Ken Billington News

It was a starry week at 54 BELOW with performances from Faith Prince and Jason Graae, Maurice Hines and Tonya Pinkins. Among the celebrities who came out for their opening night performances were Elaine Stritch, S. Epatha Merkerson, La Chanze, Liiliane Montevecchi, Donna McKechnie, Ron Raines, Nona Hendryx, Andre de Shields, Adriane Lenox, Jeanine Tesori, Phillip Boykin, Jeff Calhoun, Mary Rodgers, George C. Wolfe, George Faison, Billy Porter, Brenda Braxton, Adrian Bailey, Mark Nadler, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Charles Randolph-Wright and Julie Budd. Check out photos from the events below!

Jason Robert Brown will bring his show to NYC's newest theatrical hot spot, 54 Below, Broadway's Nightclub, for seven performances. To celebrate his first time at the new club, he's bringing Shoshana Bean, and featuring music from Honeymoon In Vegas and The Bridges of Madison County as well as his forthcoming solo album (in addition to the usual favorites).

Broadway's new musical CHAPLIN opens September 10 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). CHAPLIN is a new musical depicting the life of film icon Charlie Chaplin, with music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and book by three-time Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Christopher Curtis. Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow; Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway) directs and choreographs the production. BroadwayWorld brings you the just-released production shots below!

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, A Catered Affair) and Jason Graae (Falsettos, Ragtime, Forever Plaid), Tony Award-winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline or Change, Jelly's Last Jam, The Wild Party), Tituss Burgess (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Guys & Dolls), and Eden Espinoza Wicked, Rent, Brooklyn) gave a special press preview from some of the upcoming engagements at 54 Below earlier today. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special event below!

The stars were out this week at 54 Below. Stars ranging from Hollywood's Bradley Cooper and Academy Award nominee Amy Irving to Tony Award winners Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, David Hyde Pierce, Betty Buckley, John Benjamin Hickey, Ron Rifkin, John Kander, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman were in attendance for Victor Garber's final performance at the venue on August 20. Sarah RIce, who co-starred opposite Garber' as Johanna in the original Broadway cast of Sweeney Todd, also stopped backstage for a reunion. Earlier in the week, Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson and vocalist Tom Postilio came out for Hilary Kole's opening night.

Broadway's new musical CHAPLIN begins previews tomorrow at 8pm and opens September 10 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Meet the cast below!

Just yesterday, 54 Below held a special press preview for its upcoming engagements, which included Tony Award nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis, The Civil War, Into the Woods), 2010 Bistro Award-winner Hilary Kole (Our Sinatra, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Rainbow Room), from "Sondheim Unplugged" Sarah Rice ('Johanna' in the original 1979 production of Sweeney Todd, The Fantasticks, A Little Night Music, Candide), compay members from Sing, Harlem, Sing! (created by Vy Higginsen and directed by Ken Wydro,). BroadwayWorld was there for the sneak peek and we bring you photos from the event below!

Meet some of the creative team members of Broadway's new musical CHAPLIN. Watch director/choreographer Warren Carlyle, Rob McClure, who stars as Charlie Chaplin, set designer Beowulf Boritt and costume designer Amy Clark as they give you a taste of the sets, costumes and more. CHAPLIN arrives on Broadway this August. Click below to watch the video.

CHICAGO, winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Review, kicks off the Ordway's 2012-13 Theater Season with a one-week run beginning tonight, August 7, 2012.

Last week, the stars came out to 54 BELOW to catch Jenifer Lewis with Marc Shaiman, Andrea McArdle and Lea Delaria. Visitors included Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg, the legendary Bette Midler, Tony Award winners Nathan Lane, Tommy Tune, Dick Latessa and Cady Huffman, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, star of Broadway's Gore Vidal's The Best Man Cybill Shepherd, Dreamgirls and SIde Show composer Henry Krieger, Miss Abigaiil's Guide and 'The Brady Bunch' star Eve Plumb, McArdle's Annie successor Shelley Bruce, and star of the upcoming Broadway production of Rebecca Karen Mason.

54 BELOW, New York City's new performance, venue kicks off their Summer Jazz Brunch series with RENT's Marcus Paul James, today, July 29th at 1 pm (doors open 12pm). There is a $30 cover charge and a $25 food & beverage minimum or a $45 pre fixe. Reservations suggested. For tickets visit: www.54below.com or call 866.468.7619.

CHICAGO, winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Review, kicks off the Ordway's 2012-13 Theater Season with a one-week run beginning Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

54 BELOW, New York City's new performance, venue kicks off their Summer Jazz Brunch series with RENT's Marcus Paul James, Sunday, July 29th at 1 pm (doors open 12pm). There is a $30 cover charge and a $25 food & beverage minimum or a $45 pre fixe. Reservations suggested. For tickets visit: www.54below.com or call 866.468.7619.

In the video below, go behind the scenes at a recent photo shoot for Broadway's CHAPLIN. Watch Rob McClure, who stars as Charlie Chaplin, as he talks about preparing for the role of a lifetime. CHAPLIN arrives on Broadway this August. .

Following a twenty year absence from the New York cabaret scene, Jenifer Lewis returns to the Big Apple for seven performances only at 54 Below. From Broadway's Eubie to Hairspray, television's Jackie's Back to Strong Medicine, and film's What's Love Got to Do With It, Beaches, Cars and The Princess and the Frog, Jenifer Lewis, one of Bette Midler's most infamous Harlettes, is a force of nature whose voice is as distinctive as her take no prisoners sense of humor. Earlier today, Lewis and Shaiman met the press, and you can check out a photo preview from the festivities below. Be sure to check back later for full coverage!

The producers of the new musical CHAPLIN are pleased to announce that the production's box office at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) is now open.