Grace Peña: Under the Influence at Laurie Beechman Theatre

Grace Peña is a 2026 MAC Award-nominee for her solo cabaret debut Heartstrings!, performed at 54 Below, Don’t Tell Mama, and The Green Room 42. Grace is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, where she earned her Master’s degree in CCM Voice Pedagogy. Raised in a home filled with timeless classic movie musicals and jazz standards, she developed a deep love for music early in life—one that continues to inspire her every day.

Analise Levesque is an NYC based pianist, music director, and educator. Analise made her off-broadway debut in Cookie at the Soho Playhouse last spring and has worked with the New Voices Conservatory at the Papermill Playhouse. She works at Pace University in the Sands College of Performing Arts and performs often at cabaret venues across New York City. When she’s not at the piano, Analise can be spotted running through the streets of Manhattan, training for her next race.

Lennie Watts is a 21-time MAC, 5-time Backstage Bistro, and 3-time Nightlife Award-winner. Recognized as an outstanding vocalist, director, producer, and booking manager, he has been active in the New York cabaret scene for over 30 years. In addition to directing in small cabaret venues, he has directed events at Symphony Space, Town Hall, BB King’s, and Sony Hall. As an actor, he has toured nationally and internationally with productions of The Music Man (Marcellus) and The Wizard Of Oz (Lion). Other roles: Man in Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone) Pseudolus (A Funny Thing...), Herod (Jesus Christ Superstar), Nicely Nicely Johnson (Guys and Dolls), Jinx (Forever Plaid), Crumpet (Santaland Diaries). He has performed at Town Hall in several concerts, including Broadway Unplugged and Broadway By The Year, 1949, and can be heard on the cast recordings of both shows. As a theater director, he has directed productions of Godspell, Dames at Sea, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Phantom.  Watts is the creator and Artistic Director of Singnasium, a nonprofit vocal school in New York City. He is an Adjunct Professor at Marymount Manhattan College, and has been a Master Teacher at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center for the last 10 years. David Finkle of The Village Voice calls him "A one man cabaret army!" He appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and released his debut CD I Want...You Want, in 2000. He served as the President of MAC for 11 years, and is currently on the advisory board. He was recently named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in New York Cabaret” by Nightlife Exchange. Singnasium.org