
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. 54 Below also launches its new series of late night events this March. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - "The Callback," and more, including:
Award-winning actor/vocalist Rocco Arrigo, Emmy Award and Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth, Late Night: The Callback, Late Night: BACKSTAGE, Tony nominated Mary Testa and Michael Starobin, Late Night: 54 Piano Bar, NYMF's Alixis Fishman and Max Cherin, cabaret's own Ricky Ritzel and Sondheim Unplugged.
ROCCO ARRIGO, Mar. 18 at 7PM:
Award-winning actor and vocalist, Rocco Arrigo, invites you to join him for a celebration of all things we love, hate and love to hate about The Big Apple. This energetic and creative young artist will take you on a hilarious, heartfelt and one-of-a-kind journey of story and song. He will be performing a selection of favorite songs by Coleman, Hamlisch, and Maltby & Shire, as well as a few surprises. Along this tuneful ride, Rocco will be breaking through cultural, social, and creative boundaries to forge a fun, sexy and personal evening for everyone. Multiple award winners, Miles Phillips (Director) and Mark Janas (Music Director) have teamed with Rocco to create this dazzling one night performance. Be there when the passionate and charismatic Rocco rocks 54 Below! ASL interpretation provided. Cover charge $25-35. $25 food & beverage minimum.
Bebe Neuwirth, Mar. 18 at 9:30PM, Mar. 19, 20, & 21 at 7PM, Mar. 22, & 23 at 8PM & Mar. 23 at 11PM:
Television audiences adore her for her multiple Emmy Award-winning role as Lilith Crane on Cheers, but it's the Broadway stage that Tony Award-winner Bebe Neuwirth truly calls home. So appropriately enough, this March, she'll make her debut at "Broadway's Nightclub" in an exciting cabaret event. Stories with Piano #4 consists of a collection of story songs by the likes of Kurt Weill, Tom Waits and, of course, some Broadway standards as well. According to Neuwirth, "I'm very interested in the characters and these moments in their lives that are best expressed in song." Neuwirth won Tonys for her work in Sweet Charity and Chicago, and also dazzled New York audiences in A Chorus Line, Little Me, Damn Yankees, Here Lies Jenny, and, of course, The Addams Family. Cover charge $50-60. $35 food & beverage minimum.
LATE NIGHT: THE CALLBACK, Mar. 18 at 11PM:
At "The Callback," on Monday nights, contestants will perform for a chance to win their own cabaret show at 54 Below. Contestants will be chosen by video audition, their performances will be recorded and uploaded to 54 Below's Facebook and Youtube page, and each week, a winner will be determined by audience vote to progress to the next round. "The Callback" contestants may also have the chance to sing in front of industry executives and Broadway celebrity guest judges as they move forward in the competition. For more information on "The Callback" rules or how to submit an audition video, please visit www.54Below.com. No cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum.
LATE NIGHT: BACKSTAGE, Mar. 19 at 10:30PM:
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, while special guests from Broadway and beyond drop 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, with guest host Emily McNamara and pianist Brad Simmons who clearly is the man, its 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 weeks Backstage is, Alysha Umphress (from Broadway's Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, and American Idiot), Marla Mindelle (from Broadway's Cinderella, and Sister Act), Matt DeAngelis (from Broadway's Hair), Rebecca Naomi Jones (from Broadway's Passing Strange and American Idiot), and Matthew Hashimoto (from season 10 of "American Idol"). No cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum.