Kristy Cates, Todd Buonopane and More Set for NYFA's Faculty Show at 54 Below This Weekend

Feinstein's/54 Below, in association with the Musical Theatre department at the New York Film Academy, presents NYFA FACULTY SHOW! FEATURING Kristy Cates, Todd Buonopane, & MORE on May 21st, 2017 at 9:30 PM. Tickets are still available!

Seventy-five Broadway Artists. One School. The musical theatre department at the New York Film Academy was launched in 2009 with nine students in the first class. Eight years later, hundreds of students have studied musical theatre at NYFA, with our full-time enrollment hitting 72 this Spring. The school's mission is to teach techniques being used every night on Broadway... and their faculty is the backbone of the Great White Way!

In honor of this, Feinstein's/54 Below will present NYFA's first-ever Faculty Show - a celebration of the school's journey and a preview of their future. From Gershwin to Sondheim, to original works from faculty composers like Bobby Cronin, Daniel Lincoln, and Zoe Sarnak, this will be a concert to remember!

Performers include Kristy Cates (Wicked, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory), Todd Buonopane (Cinderella, ...Spelling Bee), Lauren Elder (Hair, Side Show), Christiana Cole, Bobby Cronin, Christine De Frece, William Demaniow, Jordan Neil Dragutsky, Daniel Lincoln, T.J. Mannix, Jessica Myhr, Seth Reich, Zoe Sarnak, and Wysandria Woolsey (Beauty & The Beast, Parade). The evening's festivities will be hosted by 54 Below regular, Rob Maitner.

The concert is directed by Robert W. Schneider. Daniel Lincoln is the evening's musical director, with Jordan Neil Dragutsky producing.

NYFA FACULTY SHOW! FEATURING Kristy Cates, Todd Buonopane, & MORE plays Feinstein's/54 Below (254 West 54th Street) on May 21st, 2017, at 9:30pm. There is a $25-35 cover charge ($60 for premium seating) and $25 food and 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.

For more information about NYFA Musical Theatre, visit nyfa.edu/musical-theatre.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Kristy Cates - Kristy is one of the founding faculty members of the musical theatre department at NYFA, and currently holds the position of Creative Director. Her distinguished stage career includes Elphaba in Wicked (original cast), Miss Bassett in Finding Neverland, and she can currently be seen in the original cast of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory playing Grandma Josephine.

Todd Buonopane - Todd has been with NYFA MT since 2014, and teaches several performance-based classes and regularly directs showcases for the department. His Broadway credits include Cinderella, Grease, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (original cast).

Bobby Cronin - Bobby has also been with NYFA MT since 2014. In addition to teaching professional prep classes, Bobby also regularly composes songs and scores for the department's movie musical projects and oversees the Boston summer teen program. Bobby is an internationally known, award winning theatre composer whose shows have been mounted all over the US and across the pond.

Lauren Elder - Lauren is a newer addition to the NYFA MT family, and she currently teaches performance-based classes for the adult and high school programs. Her Broadway credits include Hair (Original Revival casts on Broadway and West End) and the 2014 revival of Side Show, in which she played the Venus di Milo. Lauren is also an established songwriter who can regularly be seen on cabaret stages around NYC including Feinstein's/54 Below and Joe's Pub.

Wysandria Woolsey - Wysandria is another one of the founding faculty members of NYFA MT, specializing in voice technique. She carries with her a distinguished performance and teaching career that spans over 30 years. Her Broadway credits include Parade, Beauty and the Beast, Chess, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Michael Feinstein, one of the world's greatest musical artists, and 54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, have united to give New York an unparalleled destination for entertainment and dining. Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, is the 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 will present iconic and rising stars from the worlds of Broadway and popular music. The venue provides a food and beverage menu from early evening through the wee hours of the morning that is worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage. Located at 254 West 54th Street, Feinstein's/54 Below features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $15-$105.