Chip Zien Plays 54 Below Tonight

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Chip Zien tonight, December 11. Broadway favorite Chip Zien is much beloved on the Great White Way for creating the roles of the Baker in Into the Woods and Mendel in Falsettos. Now, 54 Below proudly presents his swinging cabaret debut! Expect some wild jazz standards as well as tunes that trace his brilliant stage career, including special personal favorites from shows that include Grand Hotel, Merrily, Sweeney Todd, The Big Knife, In Trousers and The Dean Martin Show, among many others. Join Chip and his oversized band for two very special performances only - no more riddles, no more jests!

Chip's show will feature a 7 piece swinging jazz band under the direction of Jeff Klitz.

Chip Zien created the central role of the Baker in Sondheim/Lapine's award-winning INTO THE WOODS (L.A. Drama-Logue Award, Outer Critics nomination) and also created the role of Mendel in William Finn's highly acclaimed FALSETTOS. Most recently he was seen on B'way in Douglas Hughes' THE BIG KNIFE, The Roundabout's THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, Mike Nichols' THE COUNTRY GIRL and as Thenardier in the revival of Les Miserables. He appeared in Tommy Tune's GRAND HOTEL playing Otto Kringelein, the memorable dancing bookkeeper. Other Broadway credits include, The Boys From Syracuse, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, ALL OVER TOWN directed by Dustin Hoffman THE SUICIDE with Derek Jacobi. Mr. Zien began his long association with William Finn in the New York premier of IN TROUSERS, the first Marvin musical, at Playwrights Horizons playing Marvin and appeared thereafter in the original productions of MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS and FALSETTOLAND. Mr. Zien also starred in the La Jolla reworking of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (L.A. Drama-Logue Award).

Off-Broadway, Mr. Zien has been equally comfortable in plays and musicals. Among his many credits: Most recently, Nathan Englander's THE 27th Man and the Delacorte's revival of INTO THE WOODS for The Public Theater. As well as Glenn Merzer's ANONYMOUS, Peter Parnell's AN IMAGINARY LIFE, Wendy Wasserstein's ISN'T IT ROMANTIC (Drama Desk Nomination), Michael Weller's SPLIT and MOONCHILDREN, Lanford Wilson's HOT L BALTIMORE (both in NY and LA's Mark Taper Forum), Allan Ginsburg's KADDISH, as well as Finn's A NEW BRAIN (Drama Desk Nomination), DIAMONDS, the Ashman/Menken REAL LIFE FUNNIES, and the hit revue TUSCALOOSA'S CALLING ME, etc.

On TV, Mr. Zien was a series regular on THE Caroline Rhea SHOW, ALMOST PERFECT (CBS), NOW AND AGAIN (CBS), DEADLINE (NBC), SHELL GAME (CBS), LOVE, SIDNEY (NBC), and REGGIE (ABC). He has guested through the years on many popular shows, among them THE GOOD WIFE, LIPSTICK JUNGLE, RESCUE ME, CSI, LAW AND ORDER, CHEERS, THE Bob Newhart SHOW, THIRTY-SOMETHING, JUDGING AMY, COSBY, THE CAGNEY AND LACEY MOVIES, CHIPS, SON OF THE BEACH, MADIGAN MEN, and WINGS as well as numerous pilots.

His film career has been varied. He played the Chief Executive to the President of the United States in THE SIEGE and was the voice of the infamous HOWARD THE DUCK. Also: ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE UNDEAD (Fall of '09), UNITED 93, SNAKE EYES, BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS, Dorothy Parker AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE, GRACE QUIGLEY with Katherine Hepburn, SO FINE, HELLO AGAIN, HOUSE OF GOD, and THE ROSE.

Mr. Zien has recently turned his attention to writing. His one man show DEATH IN ASHTABULA and a musical review with Deborah Abramson, et al. TRAVELS WITH MY DISCONTENT were both developed and performed at The Barrington Stage. His next project, THE HISTORY OF WAR, is currently in development.

Mr. Zien attended the University of Pennsylvania. His wife, Susan Pilarre, is a former soloist with the NYC Ballet and currently teaches at the School of American Ballet. They are the proud parents of two wonderful daughters.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, 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. The venue 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. 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." Located at 254 West 54th Street, 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $15-$95.

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