Judy Kaye 54 Sings Funny Girl & 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:

LINDSAY MENDEZ & DEREK KLENA, March 24 at 7PM:

Known to New York audiences for playing Rose and Birdlace in Dogfight, and fresh off a run as Elphaba and Fiyero in Wicked, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena join forces once again, this time on the stage of 54 Below. The two will perform a rousing, eclectic evening celebrating the music they love and their genuine friendship. Directed by Dogfight bookwriter Peter Duchan. Musical direction by Dogfight and Wicked's Bryan Perri. $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

JARROD SPECTOR, March 24 at 9:30PM:

Back by popular demand! Jarrod Spector, who is starring in the new Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, returns to 54 Below to celebrate his brand new album "A Little Help From My Friends: Live at 54 BELOW"! This acclaimed musical outing traces the legacy of the great male singers whose vocal prowess made them the rock stars of their generations, even before rock was born. After starring as Frankie Valli for six years in Broadway's smash hit musical Jersey Boys, Jarrod wraps his critically-praised voice around the songs that have made superstars out of more than a century of tenor legends from Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson to the great Enrico Caruso himself. In anticipation of Broadway Records' official release of the album on March 25th, CDs will be available for purchase at all four performances with a chance to have copies autographed. The New York Times calls Jarrod Spector's performance "A witty, energetic mini-jukebox musical ...A highly polished show."$30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

PANIC! IN CONCERT, March 24 at 11:30PM:

PANIC! is a rough-edged concert featuring songs by the American rock band Panic! at the Disco. PANIC! features songs from all four studio albums, including hits such as: "I Write Sins, Not Tragedies," "Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off," "Ready to Go," "This is Gospel," and more. PANIC! is a thrilling, whirlwind of emotions that will have you singing on the edge of your seat. Featuring Matt Corr (bare: a pop opera), Ashley Tobias (American Idiot), Brady Cudmore, Haley Selmon, Megan Dorn, Timothy Houston, Hillary Porter, Carl Zurhorst (Damn Yankees national tour), Brady Loomer, Jamie Cook, Rachel Sophia, and Billy Nolan. $15 cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drink minimum.

MELANIE BROOK, March 25 at 7PM:

Who is Melanie Brook? Good question. Melanie Brook is the winner of 2013's The Callback competition. Come on a magical journey as Melanie tries to figure out who she is through the art of song, interpretive dance, and a special guest appearance by her green recorder. You will not regret it. $25 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

BACKSTAGE, March 25 at 10PM:

Broadway cast members and audiences alike gather to mix and mingle at Backstage-"a perfect way to spend a Tuesday night" (New York Daily News). Musical director Brad Simmons keeps the house jumping from the piano, while hilariously effervescent host Susie Mosher (Hairspray) guides the crowd through an evening of music, mayhem and full-throttle belting. Special guests from hit Broadway shows drop in to perform and sing everything from Sondheim to Springsteen. NPR sums it up best: "The best thing happening right now might just be Backstage. Can't recommend it highly enough!" Featuring: Kate Pierson (The B-52s), Celisse Henderson (Godspell, In Transit), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones, Love's Labour's Lost), Jessica Vosk (The Bridges of Madison County), Jay Klaitz (Rock of Ages, Getting the Band Together), Marissa Mulder (2013 Noël Coward Cabaret Award and Julie Wilson Award winner),Villalobos Brothers (Vox Pop Award winner at 2013 Independent Music Awards), Carole J. Bufford (Rising cabaret star), Amy Rivard (Riverdance, Celtic Woman), Steven Cutts and The Collective Yes, The Stone Brothers, Stiletta, Brett Pruneau and Lauren Turner. $25 cover charge. $10 food & beverage minimum.

54 SINGS FUNNY GIRL, March 26 at 7PM & 9:30PM:

Exactly fifty years ago on this very night, Barbra Streisand was catapulted to superstardom when Funny Girl opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre. Be there as 54 Below tips our hat to this fabulous Jule Styne/Bob Merrill score when 54 Sings Funny Girl! With music direction by John McDaniel, some of Broadway's best are scheduled to appear (with more to be announced!), including: Ashley Brown, Carole J. Bufford, Donna Lynne Champlin, Katie Rose Clarke, Tovah Feldshuh, Natalie Douglas, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Karen Mason, Julia Murney, Molly Pope, Emily Skinner, John Tartaglia, Donna Vivino, and the icing on the cake-the dynamo who replaced Barbra and went on to play the role for a year and a half in the original Broadway production, MIMI HINES! Some of Broadway's best are lined up to take a walk down Henry Street, singing tunes like "Cornet Man," "The Music That Makes Me Dance" and, of course, "People." $50 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

TIANANMEN: A NEW MUSICAL, March 27 at 7PM:

Tiananmen is an original rock musical that follows the story of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing. Highlights from the new musical will be presented, featuring: Telly Leung (Godspell, Allegiance, "Glee"), Ruthie Ann Miles (Here Lies Love), Orville Mendoza (Peter and the Starcatcher, Pacific Overtures), Karl Josef Co (Allegiance at the Old Globe), Eric Badiqué, Katie Boren (Lysistrata Jones, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Calli Buetow (Bring It On), Billy Bustamante (Pacific Overtures), Kiet Tai Cao, Katie Lee Hill (Hello, Dolly! at the Signature Theatre), and others. Tiananmen is written by Scott Elmegreen (book) and Drew Fornarola (music and lyrics), and directed by Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz, Allegiance, Carrie) with music direction and orchestration by Rick Fox (Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent, Blood Brothers). $25 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

THE JULIE JAMES SHOW, March 27 at 9:30PM:

It's "The Julie James Show" starring SiriusXM Radio Program Director & celebrity host Julie James ("Broadway Names with Julie James"). Julie spills the showbiz beans with snappy stories and original songs sure to dazzle any musical theatre lover. A fast-paced romp of a variety show with hilarious new songs, long-lost Broadway gems, and an impromptu visit with celebrities in the audience, the show is a delight for Broadway fans and pop-culture geeks alike. With new songs by long-time collaborator Aaron Hagan, Julie rolls back the radio curtain on what it takes to run the only 24/7 Broadway radio station in the world while juggling jingles for Howard Stern, working the Red Carpet at the Tonys, and recording chatfests with all her theatre heroes back at the SiriusXM studios. It's a classic evening of favorite tunes with an unconventional style and surprising twists as Julie comes out to the world as the songstress, storyteller and comedienne she truly is. After all, it's The Julie James Show! $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

NYU N'HARMONICS, March 27 at 11:30PM:

NYU's crazy a cappella group, the N'Harmonics, bring their riff-tastic, balls to the wall show to 54 Below. With seriously tight harmonies, waterfall riffing, whistle tones that only dogs can hear, ungodly bass notes, and insane beat boxing, alongside a slew of other vocal acrobatics. With opening act APC Rhythm!$10 cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drink minimum.

JUDY KAYE, March 28 & 29 at 8PM:

Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner Judy Kaye (The Phantom of the Opera, Nice Work If You Can Get It) makes her 54 Below debut with a new show celebrating the work of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Having worked with both, she'll share humorous anecdotes and personal reminiscences, along with her own unique take on some of her favorites from these two giants of the American Musical Theatre. $45-55 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

TORI SCOTT, March 28 at 11PM:

Tori Scott, Time Out New York's Top 10 Cabaret Artist of 2013, returns to 54 Below with her solo show I'll Regret This Tomorrow, an evening of brassy songs and slurred autobiographical stories. This salute to a glittering array of poor life choices, past and present, will feature Scott's signature performances of hits by Dolly Parton, Judy Garland, Michael Jackson, Florence and the Machine and more. Tori Scott has also graced the stages of Joe's Pub, the Laurie Beechman, the Metropolitan Room, and every gay bar on the Eastern Seaboard; counted to 20 as a singing garbage woman on Sesame Street; and dubbed the vocals of a singing hooker on HBO's "Cathouse: The Musical." She strives every day in every way to be a consummate lady and sometimes wonders if she actually still has a liver or not. $25 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

EVAN RUGGIERO, March 29 at 11PM:

Join us for an evening of music with song and dance man Evan Ruggiero as he tells his inspirational story set to Broadway's favorite songs. Evan is no stranger to 54 Below as he has previously performed with the phenomenal cast of Don't Quit Your Night Job and Panic! In Concert. He is well known for his TV appearances on "American Idol," "Un Nuevo Dia" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." You won't want to miss this evening with Evan, whose story of his battle with cancer and his survival to be The One-Legged Song and Dance Man will touch your heart and move your soul. $25 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

ANITA GILLETTE & PENNY FULLER, March 30 at 7PM:

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Two beloved, Tony-nominated Broadway actresses join forces for a delectable evening of humorous reflection and harmonious song in Sin Twisters, a show with a devilish spoonerism of a title. On the streets of Manhattan and Los Angeles, these vibrant and savvy veterans of over two dozen Broadway productions, as well as countless films and television shows, are constantly being mistaken for each other, although one is at least three inches taller, and one is a blonde and the other, a redhead. Yet, during their respective careers, they have both tackled some of the same parts, including the plum role of Sally Bowles in the original Broadway production of Cabaret. Sin Twisters joyfully celebrates these similarities but also gives full voice to these two remarkable performers' differences as artists and as women. This show is a must for anyone who loves theater lore and cherishes the enduring bonds of friendship. $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

DIRTY LITTLE SONGS, March 30 at 9:30PM:

Award-winning theater and cabaret performers Eric Michael Gillett (Sweet Smell of Success, The Frogs, Kiss Me, Kate), Carolyn Montgomery-Forant (MAC/Bistro/Nightlife Awards), Sidney Myer (MAC/Bistro/Mabel Mercer Award-winner, Grandma Sylvia's Funeral) & Drama Desk nominee Jay Rogers (Whoop-Dee-Doo, When Pigs Fly) join forces to present an evening of sly songs with titillating tunes & lascivious lyrics from the present to days of yore. Sondheim, Flanders & Swann, Coward & Porter mixed with just a dash of Tom Lehrer & even Pete Townshend, performed with a wink & a nudge by four of cabaret's funniest & most prolific performers. $30-40 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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