Marilyn Maye, Whitney Bashor, Kate Shindle and More Set for 54 Below This Week

By: Jun. 23, 2014
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Coming up this week, 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.


NOT JUST MARK YORK, HOSTED BY KLEA BLACKHURST, June 23 at 7PM:

Songwriter Mark York takes a night off from playing sidekick in The Roundabout's Just Jim Dale to present some of his favorite Broadway performers singing his original songs in a tuneful, joyous evening of song. A songwriter in the grand tradition of his idols Jule Styne, Jerry herman, and Cy Coleman, Mark's songs represent a continuation of the classic Broadway sound. The evening is hosted by award-winner Klea Blackhurst (Hello, Dolly! at Goodspeed, Nutty Professor), starring Anna Bergman (A Little Night Music at Kennedy Center), Emily Walton (Peter and the Starcatcher), Shelly Burch (Nine, "One Life to Live"), Jeffrey Pew (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella), Mark Campbell (The Phantom of the Opera US), Diane J. Findlay (Sister Act, Encores' 70 Girls 70), Camille Saviola (Chicago, Nine), and Tony nominee Walter Willison (Two By Two, Grand Hotel). Also featured are Janet Dunn, Merrill Grant, Ryan McCall and David Auxier. Directed by Walter Willison (Kathi Moss' Rama-Lama-Ding Dong Reunion), and Produced/Music Directed by Aaron Gandy (Just Jim Dale). A native New Yorker from Oklahoma, Mark is the Founder and Executive Producer of The Ziegfeld Society (www.theziegfeldsociety.com). His New York credits include Busker Alley (starring Jim Dale, directed by Tony Walton), Sweet Charity (2005 revival) and co-creator of the hit touring show I've Got A Little Twist. Please visit www.markyorkmusic.com for more information. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

BROADWAY CELEBRATES PRIDE WEEK WITH ROBIN DE JESUS & MORE, June 23 at 9:30PM:

Oh, what a night this will be, when all the colors of the rainbow unite in support of the LGBTQ Broadway Community for this Pride extravaganza! Featuring many of Broadway's best and brightest performing songs from Broadway, pop, rock, soul and beyond, with performances from Robin de Jesus (In the Heights, LaCage), Tracy McDowell (Motown), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Joey Contreras, Bobby Cronin, Alan Shaw (LES MISERABLES), Mykal Kilgore (Motown), Russell Fischer (Jersey Boys), Alexandra Silber (Master Class) and many more, this evening is sure to dazzle and spread the love around. It's time for Broadway to come out, because closets are for clothes. Hosted by The Book of Mormon's Terren Wooten Clarke as Kizha A. Carr and produced by Bryan Campione and Harold Lewter, a portion of the evenings proceeds will be donated to the Hetrick-Martin Institute. Additional performers include: Bryan Terrell Clark, Talia Thiesfield, Bethany Moore, Corey Desjardins, Janet Krupin, Marissa Rosen, Jarvis Derell, Kat Hennessey, Elizabeth Urbanzyck, Alexa Green, Robert Pendilla, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Dimitri Moise, Gerard Salvador, and Scott Alan. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

WILL & ANTHONY NUNZIATA, June 24 at 7PM:

After sold-out concerts in January, February, and March, acclaimed singing-actors & entertainers Will & Anthony Nunziata are back at 54 Below with a brand-new concert singing their favorite songs & telling their favorite stories. The singers, actors and recording artists have won acclaim for their concert and symphony performances throughout the country and around the world putting their fresh take on pop standards, Broadway showstoppers, as well as contemporary and classic Italian music. Audiences can expect to hear fresh arrangements from Broadway, the American Songbook, and a few surprises along the way! The brothers will be joined by their three-piece swinging band comprised of pianist Alvin Hough, Jr., drummer Jeremy Yaddaw and bassist Adam Neely. $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

KATE SHINDLE, June 24 at 9:30PM:

