BROADWAY LOVES KATY PERRY, Charles Busch & More Set for 54 Below This Week

By: Jul. 13, 2015
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

This week at 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.

BROADWAY LOVES KATY PERRY, July 13 at 7PM & 9:30PM:

On July 13th over a dozen of Broadway's most distinctive voices will celebrate larger-than-life recording artist Katy Perry at 54 Below, singing many of her most fun-loving and heartfelt hits.

Katy Perry burst onto the scene in the summer of 2008 with the scandalous smash hit "I Kissed A Girl" and has since become a mainstay of popular culture. She became the first female artist to have 5 number-one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 from the same album - the multi-platinum "Teenage Dream." Now, over a dozen of your Broadway favorites are beating the summer heat as they take the 54 Below stage to bring new life to her greatest hits! Audiences can expect to hear the hit singles "Firework," "Roar," "Hot 'N' Cold," "Waking Up In Vegas," "Last Friday Night," as well as some of her more introspective tunes, "Not Like The Movies," "By The Grace of God," and more. Kitty Purry and Left Shark might even make a guest appearance. The starry cast is set to include: Taylor Louderman (NBC's "Peter Pan Live," Bring It On: The Musical), Ben Fankhauser (Newsies, Spring Awakening), Adrienne Warren ("Orange Is The New Black," Bring It On: The Musical), Olivier award winner Lesli Margherita (Matilda), Samantha Marie Ware ('Glee', The Book of Mormon), Ryann Redmond (If/Then, Bring It On: The Musical), Daniel Quadrino (Wicked, Newsies) 9:30PM ONLY, Janet Krupin (If/Then, Hands on a Hard Body), Hannah Elless (Bright Star, Godspell), Ariana Groover (Holler If Ya Hear Me, Bare), Desi Oakley (Wicked, Annie, Evita) 9:30PM ONLY, Jessica Vosk (Finding Neverland, The Bridges of Madison County) 7PM ONLY, Jeff Heimbrock (Newsies, The Book of Mormon), Christy Altomare (Mamma Mia, Carrie), Josh Tolle (Duck Commander) and Ginna Le Vine "'Kid Witness"). The evening will be produced and music directed by Benjamin Rauhala, and is the 6th in the Broadway Loves series, which previously celebrated Sam Smith, Celine Dion, the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and the music of the 90's. $35-50 cover charge. $75-80 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.

CHARLES BUSCH, July 14, 16 & 17 at 7PM:

The inimitable Charles Busch returns with an all new show. The two-time MAC Award winner, Tony nominee, and drag legend brings to 54 Below an eclectic program of songs both contemporary and from the past. New York Times critic Stephen Holden wrote, "He has the gift of comic gab like few other entertainers. Innately funny, endearing and acutely intelligent, he also has claws. For an audience, the possibility of being scratched, although remote, lends his humor a bracing edge. " Accompanied by his dashing longtime musical director, Tom Judson, Charles combines hilarious personal reminiscence, character sketches and superb storytelling through song into one glittering and glamorous evening in cabaret. $35-45 cover charge. $75-80 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.

HOLLAND VAVRA, July 14 at 9:30PM:

Holland Vavra wondrously captures the majesty of Frank Sinatra in this incredible homage to the Chairman himself. An introspective journey of song through an incredible one-woman recreation of Sinatra's 1966 performance at the Copa Room of the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Join her as she croons from the sultry and sexy "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Come Fly With Me" to the bold ballads "My Way" and "That's Life," with special appearances and duets with her Broadway friends, too! "She immediately connects with an audience, with luminous personality and charisma to spare." - San Francisco Gate. "A big voice with flawless vocals. Vavra backs up her vocal performance with perfectly delivered comic timing. Her delightful personality shines through, drawing the audience in." - Houston Chronicle. "With her personality, sparkling voice, and effervescent stage presence, the audience cannot help but love Holland Vavra. Smooth vocals with dulcet and somber tones make for richly melancholic and gorgeous song rendition. Her delightful performance is sure to entertain, touch hearts, and inspire." - BroadwayWorld. $25-35 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.

