Review: 54 SINGS TROYE SIVAN Leans Into Identity and Intimacy at 54 Below
Troye Sivan’s music becomes a coming-of-age story in an intimate cabaret setting
54 SINGS Troye Sivan: A WALK THROUGH BLUE NEIGHBORHOOD played at 54 Below, taking the music of Troye Sivan and building a full coming-of-age story around it. Produced by Alex Burijon and Riley Keohane, with Keohane also directing and music direction by Burijon and Aidan S. Wells, the show followed a closeted teenage boy trying to figure himself out while stuck in a relationship that doesn’t quite fit anymore. What worked here is how naturally Troye Sivan’s music slid into that story. It never felt forced. The songs already live in that space of confusion and quiet realization, so the narrative just kind of clicked into place as it went.
The cast featured Nina Bogosian, Donovan Counts, Meggie Ferguson, Will Flynn, Kyle Girard, Cate Elise Goddard, JamesCache, Anthony Nardulli, Lydia Newman, Angelique Rodriguez, and Lukas Schoellkopf. It’s one of those ensembles where no one feels out of place. Everyone understands the tone they’re working in, and that makes the storytelling feel smooth even as different people step forward to carry different parts of the story.
“Suburbia” from Blue Neighborhood ended up being one of the most effective moments of the night, mostly because of how it used the full group. The choral arrangement gave the song a completely different weight. It felt bigger, but also somehow more internal at the same time. Instead of one person expressing that feeling of being stuck and unsure, it felt shared, which made it hit harder. It was one of the few moments where you could feel the room really settle into what the show was doing.
Lukas Schoellkopf got a strong moment with “My My My!” from Something to Give Each Other, and it worked because he didn’t overthink it. The vocals were just solid and confident, especially once the song opened up. There’s a natural energy to that track, and he let it come through without trying to reshape it too much. It ended up being one of the cleaner, more straightforward highlights of the night in a good way.
Angelique Rodriguez brought a lot of personality into “1999” by Charli XCX featuring Troye Sivan. This is one of the lighter songs in the set, and she leaned into that without losing control of it vocally. There was a clear sense of character behind it, which made it feel intentional instead of just a fun break. It gave the show a needed shift in tone without pulling you out of the world they were building.
Anthony Nardulli is one of those performers who just keeps showing up in a way that matters. Across the whole show, he had strong vocals, but what really stood out was how specific his choices felt. Even in smaller moments, there was a clear point of view. He handled the comedic beats well, but never let them feel disconnected from the story, which isn’t always easy in a show like this.
What made the show land overall is that it trusted the material and didn’t try to overcomplicate it. Troye Sivan’s music already carries so much emotional weight, especially around identity and growing into yourself. By keeping the staging simple and letting the performers really sit in those moments, the show felt honest. In a space like 54 Below, that kind of intimacy goes a long way, and here it actually worked in the show’s favor instead of limiting it.
Learn more about the producers on Instagram here.
Find more upcoming shows at 54 Below on their website here.
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