Richard Frankel News

Broadway legend Jennifer Holliday returns to the cabaret stage through tomorrow, Sunday, December 29, at 54 Below.

54 Below just welcomed a part of its December line-up for a special performance preview, including Tony Award-winner Chita Rivera (West Side Story, Chicago, Bye Bye Birdie, Fiddler on the Roof) and the cast of 'HIT LIST' -- Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years), Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), Krysta Rodriguez (First Date ,The Addams Family), and Carrie Manolakos (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). Check out photos from the previews below!

Nationally acclaimed authors Scott Turow and Sara Paretsky, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (6th District), Illinois State Representative (12th District) Sara Feigenholtz and Chicago society scribe "Candid Candace" Jordan are among some of Chicago's favorite not-so-old, not-necessarily-Jewish joke tellers making one-night-only appearances in the hit comedy, OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, to raise funds for the charities of their choice. Officially launching on Tuesday evening, Dec. 17, and continuing at various performances through the coming months, a local celebrity will make a cameo appearance with their own comedic shtick during the OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES show, and a portion of proceeds from that performance will be donated to the non-profit charity of the celebrity's choice.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the appointment of Laura Green as the theater's new Production Manager and Bea Daggett, leading the historic theater's development team as Director of External and Strategic Affairs. "We are thrilled to add Bea Daggett and Laura Green to our stellar senior management team," stated Todd Schmidt, Paper Mill Playhouse's Managing Director. "Bea and Laura are experienced professionals that will enhance the work that Paper Mill Playhouse produces onstage and beyond. These appointments will allow the theater to continue to grow and thrive."

After spending the year "bringing down the house" in Chicago (Variety) and being a "glorious, full-blooded voice" in Giant at the Public Theater (Wall Street Journal), KT sets her sights on Christmas, with a night of carols re-written, standards re-imagined, and New York's finest, funniest voices. Having penned three albums and two-and-a-half musicals, this "rich-voiced powerhouse" (Los Angeles Times) promises to "put the mayhem back in Bethlehem" (Katie Thompson) at 54 Below. Also starring Erin Quill (Avenue Q, The Mikado Project) and Joel Waggoner (Southern Comfort). Directed by Adam Jackman (R.R.R.E.D a Secret Musical, Homo The Musical). Check out photos from her concert below!

Which songs does Platinum Award winning singer-songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway choose in this exciting night of great Broadway, jazz and pop music? As she did in The Streisand Songbook (which earned her two BroadwayWorld.com Awards and a MAC Award for best show of the year), Callaway puts her imaginative musical stamp on thoughtfully chosen gems, with insightful words about the writers and the craftsmanship that make these songs unique and enduring. Accompanied by Ted Rosenthal at the piano, Martin Wind on bass and Tim Horner on drums, the spirit of Thanksgiving comes alive with this intoxicating feast of unforgettable music. Check out photos from her first show below!

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to bring you the exclusive first look at the cover and track-listing for Broadway and West End star Sierra Boggess's eagerly anticipated new solo album recently recorded live at NYC cabaret venue 54 Below, titled AWAKENING: LIVE AT 54 BELOW.

54 Below just welcomed a part of its December line-up for a special performance preview, including Tony Award-winner Randy Graff, Tony nominee Todd Graff, and Nikka Graff Lanzarone from 'The Graff Family Holiday Special' (running 12/14 & 16); Tony-nominated song-writing team Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire (running 12/17); Tony nominee Euan Morton (running 12/12); and Chip Zien (running 12/5 & 11). Check out photos from the previews below!

Tony winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last 5 Years, 13, Songs for a New World) returns to 54 Below after last year's sold-out engagement to perform tunes both new and old, hilarious and poignant, caustic and inspiring from his diverse & prolific catalogue. The event features his band, The Caucasian Rhythm Kings, and cast members from Honeymoon In Vegas (premiering this fall at Paper Mill Playhouse), The Bridges of Madison County (opening on Broadway in February) and the winners of the online JRB Karaoke Competition. Check out photos from the concert below!

ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW YORK CITY 3, A Concert For The Actors Fund featuring world premiere songs by Jeff Bowen, David Kirshenbaum, Miller & Tysen, Katie Thompson, and more, will perform live at 54 Below on November 19 at 9pm.

Tom Viertel has been appointed Executive Director of the Commercial Theater Institute, effective immediately. The announcement was made today by Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, and Victoria Bailey, Executive Director of Theatre Development Fund.

Broadway legend Jennifer Holliday is set to return to the stage for five cabaret performances on December 26 - 29, at 54 Below. Tickets are $50-$75 and can be purchased at: http://54below.com/artist/jennifer-holliday/

The acclaimed actor/ Tony-nominated playwright and drag legend returns to 54 Below with a brand new show, chock full of outrageous personal stories, original characters and classic songs; all perfumed with his own unique form of glamour. Charles Busch continues to delight and re-define his craft as a master humorist, illusionist and camp icon. The author of dozens of hit plays (Tale of the Allergists 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 & Vampire Lesbians of Sodom to name but a few), Busch returns to 54 Below, joined by Musical Director Tom Judson. Check out photos of Busch in action below!

Audiences can prepare to swoon as the Tony-winning star of South Pacific headlines 54 Below for a week-long engagement, now through November 16. In this brand new show, the Brazilian opera star presents a program of cherished classics from the American Songbook, as well as Brazilian and jazz favorites. Paulo is one of the most versatile and extraordinary singers to be heard today. Check out photos of Szot in action below!

Bebe Neuwirth's 'Stories… in NYC: Live At 54 BELOW' will be released digitally on November 15th and on CD onNovember 19th, 2013. The CD is now available for pre-order athttp://amzn.com/B00G9AO1HI. The track listing and cover art were unveiled today by Broadway Records.

WBGO Jazz Series is presenting two major jazz shows at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street, NYC) tonight, October 22nd, and Tuesday, October 29th.

WBGO Jazz Series is presenting two major jazz shows at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street, NYC) on Tuesday, October 22nd, and Tuesday, October 29th.

Myrna and Freddie Gershon hosted a full house at 54 Below on Thursday the 26th of September for the 30th Anniversary Celebration of songwriting team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW YORK CITY 3, A Concert For The Actors Fund featuring world premiere songs by Jeff Bowen, David Kirshenbaum, Miller & Tysen, Katie Thompson, and more, will perform live at 54 Below on November 19 at 9pm.

Last night, Thursday, September 26, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, launched its first of six performances celebrating the extraordinary 30-year collaboration of Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, My Favorite Year, Seussical, Lucky Stiff, the upcoming Rocky, and more). In 'Nice Fighting You: A 30th Anniversary Celebration,' September 26 - 28, Ahrens and Flaherty offer six very special concerts featuring their best known songs, rare gems and even some never-before-heard material, performed by a rotating cast of Broadway stars. Last night's opening night concert featured Tony nominee Stephanie J. Block (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes), Tony nominee Liz Callaway (Baby, Anastasia), Tony Award winner LaChanze (Dessa Rose, Once on This Island), Kecia Lewis (Dessa Rose, Once on This Island), Sean McCourt (Wicked, A Man of No Importance), Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell (Ragtime, Kiss Me Kate) Tony Award nominee Mary Testa (42nd Street, Lucky Stiff), and musical direction by Tony Award Winner Ted Sperling (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, and The Other Josh Cohen). The evening features musical arrangements by Neil Douglas Reilly.