Photo Coverage: Susan Blackwell, Krysta Rodriguez & More Serve Up VOLLEYGIRLS Benefit at 54 Below

Chicago Fire's Monica Raymund of Sisu Theatrical Productions, LLC, Jacob Harvey of Cave 76 Productions, LLC and Jordi Coats presented a cabaret-style concert of VOLLEYGIRLS last night at 54 Below, which included tunes from the breakout hit from the 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival. The concert, hosted by Susan Blackwell ([title of show]), served as a benefit for the It Gets Better Project. BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage from the evenet below!

As one of Huffington Post's Best Shows of 2013, the "heartwarming" (Theatermania) VOLLEYGIRLS, which starred Blackwell, called "a winning spike" by The New York Times, took home top honors from the NYMF awards for excellence, including the Best of Fest audience choice award, Outstanding Ensemble Award and the coveted most Promising New Musical Award-winning musical plus the New World Stages development prize. Blackwell played Kim Brindell, a disgraced Olympian coaching an oddball team of high-school volleyball players in this girl-powered musical VOLLEYGIRLS with book by Rob Ackerman (Tabletop - 2001 Drama Desk), lyrics by Sam Forman (Sleepless in Seattle, book for F#%king Up Everything), music by Eli Bolin (Found, I Sing, Roller Boogie, TV: Sesame Street), choreographed by Ryan Kasprazak (TV: Smash Tour, Billy Elliot) and directed by Neil Patrick Stewart (LA theatre: The Elephant Man - Ovation Award nominations). www.volleygirlsthemusical.com

In addition to Blackwell, the 54 BELOW performance featured Krysta Rodriguez (First Date, TV: Smash), Eric Michael Gillett (Kiss Me Kate), PJ Adzima, Benjamin Howes ([title of show] and Scandalous), Jennifer C. Johnson, Julia Knitel (Bye Bye Birdie), Gerianne Perez, Allison Posner, Dana Steingold (Calvin Berger and Bubble Boy), Allison Strong (Bye Bye Birdie), and MORE! The concert was directed by Neil Patrick Stewart and general mangaged by Jordi Coats. The "Sweat" Band featured Mike Pettry, Eric Davis, Brendan O'Grady, and Alex Wyatt with musical direction by composer Eli Bolin.

Photos by Kevin Thomas Garcia

The Company

Jennifer C. Johnson and The Company

Benjamin Howes

Benjamin Howes and Susan Blackwell

Allison Posner and Krysta Rodriguez

Krysta Rodriguez and The Company

PJ Adzima and Allison Strong

Benjamin Howes and Julia Knitel

Jennifer C. Johnson and The Company

Eric Michael Gillet

The Company

Allison Posner and Gerianne Perez

Stephanie Lappen of "It Gets Better" and Susan Blackwell

Eli Bolin

Susan Blackwell and The Company

PJ Adzima, Allison Strong, Allison Posner and Jennifer C. Johnson

Allison Strong

The Company