Ken Billington News

Whether he's playing a Westchester housewife who's preparing her cabaret tribute to Edith Piaf, Cinderella's much maligned stepmother in the style of Mildred Pierce, or the tough but warm-hearted owner of a speakeasy, performance legend Charles Busch continues to delight and redefine his craft as a master humorist, illusionist, and camp icon. The author of dozens of hit plays (Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Red Scare on Sunset, Flipping My Wig, Times Square Angel, Our Leading Lady, The Third Story, Die! Mommie! Die!, Psycho Beach Party, The Divine Sister, and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom to name but a few), Busch makes his 54 Below debut for two very special year end performances, joined by Musical Director Tom Judson. Expect laughter, music, tears, and sequins. But no boas. Busch will play 54 below March 7-14. Check out photos of Busch in rehearsal below!

Infusing the rhythm and syncopation of the legendary jazz greats with the power and brashness of a Broadway belter, this legendary vocalist's MAYE-den Voyage at 54 Below features a program of jazz and Broadway standards not to be missed. When Ella Fitzgerald was asked to name her favorite singers, she named Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae and "marvelous Marilyn Maye," who brings her new show MAYE-den Voyage to 54 Below for ten performances only. Check out photos from her opening night concert below!

This March Broadway's nightclub 54 Below expands its late night series. Joining Tuesday nights' popular Backstage with Susie Mosher will be three new late night events throughout the week including The Callback, Late Night at 54 Below, 54 Piano Bar, Midnight is the Real Happy Hour.

54 BELOW, has announced the appearance of cabaret and theatre legend Marilyn Maye and the debut of her new show 'MAYE-DEN Voyage' for a two-week engagement today, March 5-7 and March 12-14 at 7:00PM and March 8-9 & 15-16 at 8:00PM.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the 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. 54 Below also launches its new series of late night events this March. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more, including Telly Award winner Jamie DeRoy & Friends, Broadway star Chester Gregory, singing sensation Marilyn Maye, Late Night at 54 Below, Tony nominee Adam Pascale, actor/screenwriter/playwright Charles Busch, Broadway's Caissie Levy, Walking the Line - Music of Johnny Cash.

Winner of the 2013 Nightlife Legend Award cabaret and theatre legend Marilyn Maye, Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner and one of the stars of "Unsung Menken" Debbie Gravitte, and Tony Award Nominee, master humorist, illusionist and camp icon Charles Busch will play 54 Below in the coming weeks. Just yesterday the whole gang met the press and you can check out video footage of them in action below!

Special guest stars tonight, February 26th include performances by Katie Thompson (From The Public Theatre's Giant and Broadway's upcoming Big Fish, composer/lyricist/recording artist - Original songs featured on FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance'), Dani Spieler (from Broadway's Legally Blonde and the National Tour of West Side Story), Kevin Ray (singer / songwriter of Central Avenue Breakdown, New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) award winner and MAC Award nominee for his holiday album - 'Seasoned Greetings'), Anna Steele (three-time MAC Award winner and two-time Bistro and Nightlife Award winning cabaret artist), Freddie Kimmel (from the National Tour of Billy Elliott and Superfly The Musical).

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the 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, including two-time Tony nominee Tom Wopat, Broadway star Elizabeth Stanley, BACKSTAGE award-winning vocalist, director and Broadway actor Eric Michael Gillett, singer/songwriter Tony Desare, singing sensation Hilary Kole, and multiple award-winner Sarah Rice.

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Tuesday night cocktail party/songfest, "Backstage." Special guest stars on February 26th include performances by Katie Thompson (From The Public Theatre's Giant and Broadway's upcoming Big Fish, composer/lyricist/recording artist - Original songs featured on FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance"), Dani Spieler (from Broadway's Legally Blonde and the National Tour of West Side Story), Kevin Ray (singer / songwriter of Central Avenue Breakdown, New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) award winner and MAC Award nominee for his holiday album - "Seasoned Greetings"), Anna Steele (three-time MAC Award winner and two-time Bistro and Nightlife Award winning cabaret artist), Freddie Kimmel (from the National Tour of Billy Elliott and Superfly The Musical).

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Today night cocktail party/songfest, 'Backstage.' Special guest stars tonight, February 19th include performances by Kate Rockwell (Currently starring as 'Sherrie' in Rock of Ages), Lavon Fisher Wilson (currently starring in Disney's Newsies), Alex Wyse (from Broadway's Lysistrata Jones and Off-Broadway's Bare), Ryan Knowles (from NEWSical - The Musical and Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas), Jonathan Whitton (MAC and Bistro Award winning singer, as well as 'The Disney Diaries' ), cabaret singer Tori Scott.

