, step on in, if you dare, if you're intrigued... to be met by the most vital, the most enthralling women you've ever dreamed of. If their wit and courage doesn't capture you, their heartache will. Experience and give into Heart of Gold: A Portrait of the Oldest Profession. One Night Only! $35-45 cover charge. $75 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

SONDHEIMAS, March 21 at 11:30PM:

SONDHEIMAS is the annual quasi-religious celebration of the birth of the savior of musical theater, Stephen Sondheim. The team that brought you last year's sold-out show at 54 Below is back with another raucous celebration of the man, the music, and the mythos. Expect songs familiar and obscure, irreverent schtick, and a warm holiday feeling that can only come from a gathering of the faithful celebrating together. Featuring Kurt Peterson (Follies Original Cast), Liz Larsen (Beautiful), Ariana DeBose (Hamilton), Molly Pope (Found), Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), Sal Viviano (Closer Than Ever), George Abud (Allegro), puppeteer Scottie Rowell, Larry Owens (Fat Camp), and Playbill's Robbie Rozelle. Produced by David Levy and Maggie Larkin. Musical Direction by Andrei Strizek. $35 cover charge. $55 premium seating. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drinks.

THE 3rd ANNUAL BROADWAY CHARITY SONGS CONCERT, March 22 at 7PM:

The Third Annual Broadway Charity Songs Concert (produced by Broadway Gives Back) will debut 12 songs written by 12 award-winning composers written for 12 outstanding charity organizations. This year's concert will feature new works by award-winning composers Jeff Blumenkrantz, Henry Krieger, Sting & Brian Yorkey, Andrew Lippa, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Adam Gwon, David Friedman, Lewis Flinn, Andy Monroe, Timothy Huang, Nadav Wiesel, Nolan Livesay & Nathan Brisby, Andre Catrini, and Jonathan Breit. Performers will include some of the best of Broadway. Broadway Gives Back seeks to be one of the many ways those in need know that they have a friend in the Broadway community. By partnering with non-profit organizations, Broadway Gives Back produces award-winning art that makes a difference. Featuring: Sally Wilfert (Assassins), Michael Esper (The Last Ship, American Idiot), Saum Eskandani (Disaster!), Todd Buonopane (Spelling Bee, Chicago, Cinderella), Susanna Phillips (Met Opera soprano), Alexander Sage Oyen (composer/lyricist), Dave Schoonover (Young Frankenstein), Cooper Grodin (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables), Shawna Hamic (The Last Ship, Les Miserables), Lisa Livesay (Wicked) and Luca Padovan (Newsies). $30-40 cover charge. $70 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

SHANKTUNES: A NIGHT OF ORIGINAL SONGS BY LYNNE SHANKEL, March 22 at 9:30PM:

Back by popular demand! An evening of original songs by Drama Desk-nominated orchestrator/arranger Lynne Shankel. Lynne will be joined onstage by some of New York's finest talent for a fun-filled evening of her blend of pop, R&B, swing and musical theatre. ShankTunes will feature songs from the recent Off-Broadway production of bare, as well as premieres of brand new songs. The evening will be directed by Stafford Arima. Lynne Shankel is best known for her arrangements and orchestrations of musicals such as Altar Boyz, Allegiance, and Cry-Baby. She has written arrangements for dozens of artists including Lea Salonga, Chita Rivera, Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, Telly Leung, Lindsay Mendez, and Chester Gregory. She has orchestrated for composers including Stephen Flaherty, David Bryan, Matt Sklar and Zachary Redler. Featuring Lindsay Mendez, Derek Klena, Telly Leung, Emerson Steele, Katie Rose Clarke, Jeanna de Waal, Eric William Morris, Alyse Alan Louis, Tyler Maynard and Rachel Stern. $25-35 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.

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