HIT LIST Concert, Caissie Levy, Rebecca Naomi Jones & More Set for 54 Below Tonight; This Week's Listings

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:

Rebecca Naomi Jones, Caissie Levy & Juliana Nash, December 9 at 7PM:
The cast and creative of recent Off-Broadway hit rock musical Murder Ballad reunite for a concert of raw, sexy power tunes from one of the show's creators! Caissie Levy (Hair, Rent) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot, Passing Strange) join Singer-Songwriter Juliana Nash (Composer-Lyricist of Murder Ballad), backed up by the original on-stage Murder Ballad band. The New York Times called Murder Ballad "fun and inventive! A steamy musical with a razor's edges." Nash brings the razor's edges not only to the show's soundtrack but also to her original rock compositions, which will also be sung by this amazingly talented trio. Prepare to be blown away by power vocals and steamy original songs-some you've heard before, some you haven't-all of which you'll be dying to hear again. $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

HIT LIST, December 9 at 9:30PM & 11:30PM:
Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus, Carrie Manolakos and more will star in HIT LIST at 54 Below. The second season of NBC's Smash featured a fictional new Broadway musical called HIT LIST, written by characters played by Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years) and Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), and starring Krysta Rodriguez (First Date,The Addams Family). The fictional musical opened at Manhattan Theatre Workshop and then transferred to Broadway, opening at the Barrymore Theatre and winning seven Tony Awards. HIT LISTthe musical will receive its actual world premiere performance at 54 Below. HIT LIST, a modern fable about identity and the price of fame, tells the tragic love story of a wannabe pop singer who transforms herself to become a star and the hidden songwriter she uses to get there - but at what cost? HIT LIST will be presented by Julia Brownell, Joshua Safran and Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Benjamin Rauhala is musical director. The concerts will feature orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, and performances from Molly Hager, Eric Michael Krop, Julia Mattison, and Eric William Morris. The band will include Rauhala, Rosen, Shannon Ford, Alisa Horn, Dennis Michael Keefe, and Hiroko Taguchi. The score of HIT LIST was written by Drew Gasparini, Joe Iconis, Andrew McMahon, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, and Lucie Silvas. The shows will include some additional songs from these composers that were intended for HIT LIST but never made it to air, and also special appearances by several of HIT LIST's composers and additional performers to be announced at a later date. $55 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

Ali Stroker: FINDING GLEE, December 10 at 7PM:
"Finding Glee" tells the story of Ali Stroker's unexpected journey to the FOX hit show GLEE, with all of the road bumps and successes along the way! Ali belts out musical theatre classics and radio hits as she shares these hilarious and heartwarming stories. This young woman's ability to turn her limitations of a wheelchair into gold unfolds in this charming new show! $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

Daniel Reichard, December 10 at 9PM:
Broadway and concert star Daniel Reichard (Original Jersey Boys, also Forbidden Broadway and now, The Midtown Men) brings his annual Christmas show to 54 Below with a festive band of musicians. Both nostalgic and lightheartedly irreverent, It's Christmas...Again features classic holiday hits along with treasured favorites from the Great American Songbook. Come see what NY1's Roma Torre describes as, "An instant rush of holiday spirit - Reichard reclaims the pure magic of Christmas!" $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

LATE NIGHT: BACKSTAGE, December 10 at 11:00PM:
Each week, Broadway cast members and audiences alike gather to mix and mingle at 54 Below, Broadway's most intimate haunt, located in the heart of the theatre district. Musical Director Brad Simmons keeps the house jumping from the piano, while host Susie Mosher (the love child of Joanne Worley & Paul Lynde) guides the crowd through an evening of music, mayhem and full throttle belting, with special guests from Broadway and beyond dropping in to perform. NPR had this to say: "The best thing happening right now might just be the weekly Backstage. Hosted by the ridiculously funny Susie Mosher and pianist Brad Simmons who clearly is the man, it's two feel-good hours among New York's theater people, who seem like they're having a really fine time. Can't recommend it highly enough!" At this week's Backstage is Amber Iman (Nina Simone in Soul Doctor), Michael Wartella (Wicked), Douglas Lyons (Beautiful), David Perlman (Baby, It's You), and JAmes Brown Orleans (The Lion King). No cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

Len Cariou, December 11 at 7PM, December 13 & 14 at 8PM:
'S Wonderful! 'S Marvelous! For three very special performances only, 54 Below is delighted to welcome back a gentleman who can only be described as Broadway royalty - this time, singing GERSHWIN all the way! New York knows him not only for his Tony winning role as the original Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd), but from his memorable performances in Applause, A Little Night Music and Dance a Little Closer among others. Film and television audiences have embraced him in dozens of roles, ranging from The Four Seasons, About Schmidt, Into the Storm, Damages and his current role as Henry Reagan in Blue Bloods. Strike Up the Band! This December on the 54 Below stage, Mr. Cariou is showcasing his own Fascinatin' Rhythm! And we couldn't be more thrilled. $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

Chip Zien, December 11 at 9:30PM:
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 tunes that trace his brilliant stage career, including special personal favorites from shows that include Grand Hotel, Merrily, Sweeney Todd, The Big Knife 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! $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

James Barbour, December 12 at 7PM:
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! James Barbour, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Drama League Award nominee, brings his acclaimed 6th annual holiday concert to 54 Below for 2 nights only! With many Broadway credits under his belt, Barbour (A Tale of Two Cities, Assassins, Jane Eyre, Urinetown) will be joined by a roster of surprise guest stars singing beloved holiday songs from the American Songbook. Recognized by critics as "magnetic" (Time Magazine) with "a voice that fuses power with rich expression" (NY Daily News), Barbour's annual holiday concert is an event not to be missed! Jump start the most wonderful time of the year with this exhilarating holiday event, featuring guest star Mary Testa! $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

Euan Morton, December 12 at 9:30PM:
Tony nominee Euan Morton returns to New York City with his first concert in over two years. Backed by Grandpa Musselman & His Syncopators, Morton performs a repertoire of turn of the century ragtime, 1920's jazz and depression era swing by composers such as Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington. A native of Scotland, Euan received an Olivier Award nomination for originating the role of Boy George in the musical Taboo. He moved to New York in 2003 to reprise the role on Broadway, earning Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award nominations, as well as the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut. $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

INTERSECTIONS: THE MUSIC OF ELLIS & WILLIAMSON, December 12 at 11:30PM:
At the intersection of classic musical theater and contemporary classical music, Sarah Taylor Ellis and Lane Williamson's vernacular art songs cut to the core. Their smart and contemplative music encompasses settings of prose, sonnets, and tumblr posts, and their new chamber musical The Yellow Wallpaper adapts Charlotte Perkins Gilman's early feminist short story into a haunting theatrical work. Join Ellis and Williamson, as well as a star studded cast, for the 54 Below debut of a distinctive new songwriting team. $10 cover charge. Two drink minimum.

Drew Gasparini & FRIENDS, December 13 at 11PM:
Award winning composer Drew Gasparini makes his 54 Below debut! The evening will showcase songs from Drew's collection of musicals including Make Me Bad, #UntitledPopMusical, Crazy, Just Like Me, Inappropriate Stories Told At A Bar, and more, as well as songs from his album I Could Use A Drink. The evening will feature performances by Marc Summers (Double Dare, The Food Network), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening, Glee), Alex Brightman (Big Fish), Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening), Nicholas Christopher (Motown), Jason Gotay (Bring It On, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark), Brandon J. Ellis (Once), Andrew Kober (Hair), F. Michael Haynie (Wicked), Julia Mattison (Godspell), Ben Crawford (Big Fish), Charlie Rosen (One Man, Two Guvnors; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Preston Sadleir (Next To Normal), Louis Sacco, Hannah A. Brady, Emily Kay Shrader, Monet Julia Sabel, Lauren T. Mack, Hannah Kloepfer, Farra Kober, Chloe Gasparini and Kasie Gasparini. Chock full of musical theater, and pop tunes from Drew's catalog, you can also expect a lot of laughs. ...a LOT of theM. Drew Gasparini has won the John Lennon Songwriting Award, and his music has been heard on NBC's SMASH and in venues all over the country, including the Kennedy Center. His musical Make Me Bad (book by Alex Brightman) won PACE new Musicals, his musical Crazy, Just Like Me won Best of Fest at NYMF 2011, and his musical adaptation of Turn Of The Screw (book by Michael Kimmel) was presented at Lincoln Center in 2012. Also, his mom thinks he's really special. $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

GRAFF FAMILY HOLIDAY SPECIAL, December 14 at 11PM:
One of Broadway's most beloved musical families conquers our stage! Ilene Graff, Randy Graff, Todd Graff and Nikka Graff Lanzarone, along with special guests Fran Drescher, Liz Callaway, Joanna Gleason, Max von Essen, Julia Murney & others, will perform a host of holiday favorites & tunes from their various forays on the Great White Way. In the tradition of the Andy Williams Christmas specials that warped them as children, expect tight, four-part harmonies, color coordinated hats and mufflers, indoor sleigh rides, audience participation, mistletoe & plenty of high belting. As a bonus, watch in wonder as Nikka dances all the parts to Turkey Lurkey Time in a four by four foot space! It's gonna be terrifying! $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

THE SOUND OF THEIR MUSIC:, December 15 at 7PM:
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'! The time has come for 54 Below to salute the two men who paved the way for modern musical theatre with hit after hit, including The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Carousel, Oklahoma!, The King & I & Flower Drum Song, among others. Not only are tunes such as Hello, Young Lovers, I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair, If I Loved You & Edelweiss part of the lexicon of popular music, the indelible stamp they left on Broadway redefined the American musical. Join us as, each month, we present four of Broadway's most intriguing voices singing their favorite R&H tunes, with musical direction by the extraordinary Andy Einhorn (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella). Featuring: Christiane Noll, Darius DeHaas, Ashley Brown, Tom Wopat. $40-50 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

LET THE ANGELS SING: A HOLIDAY GIFT OF SONG, December 15 at 9:30PM:
Join Lina Koutrakos, one of cabaret's most singular & celebrated voices, & regarded composer/musical director Rick Jensen as they pair up a host of venerable songwriters with a slew of newer to the scene, fab vocalists for an evening of holiday cheer. Expect holiday tunes from: Maria Gentile, Julie Gold, Dan Gross, Christine Lavin, Sally Mayes, Amanda McBroom, Beckie Menzie, Michael Orland, Johnny Rodgers & Paul Rolnick performed by Uraina Collazo, Sarah Kimball, Jennie Litt, Clarice Mazanec, Phyllis Mollen, Marissa Mulder, Jamie Salzano, Elizabeth Schwartz, Lennie Watts, Dorian Woodruff, Lisa Yeager & more! Celebrate the season in style with new holiday tunes performed by some of cabaret's newest voices! $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

MICHAEL FINKE, December 15 at 11:30PM:
Musical theatre writer Michael Finke is making his 54 Below debut. Boasting an array of eclectic music and content, the concert will feature songs from several of Michael's musicals including Caroline and George, Reporting Live, Other People's Relationships, as well as several new songs from upcoming projects. His music has been performed and heard at dozens of cabaret venues, Off-Broadway theaters, and national television. With musicals ranging from the hilariously absurd to the richly suspenseful, his work has been hailed as "Daring in its story and scope" and "innovative, original, and thrilling". From electric rock music to classic vaudeville to contemporary art songs, Michael Finke at 54 Below will provide an evening of effervescent musical theatre performed by both acclaimed Broadway veterans and rising musical theatre artists. $15 cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum.

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

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski

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