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.
THE CAST OF IF/THEN SINGS KITT & YORKEY, March 2 at 7PM & 11:30PM:
For one night only at 54 Below, hear the songs of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey as you've never heard them before! Featuring the work of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning songwriters of If/Then, Next to Normal and the upcoming The Visitor and starring the cast of If/Then, this special concert will feature some of Kitt & Yorkey's most popular songs, and some rarities, all presented in a surprising and unexpected one-night-only event. Featuring: Joe Cassidy, Jenn Colella, Charles Hagerty, Janet Krupin, Tamika Lawrence, Megan Lewis, Deedee Magno-Hall, Tyler McGee, Ryan Redmond and Jason Tam (cast subject to change.) $35-45 cover charge. $75 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
THE LAST SHIP COMPANY IN CONCERT, March 2 at 9:30PM:
Songs in the Quay of Life: The Last Ship Company in Concert. The original cast and band of Sting's musical The Last Ship reunite to celebrate their run with an eclectic evening themed around seafaring songs. Proceeds will go to support Wallsend Boys Club in the north of England, which was founded by shipbuilders. With performances by: Eric Anderson, Ethan Applegate, Fred Applegate, Dawn Cantwell, Jeremy Davis, Bradley Dean, Alyssa DiPalma, Michael Esper, Colby Foytik, David Michael Garry, Timothy Gulan, Shawna M. Hamic, Rich Hebert, Todd A. Horman, Sarah Hunt, Sean Jenness, Collin Kelly-Sordelet, Aaron Lazar, Drew McVety, Jimmy Nail, Johnny Newcomb, Matthew Stocke, Cullen R. Titmas, Sally Ann Triplett, Rachel Tucker and Jeremy Woodard. The Last Ship band: Rob Mathes - piano, music supervisor, Dan Lipton - piano, music director, Sonny Paladino - piano, associate music director, Matt Beck - guitars, Joe Bonadio - drums, Pete Donovan - bass, Trey Files - drums, Lisa Gutkin- violin, Chris Layer - pipes, flutes, Mick McAuley - melodeon, Martha McDonnell - violin, Emily Hope Price - cello and Paul Woodiel - violin. $80-90 cover charge. $135 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
THIS WILL BE OUR YEAR, March 3 at 7PM & 9:30PM:
In a one-night-only concert engagement, Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus look back at their time on Smash and sing the songs that inspired the creation of their characters, as well as trunk songs from the "Bishop & Collins" songbook. Audiences can expect to hear songs featured in the second season of Smash, as well as contemporary classics from the musical theater canon and some of the pop/rock tunes featured on the show. In season two of Smash, Jordan, Mientus, and Rodriguez played burgeoning musical theater writers "Jimmy Collins," "Kyle Bishop," and an ambitious actress "Ana Vargas," respectively. The three actors have since starred in Hit List, the meta-musical from the second season of Smash at 54 Below last winter, and have continued to excel both on stage and screen while remaining the closest of friends. The evening reunites the trio with director Joshua Safran, who was the showrunner of season two of Smash, and music director Benjamin Rauhala, who collaborated with the team on Hit List. The evening was conceived by Rauhala and Safran, and is produced by Rauhala. $65-75 cover charge. $115 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
DAVID MICHAEL FINKELSTEIN'S BAR MITZVAH, March 4 at 7PM:
David Michael Finkelstein's Bar Mitzvah, A new musical comedy by Sue Fabisch (Motherhood the Musical).
"The musical by the talented Fabisch, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for this...provides the audience a ringside seat for an evening of unabashed hilarity." - Huffington Post. You know that group of relatives that you don't want to invite, but you have to anyway? Well, they're all here. Join us for the concert version of this all original new musical comedy, where the story takes place, well, at a Bar Mitzvah. Ruth, the matriarch of the bunch is the overbearing Jewish mother, butting into everyone's business - especially her daughter Sarah. Poor Sarah is just trying to make it through the event without one more person commenting on why she's not married yet. And father Irv rounds out the trio as he pretends he can't hear a word of what his wife is saying. Along comes Cousin Barry and his "girlfriend" Gina, a beautiful Italian manicurist, which of course leaves everyone confused because they all thought that Barry was gay! And then there's Matthew, the mystery man...who's also, (wait for it) a doctor! After two successful runs in New Jersey (The Warehouse and The Forum Theatre) the crazy relatives are here and ready to talk behind your back. Sue Fabisch is the author of Motherhood the Musical, which has played to sold-out houses around the US as well as in Scotland and in a two-year tour around Australia. She is the writer (book, music and lyrics) of David Michael Finkelstein's Bar Mitzvah. With Julie Waldman-Stiel (Cats, Fiddler on the Roof), Paul Whelihan (The Flame Keeper, Fiddler on the Roof), Joseph Spiotta (On the Town, Hairspray), Alicia Cordero (In the Heights), Arnaldo Ortiz (In the Heights, Children of Fatima), Cindy Summers (I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change; Nine). Music Direction by Deborah Martin (New Jersey Shakespeare Festival). $25-35 cover charge. $70 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
JOE KINOSIAN & KELLEN BLAIR, March 4 at 9:30PM:
HAMS AT HEART: The Best Musical Theater Writers Of Our Time ...Perform the Songs of Kinosian & Blair. Everyone knows there's no hammier ham than a writer, but writers don't usually get to perform work other than their own... UNTIL NOW! Saturday, March 4, 2015, some of the best musical theater composers and writers in the biz will perform the songs of Kinosian & Blair (Murder For Two). Kinosian & Blair's many comedy songs (and, like, two serious songs) have been described as "smart, sharp-witted" (Bloomberg), "bawdy yet intelligent" (TheatreMania), and "size XXL crazypants" (Chicago Theater Beat), "combin[ing] an old-fashioned yen for Frank Loesser... with an ear of contemporary humor" (The Wall Street Journal), and The New York Times proclaimed their musical Murder For Two "ingenious." They are the recipients of a Joseph Jefferson Award, a Drama Desk Award nomination, and the ASCAP Foundation's Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award. Featuring performances by: Jill Abramovitz, Jeff Blumenkrantz, John Bucchino, Kait Kerrigan, Pete Mills, Patricia Noonan, Adam Overett, Alexander Sage Oyen, Benjamin Schemer, Alan Schmuckler, Charlie Sohne, Marcus Stevens, Sarah Ziegler and more to be announced! $30-40 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
EMILY PADGETT & ERIN DAVIE, March 5 at 7PM:
"Erin Davie and Emily Padgett portray the Hilton twins of Side Show with layered complexity and pin-you-to-your-seat vocal chops. They bring alive the sisters' conflicted but loving relationship with extraordinary grace, and unite in exquisite, heart-rending harmony." -The New York Times. They said they would never leave you and now they're back! Emily Padgett (Rock of Ages, Grease, Legally Blonde) and Erin Davie (Grey Gardens, A Little Night Music, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) come to you straight from the recent Broadway revival of Side Show. Experience the duo who took Broadway by storm this season, receiving rave reviews for their performances as Daisy and Violet Hilton. Join the two starlets as they sing hits from Side Show as well as other songs that led them to the freak show. $30-40 cover charge. $75 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
VERY VERY ROCK SHOW IN CONCERT, March 5 at 9:30PM:
A sexy electric reinvention of a classic comedy of rebellion, love, freedom, and redemption, Very Very is the new musical that turns Shakespeare's As You Like It into a full-out rock concert. The night features Rebecca Naomi Jones (Big Love, American Idiot), Alysha Umphress (On the Town, American Idiot), Joe Carroll (Cinderalla, Once), Eric LaJuan Summers (Motown), Genson Blimline (Rock Of Ages), Kacie Sheik (Hair), Theo Stockman (Hair, American Idiot), Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story), Ben Roseberry (The Lion King), Larry Owens (Fat Camp), Sara Kapner (Bare), Kasie Gasparini (Mamma Mia), along with show creators Zac Lasher (U-Melt, Bebe Buell Band, Maggie Rose), Jay Leibowitz (The Acting Company,Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), and their band featuring Kevin Griffin and Rob Salzer of U-Melt, Dan McNaney and Sparkie Sandler. Cast members from the original workshop of Very Very at the NYC Gibson-Baldwin Showroom Anna Ty Bergman, Dani Marcus, Blake Pfeil, and Roger Weisman lend their talents on backup. Very Very tells the story of Rosalind and Orlando, two young lovers who flee the tyranny of home only to reunite in a sexually charged and confusingly passionate exile. Songs feature a modern rock vocabulary from various genres blended together in Zac Lasher's unique compositional style and Jay Leibowitz's lyrics, which cleverly deconstruct Shakespeare's original text. Very Very was originally conceived by Jason King Jones (The Acting Company, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and Associate Artistic Director at Olney Theatre Center) and has been in development since April of 2012. Two free industry concert readings of the show, directed by Jason King Jones, music directed by Zac Lasher, and produced by Jay Leibowitz, were performed to great acclaim on March 4th, 2013 at the legendary Gibson-Baldwin Showroom in midtown Manhattan. The American Theater Group presented a free abridged concert reading of VERY VERY at the Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ on December 9th 2013. Produced by Anna Ty Bergman in association with Very Very Productions, LLC. $25-35 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
RSO & LINDSAY MENDEZ'S ACTOR THERAPY, March 5 at 11:30PM:
Actor Therapy goes 54 Below! Hosted by award-winning composer-lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver (35mm, Darling) and Broadway actress Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Dogfight, Godspell), Actor Therapy, is a series of masterclasses for performers looking to improve their auditions, build a better book, and expand their understanding of what it means to be an actor and song interpreter in New York today. $10 cover charge. $25 premium seating. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drinks.
54 CELEBRATES ERVIN DRAKE, March 6 at 7PM:
For more than 70 years, composer and lyricist Ervin Drake had a remarkably varied career, including extensive work as a television producer, songwriter of great hits, and activist on behalf on songwriters. We remember him for his music. The community mourns Ervin Drake's recent passing and celebrates his life in song in this evening dedicated to the legendary man who made it to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With hits like "Tico Tico," "The Rickety Rickshaw Man," "It Was A Very Good Year," "Good Morning Heartache," "Father of Girls," and "I Believe," Ervin Drake had many "very good years." Featuring performances from: Jeff Harnar, Lauren Fox, Eric Yves Garcia, Maxine Lineman, T. Oliver Reid, Sidney Myer, Stacy Sullivan, Carol Woods, DeeDee Bridgewater, Tom Moore, Corinna Sowers- Adler, Carole J. Bufford and Musical Director Jon Weber and on bass Ray Kilday. $35-45 cover charge. $75 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
KIRSTEN WYATT, March 6 at 9:30PM:
Kirsten Wyatt, one of Broadway's favorite gypsies, is thrilled to be making her solo debut at 54 Below in Gypsys, Tramps and Elves. Kirsten will be seen this spring as Daisy Parks in the City Center Encores! production of Lady Be Good! On Broadway she has bounced from show to show (in true gypsy fashion) playing an assortment of tramps (Annie, High Fidelity, Grease, The Pajama Game), elves (Shrek, Elf, A Christmas Story) and even an elfin tramp-to-be (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown). And Kirsten has wowed audiences across the nation with her portrayal of Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (tramp), Charity in Sweet Charity (tramp), Peter Pan (elf) and Agnes Gooch in Mame (eventual tramp). Join her for an evening of celebrating the life of a wee character woman with a squeaky voice and the inevitable typecasting that goes along with it. Featuring special guests Krysta Rodriguez, Lindsay Mendez, Stephen Wallem, and The Skivvies. Musical Direction by Joshua Zecher-Ross and Direction by Todd Buonopane. $30-40 cover charge. $70 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
COMFORT WOMEN: A NEW MUSICAL IN CONCERT, March 6 at 11:30PM:
To celebrate Korean Independence Day, the multi-national Asian cast of Comfort Women: A New Musical presents a concert version of the show, written by Bryan Michaels and TaeHo Park and opening off-Broadway in Summer 2015. During World War II, approximately 200,000 women - and young girls - from across Asia were forced to provide sex at "comfort stations" to the Imperial Japanese Army. In COMFORT WOMEN, several women who survived the war tell stories of these times, which are often lost in (or hidden from) history books. Featuring Sandra Lee, Meagan Lee Hodson, Garett Taketa, Mark Andrew Garner, Daniel Kennedy, Edward Ikeguchi, Remi Yamazaki, Bomi Yim, Jann Punwattana, Tricia Fukuhara, Tomoka Iwata, Maggie Lalley, Paul Marquez, Eddy Lee, Edgar Cavazos and Kiwon Seong. $25 cover charge. $55 premium seating. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drinks.