The mirror ball has relocated to the cellar with Michael Musto'S 70s DISCO EXTRAVAGANZA at 54 BELOW. Tonight, February 17, starting at 9:30PM, join downtown legend, disco diva, and Village Voice columnist Michael Musto with his glittery sidekicks Snooky and Tish as he performs live with disco cover band The Elektrik Company. Michael's special guest star for the evening will be Orfeh (Legally Blonde, Saturday Night Fever). We are pushing tables and chairs aside to make way for the dance floor, so grab a cocktail and shake your groove thing into the wee hours as the 54 Below returns to its fabulous roots.

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Tuesday night cocktail party/songfest, 'Backstage.' Special guest stars on February 19th include performances by Kate Rockwell (Currently starring as 'Sherrie' in Rock of Ages), Lavon Fisher Wilson (currently starring in Disney's Newsies), Alex Wyse (from Broadway's Lysistrata Jones and Off-Broadway's Bare), Ryan Knowles (from NEWSical - The Musical and Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas), Jonathan Whitton (MAC and Bistro Award winning singer, as well as 'The Disney Diaries' ), cabaret singer Tori Scott.

'If I Loved You,' 'June Is Bustin' Out All Over,' 'You'll Never Walk Alone' — these are just a few of the many joys of the musical Time magazine called 'The Best of the 20th Century.' Now, in the tradition of its sold-out productions of Company and My Fair Lady, the Philharmonic and an all-star cast present Rodgers and Hammerstein's immortal Carousel, directed by Tony winner John Rando, and conducted by Rob Fisher.

54 BELOW, has announced the appearance of cabaret and theatre legend Marilyn Maye and the debut of her new show 'MAYE-DEN Voyage' for a two-week engagement on March 5-7 & 12-14 at 7:00PM and March 8-9 & 15-16 at 8:00PM.

Lincoln Center Theater has just announced that Betsy Aidem, Blair Brown, Michael Cerveris, Anthony Cochrane, Lauren Culpepper, Alvin Epstein, Kathryn Erbe, John Glover, Jennifer B. Grace, Katie Kreisler, Stephen Kunken, Haviland Morris, Dale Place, John Procaccino, Garth Saxe and Alan Schmuckler will be featured in the 18-member cast of its upcoming world premiere production of NIKOLAI AND THE OTHERS, a new play by Richard Nelson.

Brad Simmons & Friends will perform an evening of original songs, written either by Brad or the performer themselves, for one night only at 54 BELOW, Broadway's nightclub located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Regulars to 54 Below's 'Backstage' will recognize Brad as the man behind the piano providing musical director for this after-hours cocktail party and song-fest and the musical director for Lysistrata Jones.

Acclaimed actress and entertainer Tovah Feldshuh just made her 54 Below debut! In this zany musical evening, custom fashioned for 54 Below, Ms. Feldshuh revisits the 1970s when she first came to Studio 54 and to Broadway. She also inhabits a gallery of hilarious characters, ages 8 to 80, comic and dramatic-who sing! The songlist includes Broadway classics from Bernstein, Styne, and Gershwin to contemporary artists Dar Williams and Craig Carnelia. For these three special performances, Tovah will be joined by Broadway's Jesse Kissel on piano. For her work on the New York stage, which includes, among many others, Golda's Balcony, Irena's Vow, Yentl, Lend Me a Tenor, and Sarava! (which she will revisit in this show), Tovah is the recipient of four Tony nominations, and has won four Drama Desk, four Outer Critics Circle, the Obie, the Theatre World, and the Lucille Lortel Awards.

The national tour of Dreamgirls, currently playing at the Capitol Theatre, is exceptionally well produced and performed. It is an experience that is not to be missed.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the 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, including award-winning vocalist Eric Michael Gillett, Broadway star Chester Gregory, Grammy Award winner Joni Mitchell, BACKSTAGE, Broadway star T. Olvier Reid, Tony Award nominee Robert Cuccioli, Toni Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh and SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED.

Brad Simmons & Friends will perform an evening of original songs, written either by Brad or the performer themselves, for one night only at 54 BELOW, Broadway's nightclub located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Regulars to 54 Below's 'Backstage' will recognize Brad as the man behind the piano providing musical director for this after-hours cocktail party and song-fest and the musical director for Lysistrata Jones.