FAILING FORWARD: THE BLUESICAL, July 15 at 7PM:

Failing Forward, The Bluesical combines Soul, Blues, and Broadway into an experience all its own with memorable songs and lyrics you'll relate to. The Bluesical was written and produced by Ken Kirsh, who offers observations on dating, relationships, reinventing yourself, and having fun along the way. "If Adele and John Mayer had a baby and Louis CK was its nanny...kinda like that." The show stars an incredible ALL-STAR lineup of New York's top vocalists and musicians: Chrissi Poland, Vocals (Bette Midler, Vegas Nocturne), Tom Bowes, Vocals (Tower of Power, Blood Sweat & Tears), Bette Sussman, Piano (Cyndi Lauper, Christine Ebersole), Larry Saltzman, Guitar (Something Rotten!, Pippin), Dave Anderson, Bass (Hairspray, Lennon: Through The Glass Onion), Joel Rosenblatt, Drums (Mamma Mia!, In The Heights), Bill Harris, Saxophone (Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow) and Ken Kirsh, Writer, Narrator. After sold out performances at the Cutting Room and Rockwood, see this unique show make its 54 Below debut! $25-35 cover charge. $65 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.

THE AUSTIN CABARET THEATRE REVUE, July 15 at 9:30PM:

"I've Been To A Marvelous Party!" Broadway & cabaret's greatest artists have appeared at Austin Cabaret Theatre, from Elaine Stritch to Eartha Kitt, from Carol Channing to Charo! Join co-hosts Paige Davis & Stuart Moulton along with a cavalcade of stars as New York's premiere cabaret room, 54 Below, celebrates Austin's own Austin Cabaret Theatre. Join some fabulous alumnus of this musical mecca-and upcoming ACT stars-in launching its 15th Season in 54 style! Scheduled to appear: Patrick Page (Spider-Man, Casa Valentina), Terri Klausner (Sophisticated Ladies, Evita), Paige Davis (Chicago, Boeing-Boeing, Trading Spaces), Natalie Douglas (Nightlife, Bistro & MAC Award winner), Alex Rybeck (Grand Hotel, Music Director to the Stars), Ron Abel (Hazel, The Ritz, Music Director to the Stars), Todd Murray (Croon), Kevin Spirtas (The Boy From Oz, A Chorus Line, Days Of Our Lives), Annemarie Rosano & Grace Wall (The Manhattan Dolls), Charlie Johnson, Michael Holland, Carolyn Montgomery-Forant (Dirty Little Songs), Molly Pope (Molly Pope Likes Your Status), Jeff Harnar (MAC and Nightlife Award winner), Danny Bolero (In The Heights), Marie Lemon (upcoming Producers tour), Matthew Chappell, and Nicholas Gallardo. $30-40 cover charge. $65 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.

ELAINE DAME, July 16 at 9:30PM:

Something to Live For: The Strayhorn & Ellington Collaboration - Jazz Vocalist Elaine Dame celebrates the collaboration of two of America's most innovative and exciting jazz icons. On this, the centennial of Strayhorn's birth, Ms. Dame will commemorate and celebrate the magic of their 29 year partnership. Since 1996, the woman Time Out Chicago calls "a jazz dynamo" and "a gem in the city's vocal jazz scene" has been turning heads and capturing attention at the nation's finest clubs and venues. From her regular appearances at New York's legendary Rainbow Room to her upcoming headlining appearance at the 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival, Elaine's is a career spent at the heart of swinging and sophisticated jazz, bringing her joyful, modern take to these vintage standards. Elaine's sophomore recording You're My Thrill was released to wide critical acclaim and world-wide radio play. Neil Tesser, Grammy Award-winning writer and author of The Playboy Guide to Jazz said this: "Elaine possesses an exacting, exhilarating command of melodic lines and emotional currents. It helps that she has pinpoint intonation: in performance, I don't believe I've ever heard her miss her mark, even on difficult leaps or drops in melody line. But she handles those intervals with a dancer's grace and a nuanced attack which allow the line to unfold seamlessly. She floats through a melody without any apparent effort; to appreciate her musicianship, listen to most other singers handle the same material (you can practically hear them sweat). And Dame's phrasing manages to wed an improviser's expressiveness with a welcome fidelity to the words and their meaning. I think if a saxophone could speak, it might sound like this."$25-35 cover charge. $60 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.

