Marilyn Maye, Charles Busch, Ricky Ritzel and More Set for 54 Below, Now thru 3/17

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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," singing sensation Marilyn Maye, performance legend Charles Busch, cabaret's own Ricky Ritzel, performance artist James Jackson, Jr. and more!

Marilyn Maye, Mar. 12, 13, & 14 at 7PM, Mar. 15 & 16 at 8PM:
Johnny Carson called her "Super Singer" and presented her on his The Tonight Show a record-breaking 76 times! Stephen Holden of The New York Times calls her "the embodiment and summation of a brash, sock-it-to-'em nightclub tradition that runs from Garland through Bette Midler, and with jazz added." Rex Reed of The New York Observer calls her "the real deal, the surviving artist of the American popular singer." Infusing the rhythm and syncopation of the legendary jazz greats with the power and brashness of a Broadway belter, this legendary vocalist's MAYE-den Voyage at 54 Below will feature a program of jazz and Broadway standards not to be missed. When Ella Fitzgerald was asked to name her favorite singers, she named Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae and "marvelous Marilyn Maye," who brings her new show MAYE-den Voyage to 54 Below for ten performances only. Cover charge $35-45. $25 food & beverage minimum.

LATE NIGHT: BACKSTAGE, Mar. 12 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, Marty Thomas (from Broadway's Wicked, Xanadu, and The Secret Garden), performances from the cast of the upcoming Off-Broadway production Fat Asses The Musical, Angela Birchett (from the National Tour of Hairspray), composer/lyricist Scott Evan Davis, Poppi Kramer (Won season 3 of NBC's "The Biggest Loser"), Kelly Higgins (from Off-Broadway's Girls Night: The Musical), Michael Kirk Lane (host of the weekly show "The Show Tune Room" at Don't Tell Mama). Other appearances by Kathryn Lounsbery (jazz pianist and vocalist), Todd Adamson (actor and singer), Ryan Knowles (currently on Off-Broadway in NEWSical The Musical), and Michelle Dowdy (from Broadway's Hairspray). No cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum.