Richard Frankel News

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher is the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more:

Some of Broadway's brightest stars came out to cheer Rebecca Luker in her return to 54 Below on Thursday, May 9. Bernadette Peters, Martha Plimpton, Howard McGillin, Ron Raines, Sally Wilfert and Luker's husband Danny Burstein were among those who came backstage to visit with Luker following the opening night of her return engagement, 'Rebecca Luker sings Jerome Kern.' Scroll down for photos from backstage!

MURDER BALLAD, the critically acclaimed new musical which has been nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Lortel Awards, is pleased to announce an extension with tickets on sale throughSunday, September 29 at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street). MURDER BALLAD is now in previews at the Union Square Theatre with an official press opening set for Wednesday, May 22 featuring John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Caissie Levy, and Will Swenson.

MURDER BALLAD, the critically acclaimed new musical which has been nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Lortel Awards, begins previews tonight, May 7 at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street). The limited engagement will open Wednesday, May 22 featuring John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Caissie Levy, and Will Swenson.

MURDER BALLAD, the critically acclaimed new musical which has been nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Lortel Awards, begins previews tomorrow, May 7 at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street). The limited engagement will open Wednesday, May 22 featuring John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Caissie Levy, and Will Swenson.

In her brand new show at 54 Below, Broadway's Andrea Burns (Beauty & The Beast, The Full Monty, The Ritz, In the Heights, and the forthcoming The Nance) presents a hilarious and at times moving evening that explores finding a state of grace at forty while reasserting that Latinas don't play. Weaving Broadway with pop culture, expect tunes by Sarah Bareilles, Stephen Sondheim, Celia Cruz, Peter Gabriel, and more as Andrea teams up with her In the Heights Musical Director, Alex Lacamoire. Check out photos from her concert below!

For those craving a show after the show, stop by 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Loosen your tie and enjoy as Broadway's nightclub expands its late night series. Joining Tuesday nights' popular Backstage with Susie Mosher will be three new late night events featuring bright and upcoming New York talent, including Nick Wyman, Ann Harada, Gwen Hollander, Carey Anderson and more.

For those craving a show after the show, stop by 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Loosen your tie and enjoy as Broadway's nightclub expands its late night series. Joining Tuesday nights' popular Backstage with Susie Mosher will be three new late night events featuring bright and upcoming New York talent, including Nick Wyman, Ann Harada, Gwen Hollander, Carey Anderson and more.

Tony Award winning, Kennedy Center Honree and Broadway and concert legend Barbara Cook (The Music Man, She Loves Me, Candide, Sondheim on Sondheim), Tony Award-winner Steve Kazee (Once, 110 in the Shade, Spamalot), Tony, Oscar, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning orchestrator Jonathan Tunick (A Chorus Line, Follies, A Little Night Music, Blazing Saddles, Sweeney Todd) with vocalist Rebecca Faulkenberry (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Rock Of Ages) all previewed their upcoming engagements at 54 Below earlier this week and BroadwayWorld's Randy Rainbow was there for the festivities. Check out sneak peeks of their shows below!

One of the all time great voices, Barbara Cook, comes to 54 Below for two very special weeks this April and May, debuting a brand new evening of music. Her pure soprano, haunting tone, and warm onstage presence make any evening with Barbara Cook an unforgettable nightlife experience. Not only are Ms. Cook's concert and cabaret performances the stuff of New York legend, but her life in the theatre has stretched from the creation of the leading female roles in the Broadway classics Candide, The Music Man, and She Loves Me, to her recent appearance in Sondheim on Sondheim, and a whole lot in between! Among a heavy mantle of awards, Ms. Cook has been honored with the Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk, and Drama Critics Circle Awards, has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame, and was recently presented with the Kennedy Center Honor. Cook just gave a special preview of her concert at 54 Below and you can check out photos below!

Tony Award winning, Kennedy Center Honree and Broadway and concert legend Barbara Cook (The Music Man, She Loves Me, Candide, Sondheim on Sondheim), Tony Award-winner Steve Kazee (Once, 110 in the Shade, Spamalot), Tony, Oscar, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning orchestrator Jonathan Tunick (A Chorus Line, Follies, A Little Night Music, Blazing Saddles, Sweeney Todd) with vocalist Rebecca Faulkenberry (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Rock Of Ages) all previewed their upcoming enagements at 54 Below earlier today. Check out a photo preview below!

As Rita Wilson continued her week-long engagement at 54 Below, a starry audience came to cheer her on. Attendees included Elvis Costello, Rosie O'Donnell, Julianne Moore, Kristin Chenoweth, Allison Williams, Brian Williams, Jane Stoddard Williams, Kathy Najimy, Natasha Lyonne, Bart Freundlich, Bryan Cranston, Peter Scolari and more. Scroll below for photos of the guests backstage with Wilson!

Yellow Sound Label's world premiere recording of MURDER BALLAD, the critically acclaimed new musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman, will be released on Tuesday, May 28. The album, Produced by Michael Croiter, will be available on Amazon, iTunes, and elsewhere music is sold. For additional information and to pre-order the world premiere cast recording, visit: www.yellowsoundlabel.com

Broadway quintuple threat, Robert Creighton, who has just concluded his critically lauded role of Durdles/Nick Cricker in the Roundabout Theater Company's production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Studio 54, won't have to travel far for his next engagement. Creighton will take the stage at 54 Below tonight, April 22 at 9:30pm when he performs his show, 'Ain't We Got Fun!'

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, PRINCE OF BROADWAY, the new musical celebrating legendary Broadway director and producer Harold 'Hal' Prince has been postponed indefinitely due to scheduling conflicts. Now in an interview with the Washington Post, Prince revealed that the show will soon premiere at Tokyo's Umeda Arts Theater and will hopefully move on the Broadway after.

Aaron Tveit's sold out concerts in May at New York's 54 BELOW will be recorded and released by Broadway Records. 'The Radio In My Head: Live At 54 BELOW' will be released digitally on September 6th and on CD on September 10, 2013. The CD is now available for pre-order at http://amzn.com/B00CDB2T1C.

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 launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," Joe Iconis & Family, actress/producer/singer Rita Wilson, legendary powerhouse voice Lachanze, Broadway's Ken Page and Carmel Dean, and more.

Rita Wilson's recent appearance at 54 Below, she revealed her expressive, denim-and-suede vocals in a nostalgic throwback to the soft rock of Los Angeles. Wilson performed songs from her critically acclaimed debut Decca Records solo album, AM/FM, featuring iconic hits from the 60s and 70s, ranging from classic love songs to folk-rock tunes. The LA born actress, producer, and writer made her Broadway debut as Roxy Hart in Chicago. Check out phtoos of Wilson in action below!

For those craving a show after the show, stop by 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Loosen your tie and enjoy as Broadway's nightclub expands its late night series. Joining Tuesday nights' popular Backstage with Susie Mosher will be three new late night events featuring bright and upcoming New York talent:

MURDER BALLAD, the new musical that enjoyed an acclaimed, sold-out engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club's The Studio at Stage II, will transfer to the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street) this spring for a strictly limited nine week engagement, featuring three of the critically acclaimed cast members from the MTC run of the musical: John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Will Swenson. They will be joined by Caissie Levy who will play the role of 'Sara.'