Karen Mason, Justin Vivian Bond, Maureen McGovern and More Play 54 Below, Now thru 12/23

By: Dec. 17, 2012
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Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the new 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. Featuring Broadway star Karen Mason, critically acclaimed artist Justin VivIan Bond, BACKSTAGE, Grammy nominee Maureen McGovern and the legendary singer Dee Snider.

Karen Mason, Dec. 17 at 7PM:
It's a New York tradition, as indigenous to NYC during the holidays as ice skating at Rock Center and wide eyed tourists outside the windows of Saks. Karen Mason (Mamma Mia, Sunset Boulevard, Hairspray, Jerome Robbins' Broadway and last seen on Broadway as the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland) returns to cabaret with her annual, critically acclaimed holiday show, ushering in the sounds of the season with her trademark humor, warmth and blue star vocals. It's a musical event of the holiday season! Be there. Cover charge: $25-$35. $25 food and beverage minimum.

JUSTIN VIVIan Bond, Dec. 17 & 23 at 9:30PM:
This holiday season's offering from New York's favorite trans-disciplinary artist, Mx Justin VivIan Bond, will find the "trans-atlantic cabaret Messiah" (Time Out London) dressed for snow to deliver a holiday Mx of songs from V's critically acclaimed records Silver Wells and Dendrophile along with a unique take on more traditional holiday fare, some spoken word (aka spell casting), razor-sharp social commentary, and the kind of glamour that makes you feel free to do just about anything on "a midnight clear." Mx Bond is no Angel, but if you're lucky you just might find "The greatest cabaret artist of this generation" (The New Yorker) leading you back in time to the days when V was better known as "Mrs. Christ" to answer the age old question once and for all, "Who would Jesus Do?" Can we get a Halo! Brett Every on piano and Nath Ann Carrera on guitar. With Amber Martin. Cover charge $25-35. $25 food & beverage minimum.

Darius de Haas, Dec. 18 at 7PM:
Darius de Haas has been described as "electrically thrilling" in The New York Times, "a performer with an intensity and honesty that envelops and mesmerizes the listener" (Variety), and The Village Voice said "When he sings, it's like the equivalent of silk ribbons being unfurled across the sky." He has sold out critically acclaimed concerts at Lincoln Center, enthralled audiences from Carnegie Hall to London's Royal Festival Hall as well as appeared on Broadway (Rent, Carousel, Dreamgirls). But now he returns to his first love, the intimate cabaret stage, in a musically soulful, soaring evening. His most personal show, If Only for One Night melds and celebrates his musical influences from the worlds of pop, jazz and Broadway. A perfect holiday evening. Cover charge $20-30. $25 food & beverage minimum.

Maureen McGovern, Dec. 18 at 9:30PM & Dec. 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23 at 7PM & Dec. 22 at 10PM:
She has a voice that defies categorization. In fact, she's been?called "The Stradivarius Voice." This holiday season, 54 Below?is honored to welcome multiple Grammy nominee Maureen?McGovern to our stage when she presents an evening?featuring songs of the season, some unexpected, and some?traditional "chestnuts." Broadway audiences know her from?her acclaimed, Drama Desk-nominated performance in Little?Woman, 3 Penny Opera, Nine and The Pirates of Penzance as well?as off-Broadway's Brownstone, but the world over knows?Maureen as "The Disaster Theme Queen." Her recording of?"The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure hit?number one on the Billboard charts and won an Oscar, not to?mention "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The?Towering Inferno and the sublime "Can You Read My Mind"?from Superman. Since then, Maureen has dazzled audiences?throughout the world with her singularly eloquent musical?style, in addition to a series of critically-heralded recordings.?Seven performances only! See you for the holidays... Cover charge $50-60. $30 food & beverage minimum.

BACKSTAGE, Dec. 18 at 10:45PM:
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. Special guests from hit Broadway shows drop in to perform and answer the question on everyone's minds, "what happened in each week to sing everything from Schwartz to Sondheim. You might even get up and sing yourself if you're feeling brave, or brave, or relax with a cocktail and some sliders - the night belongs to belongs to you! NPR had this to say "The best thing you! NPR had this to say "The best thing happening right now might just be the weekly Backstage. Hosted by the ridiculously funny Susie Mosher and pianist Brad Simmons who clearly is the man, it's 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!" No cover charge. $20 food and beverage minimum.

Dee Snider, Dec. 20 & 21 at 10PM:
Heavy metal icon Dee Snider, lead singer of the legendary 1980's rock band Twisted Sister ("We're Not Gonna Take It," "I Wanna Rock!"), has gone on to success with his own radio talk show, in film and on television, including his recent and forthcoming appearances on The Celebrity Apprentice. But Dee's longtime passion is Broadway, as evidenced by his new CD, Dee Does Broadway, in which he covers everything from West Side Story and Sweeney Todd to Sweet Charity and Chicago. Broadway audiences embraced him during his recent stint in Rock of Ages, and, on this season of The Celebrity Apprentice, his charity of choice is none other than Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Join Dee for two very special performances this holiday season - it's showtunes and Christmas songs like you've never heard them before! Cover charge $35-45. $25 food & beverage minimum.

*** 54 Below will be closed on December 24th and 25th. ***

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (866) 468-7619.

54 BELOW, Broadway's nightclub, is the new 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, 54 BELOW is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style.

Designed by Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty and architect Richard Lewis, lit by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, and with sound by Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski, 54 BELOW features an in-your-living-room intimate relationship between its performers and audiences. Tony Award winner Scott Wittman serves as Creative Consultant and MAC Award Winner Phil Geoffrey Bond serves as Director of Programming. André J. Marrero is the Executive Chef of the new venue, which 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. Bringing together his love of the arts with his passion for cooking and hospitality, Chef André has created a market driven contemporary bistro menu that includes ingredients sourced from all over the world.

54 BELOW is owned and operated by Tony Award winning producers Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, and Steven Baruch. 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly and has audio and video recording capabilities. The cover charge ranges from $5-$85.

54 BELOW is located at 254 West 54th Street. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com.



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