54 SINGS ELVIS, March 7 at 7PM:
Elvis Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. A hit on pop, blues, and gospel charts, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music, with estimated album sales of than 600 million units worldwide. He was nominated for 14 competitive Grammys and won three, also receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the age of just 36. In his short, mercurial life and career, he managed to be a colossal star in three decades, and continues to be one of the most iconic singer/actor/entertainers in the history of modern show business. Our celebration of The King will include his classic numbers, such as "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "It's Now or Never," and many more! Scott Siegel, best known for creating more than 100 major concert events in New York City at venues like The Town Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center, brings together a stunning assemblage of Broadway and nightclub stars to honor The King. In a major nightclub concert event, expect Elvis Presley's Greatest Hits Performed by New York's Greatest Stars. Special Guest Star: Larry Gatlin (of The Gatlin Brothers) with 33 Top 40 Records! Plus he wrote 2 songs Elvis recorded! Also Starring: Tony Nominee Martin Vidnovic, Drama Desk Nominee Ray McLeod, International nightclub star Lumiri Tubo, New York's most awarded nightclub vocalist Lennie Watts, Nightlife Award Winner Carole J. Bufford, Star of Side Show revival Emily Padgett, Musical Director: Ian Herman and Produced, written, and hosted by NY Concert Impressario, Scott Siegel. $35-45 cover charge. $70 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
KENITA MILLER, March 7 at 9:30PM:
Broadway's small but mighty Kenita Miller, of Xanadu, Dessa Rose, The Color Purple and more, makes her 54 Below solo debut with Lindsay Mendez, Margo Seibert, Stephen Flaherty, and more joining her as special guests. The evening will feature music of composers Kenita has represented on the Broadway and New York stage, and the music of composers that Kenita hopes to one day perform on Broadway. This one night only event will feature contemporary and standard musical theatre songs, blues, and jazz. $25-35 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
MUSE MATCH 4.0, March 7 at 11:30PM:
MuseMatch is a Musical Theater Blind Date Collaboration, where composers are paired with singers they don't know and are asked to share their deepest, personal joys and fears; and make a song together. All for charity. Cast: Amy Toporek, Amanda Blair, Ali Gordon, Shakina Nayfack, Brian Charles Rooney, Laura Hall, Norman Payne, Wade McCollum, Harrison Chad, Ashley Betton, Grace McLean, Jessica Crouch and Sam Bolen. Composers: Adam Wachter, Eli Bolin, Jonathan Keebler and Ryan Korell, Madeline Myers, Teresa Lotz, Scotty Arnold, Andrew Gerle, Heathcliff Saunders, Joseph and David Zellnik, F. Michael Haynie, Dan Manjovi, Kathleen Tagg & Sophia Jaff and Ben Bonnema. $20 cover charge. $45 premium seating. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drinks.
54 SINGS MACK & MABEL, March 8 at 7PM & 9:30PM:
Look What Happened to Mabel! Jerry Herman's beloved score explodes onto the stage of 54 Below in this one night only musical extravaganza. Tap Your Troubles Away when some of Broadway and cabaret's finest regale you with tunes including I Won't Send Roses, Movies Were Movies, Wherever He Ain't and of course, Time Heals Everything. Part of our 54 Sings series, we bring you scores galore as we salute the tunes of some of our all time favorite musicals. We Promise You a Happy Ending! Starring: Brent Barrett, Carole J. Bufford, Beth Leavel, Sean McDermott, Molly Pope, Brian Charles Rooney, Kelli Rabke, Lee Roy Reams, Emily Skinner and Donna Vivino. Featuring: Natalie Arneson, Michael Ruoco, Lisa Sabin, Charlie Stevens, Music & Lyrics by Jerry Herman, Music Direction by John Fischer and Directed & Hosted by Phil Geoffrey Bond. $40-50 cover charge. $80 premium seating. $25 food & beverage minimum.
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