Casting Announced for FREEDOM RIDERS in Concert at Feinstein's/54 Below

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical in Concert on January 4th, 2018. In 1961, civil rights activists rode interstate buses into the stubbornly segregated South. They did this to challenge the non-enforcement of the Supreme Court's decision that segregated public buses were unconstitutional. Somebody had to do it, and on May 4, 1961, 13 brave souls (seven black, six white) ventured forth from D.C. to Dixie via Greyhound and Trailways. They were followed by 423 others in at least 60 other Freedom Ride forays into the inhospitable South.

The concert event at Feinstein's/54 Below will feature the entire score of the musical. In addition to the show's creators Richard Allen and Taran Gray, many other guest artists will take the stage including Anthony Chatmon II (Touring: Into The Woods, Book of Mormon) and Ciaran McCarthy (Broadway & Touring: Kinky Boots) who both appeared in the 2017 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) production of FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical as lead characters, John Lewis and John Siegenthaler.

Mr. Chatmon II and Mr. McCarthy will be joined on stage with some of their other NYMF 2017 production cast mates; Scott Redmond, Michael Nigro, and Deonte Goodman. Also returning to the stage from the 2016 FREEDOM RIDERS BETA event at NYMF will be Maurice Murphy (Broadway: Motown, Leap of Faith, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). The women of the 54 Below concert cast will be announced later December.

FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical won the BETA Award from NYMF in 2016 and went on to win the award for Outstanding Music and the award for Social Relevance and Impact from its NYMF production in 2017.

FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical in Concert plays Feinstein's/54 Below (254 West 54th Street) on January 4th, 2018. Cover charge starts at $30, plus a $25 food/beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com. Tickets on the day of performance after 4:00 are only available by calling (646) 476-3551.

Written in by Film Director/Producer Richard Allen (Book/Music & Lyrics) and Music Producer/Songwriter Taran Gray (Music & Lyrics), Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical premiered as a workshop production in 2016 at New York Musical Festival (NYMF) and won their Inaugural Beta Award. The show returned to the festival for a second year as a full production. Nominated in various categories, Freedom Riders is the winner of the 2017 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) Award for Outstanding Music and nominees Richard Allen and Taran Gray also received Special Citations for the musical's social relevance and impact.

Feinstein's/54 Below?, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, is a 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, Feinstein's/54 Below is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style. Feinstein's/54 Below presents iconic and rising stars from the worlds of Broadway and popular music and has set a new standard for culinary excellence worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage. In their description of the venue, The New York Times writes, "Feinstein's/54 Below has the intimacy of a large living room with unimpeded views and impeccable sound; there is not a bad seat in the house. 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, Feinstein's/54 Below features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $5-$105. 54Below.com/Feinsteins

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