Kate Shindle has stories to tell. From being crowned Miss America to tackling Broadway in Legally Blonde, Wonderland, and Cabaret, this high-belting diva has graced all kinds of stages-and built up quite an impressive book of audition songs along the way. For her 54 Below debut, Kate has assembled the songs she's learned but never gotten to perform, bringing her "Binder of Broken Dreams" to life on the stage. Jason Howland is at the piano for a show that will be awesomely fun... filled with insider stories, great songs, and the kind of impressive vocal gymnastics only Kate can do! $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

GIADA VALENTI, June 25 at 7PM:

The Venice, Italy-born singer Giada Valenti makes her 54 Below debut, taking her audience on a romantic journey. Valenti will perform her own interpretations of songs made famous by Etta James, Shirley Bassey, The Beatles, Edith Piaf, The Doors, Jerry Vale, and also Christina Perri and Bruno Mars. The evening has one binding factor: love. This concert is a preview of the show Giada is going to film as a television special for PBS in August! Giada moved to the United States 8 years ago when a major record label showed serious interest in her mesmerizing voice and special music. Since 2006 she has performed at venues including The Dicapo Theatre, The Lighthouse Theatre, Feinstein's at the Regency and The Metropolitan Room. Her first solo CD, Italian Signorina, debuted to great acclaim in 2005, and her second CD And I Love You So was released in 2008. In the USA Giada's talent and contributions to culture have been recognized by several organizations. In October 2008 Giada was named Woman of the Year by the Organization of Italian Charities In America. In February 2010 she was honored by the Commision for Social Justice of the Order Sons of Italy in America for being a good Italian role model. In October of 2011 Giada was awarded the Merit of Honor by the Borough President of Queens, NY for her outstanding cultural contribution to the Italian community in the USA. Giada is also a seven times recipient of a Grant of the NIAF Sergio Franchi Music Foundation. In Italy, Valenti has won several important music awards like the prestigious La Grande Occasione and Festival di Castrocaro. In addition, she has performed eight years in a row on the Red Carpet at the Columbus Day Parade, broadcast live by NBC4, ABC7 and PBS. Valenti is very well known in the Italian American community, and in the last few years has also has attracted all kinds of fans who have fallen in love with her great personality and special voice. $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

FRANK SHINER, June 25 at 9:30PM:

The career path Frank Shiner originally envisioned took an unexpected detour. Starting out as a singer and actor, he appeared in more than 60 theater and television roles. To make ends meet he was also the bottle flipping bartender at the legendary nightspot Visage, who Tom Cruise came to see while preparing for his role in Cocktail. Eventually, Shiner put his career on hold to raise his family- until this year. Recently, Shiner took the stage at a local venue, resulting in one helluva comeback! A meeting with some music industry heavyweights resulted in The Real Me, Frank's aptly titled show and upcoming album. Frank Shiner's 54 Below debut concentrates on a new breed of standards featured on this recording, from the "deliciously jazzy" simplicity of Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue," to the "cool, sexy" rhythms of Tom Waits' "Temptation," to his current hit single, Randy Newman's beautiful "Feels Like Home." Taken together, the songs and storytelling each describe chapters in Shiner's long love affair with his wife Suzanne. $35-45 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

MARILYN MAYE, June 26 at 7PM & June 27 & 28 at 8:30PM:

Back by overwhelming popular demand! Johnny Carson knew and featured great singers, including one he called "Super Singer" - - The multi-talented Marvelous Marilyn Maye. Ms. Maye appeared on The Tonight Show a record 76 times, more than any singer. Her newest show at 54 Below will be both a musical salute and a compilation of many of the songs Marilyn performed on The Tonight Show. As Johnny said, "If there are any young budding singers out there, get her recordings, listen to her- she knows how it's done!" $40-50 cover charge for 6/26, $65-75 cover charge for 6/27 and $55-65 cover charge for 6/28. $25 food & beverage minimum.