DAN'YELLE WILLIAMSON, July 17 at 9:30PM:

Join Broadway's Dan'yelle Williamson (Rocky, Memphis, Soul Doctor, Wicked) as she takes you on her personal, intimate journey through the raw, soulful sounds of jazz in "All of Me". Inhibitions are set free in this evening of sassy and sexy tunes telling one woman's story of love and heartbreak...and her faith in life's precious gifts. Hear Williamson's lush contralto soar on songs such as "Stormy Weather," "Good Morning Heartache" and, of course, "All of Me". $25-35 cover charge. $65 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.

BILL COYNE: THIS IS ALL I ASK, July 17 at 11:30PM:

Approaching your 30th Birthday brings up a lot: What am I doing? Why am I here? Who do I want to be? Join Bill Coyne as he leaves behind the boy and steps into the man. With favorites from Sondheim, Strouse, and Brown and original music by Zack Zadek and David Alan Thornton. Bill Coyne has been seen off-Broadway in Greed: A Musical For Our Times at New World Stages, The Brightness of Heaven at the Cherry Lane Theatre, Li'l Abner, Fade Out/Fade In, and Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice with The Shakespeare Forum. Other NYC credits include Soho Playhouse, NYMF, and Ars Nova. Bill created the role of Supernova in Superhero Celebrity Rehab, 2012 Best of DC Capital Fringe, The Crazy Ones by Zack Zadek at the Musical Theater Factory, and Be More Chill and Annie Golden, Bounty Hunter Yo! by Joe Iconis for Two River Theatre and Cap2. Bill is an actor-vist and producer of MuseMatch, a not-for-profit concert series that has created over 60 collaborations and raised thousands of dollars for charity @MuseMatchOrg "Love is the strongest choice." $20 cover charge. $45 premium seating. $20 food and beverage minimum or two drinks.

54 SINGS STARMITES, July 19 at 7PM & 9:30PM:

54 Below is proud to present STARMITES: IN CONCERT, a one-of-a-kind tribute to one of the most brave, boisterous, brazen, raucous and just plain far-out theatre experiences of the 1980s. Based on the 1989 Broadway musical of the same name with music and lyrics by Barry Keating and a book by Keating and Stuart Ross, STARMITES blasts off boasting an instant earworm score packed with delectable pop gems, epic ensemble sequences, and one of the most show-stopping diva showcases of all time at its center. Like no musical before or since, STARMITES is truly in a galaxy all its own. A wildly original and incomparably unique musical odyssey through time and space, STARMITES tells the compelling tale of a teenage girl obsessed with comic books, gifted with uncontrollable superpowers, who is transported to a colorful and imaginative fantasy world inhabited by a vast array of fiercely idiosyncratic characters fighting for power, prestige, and interplanetary control. Take a wild ride into the farthest regions of Innerspace with a score positively stuffed with thrills, shocks, surprises and unexpected delights, traversing the universe itself through the genres of rock, pop, rap, R&B, musical theatre, opera and even more. Without any doubt, STARMITES is spectacularly entertaining and unforgettably anomalous while also being way ahead of its time - its six 1989 Tony Award nominations for its Broadway production being no small achievement; not to mention its place as a mainstay of high schools and regional theaters across the country and the world. Now is the chance to experience one of Broadway's best-loved cult musicals in a whole new way, for one night only, live at 54 Below with the greatest stars visible in the vast stratosphere. Take the trip - and trip out. Featuring original cast member Liz Larsen (Starmites, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as narrator and host for the evening, along with Daniel Quadrino (Wicked), Tyce Green (LMNOP), Dan Tracy (American Idiot), Emily Padgett (Side Show, Waterfall), Cheryl Freeman (The Who's Tommy), Jessica Waxman (Children of Eden), Carla Hargrove (Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray), Terita Redd (Hairspray, Leap of Faith), Melissa VanPelt (Hairspray), Jessica Hendy (The Radio City Spring Spectacular, Aida), Ashley Blanchet (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Gregory Sullivan (Palin: The Musical), and Brian Charles Rooney (The Threepenny Opera, The UnCivil War). Plus, as a special guest for this once in a lifetime event, the original Diva herself, Sharon McNight. STARMITES: IN CONCERT has musical direction by Henry Aronson. Directed by Barry Keating and Pat Cerasaro. $35-45 cover charge. $75 premium seating. $25 food and beverage minimum.



Videos