WHITNEY BASHOR, June 26 at 9:30PM:

Whitney Bashor wowed Broadway audiences this season as Marian/Chiara in the new musical The Bridges of Madison County, singing Jason Robert Brown's "Another Life." Now she makes her 54 Below debut with an electric evening of selections ranging from musical theatre to acoustic pop covers. Expect everything from Adam Guettel to Pasek & Paul's Edges, in which Whitney originated one of the lead roles. Musical direction by Jodie Moore. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

MAMMA RICE - PRIDE, PRIDE, PRIDE FEATURING STEPHANIE UMOH, June 26 at 11:30PM:

MAMMA RICE is back for Pride Week at 54 Below performing your favorite campy, soulful, inspiring, and party-starting songs by Cher, Janet, Ani, Nina, and more, and telling stories the only way Mamma can- with vocal, video, and go-go boy magic! This month, Stephanie Umoh joins Mamma as the newest Queen, singing a soulful rendition of "It's Raining Men" and a few of her own favorite out-of-this-world tunes. You never know what other surprise guests might drop by! Past appearances at Late Nights with Mamma Rice include Justin Guarini, YouTube Fan favorites, Drag Queen Alexis Michelle, Disappointing Gay Best Friend/BuzzFeed's Mikala Bierma, several zombies and more. Music Direction by Cap21's Marshall Keating. Brooklyn based cabaret artist Xavier "Mamma" Rice has made his mark with the successful late night cabaret series, Mamma Rice N' Friends, at Public Assembly in Williamsburg, where it ran for two consecutive years as BK's #1 musical theatre cabaret night. His show Love Songs: And Other Bullshit met with several sold out runs in the West Village and at 54 Below. Locally he's appeared alongside American Idol's Justin Guarrini in Rent, as Nathan in Dessa Rose and singing the title role in Sweeny Todd with the 4th Wall Theatre. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas BFA program where he majored in Theatre/Voice Performance. Former Time Out NY Critic Pick! A consummate storyteller, comedian and singer, Xavier "Mamma" Rice is NOT to be missed. $15 cover charge. $20 food & beverage minimum or two drink minimum.

MANDI JO JOHN SINGS WHITNEY HOUSTON, June 27 at 11PM:

Mandi Jo John has many musical influences. Her favorite, like those of many 20-somethings: Whitney Houston. In I'm Your Baby Tonight, Mandi Jo will put her indelible stamp on some of Whitney Houston's most well-known songs that not only helped shape her life, but songs that became the soundtrack of her life... and the lives of a generation of adoring fans. Audiences can expect fresh arrangements of "One Moment in Time," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," "I'm Your Baby Tonight," "I Will Always Love You," "I Have Nothing," and more. Mandi Jo has traveled three of the seven continents since she was 12 years old performing with symphony orchestras, in concert venues, opera halls, and regional theaters to sold-out houses and critical acclaim. Performance credits include those with the Southwest Florida Symphony, the Bangkok Opera & the Orlando Opera. Mandi Jo was born and raised in a household where her dad was an opera singer and her mom a classical flutist-thus, she didn't have a choice in her career path; show business and music were in her blood from the get go. Direction by Will Nunziata. $25-35 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

LINDSAY MENDEZ & DEREK KLENA, June 28 at 11PM:

Known to New York audiences for playing Rose and Birdlace in Dogfight, and fresh off a run as Elphaba and Fiyero in Wicked, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena join forces once again, this time on the stage of 54 Below. The two will perform a rousing, eclectic evening celebrating the music they love and their genuine friendship. Directed by Dogfight bookwriter Peter Duchan. Musical direction by Dogfight and Wicked's Bryan Perri. $45-55 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

54 SINGS TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, June 29 at 7PM & 9:30PM:

We're telling it on a Sunday indeed! (Take That Look Off Your Face & Let Me Finish!). Andrew Lloyd Webber's most intimate musical comes alive at 54 Below when some of Broadway's most fabulous ladies take on the tunes made famous by Bernadette Peters in the original Broadway production. Unexpected Song, Nothing Like You've Ever Known & of course, Tell Me on a Sunday are just a few of the treasures in this prodigious musical. Be there when 54 Below delves into this incomparable show! Cast: Donna Vivino, Lesli Margherita, Shayna Steele, Andrea Burns, Kelli Rabke and Jessica Vosk. $50-70 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, 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. 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, 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $15-$95.

54 BELOW is located at 254 West 54th Street. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com. 54 BELOW is not affiliated with or connected to the Roundabout Theatre Company in any way. Piano furnished by Steinway & Sons.


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