Sally Mayes and the Skivvies Join Starry Lineup for Drama Book Shop Benefit Concert | Playbill

News Sally Mayes and the Skivvies Join Starry Lineup for Drama Book Shop Benefit Concert The Broadway landmark is recovering from a burst pipe that damaged its inventory.

Tony Award-nominees Penny Fuller (Applause, Dividing The Estate) and Sally Mayes (Closer Than Ever, She Loves Me) have joined the starry line-up for the March 26 Feinstein's/54Below's benefit concert of stories and songs for The Drama Book Shop.

The Broadway theatre district landmark is recovering from a burst pipe that damaged part of its inventory Feb. 14.

Also joining the roster is Ali Stroker, who recently made her debut in Deaf West's revival of Spring Awakening and composer Nancy Ford (I'm Getting My Act Together...).

Previously announced to appear in the concert are Alex Boniello (Spring Awakening), Chuck Cooper (Tony Award-winner, The Life, Caroline or Change, Amazing Grace) Bobby Cronin, David Cryer (The Phantom of the Opera, 1776, Chess), Patti Mariano (The Full Monty, Rags, original cast member of The Music Man), Gabrielle Ruiz (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, If/Then, In The Heights) and The Skvivies. Also featured are Phyllis Blanford, Britt Cryer, Janet Fanale, Kristen Gehling, James Horan, Polly McKie, The NYCity Slickers, Red Wine + Whiskey, Paul Thomas Ryan, Crystal Skillman, Vanessa Spica and Shawn Verrier with Steven Carl McCasland on piano.

Beginning at 7 PM March 26 Feinstein's/54 Below 254 West 54th Street),the benefit will also feature various auction and raffle items, including two tickets to Hamilton, followed by a backstage meet-and-greet with the show's director, Thomas Kail.

Tickets are priced $40 (not including a $25 food/drink minimum) and all proceeds will benefit The Drama Book Shop. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended as limited seating remains. For tickets, please visit 54below.com/artist/a-benefit-for-the-drama-book-shop.

Here is Playbill.com's original story:

A burst pipe that wiped out 30 percent of the inventory at New York's Drama Book Shop has turned into a windfall for the Tony-winning theatre landmark after Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda appealed to the public to rush to the aid of the still-open retailer in person and online.

“I'm just stunned,” said store vice president Allen Hubby. “Business is up 50 percent in-store and mail orders are up 200 percent, all because of Lin-Manuel.”

The problem began Presidents' Day Weekend when single-digit temperatures apparently caused a pipe to burst on the third floor of the building that contains the book shop. Cascading water damaged the floor above the shop, then poured through the ceiling, wiping out the entire section of the store with advice for professional actors, “one of our busiest sections,” Hubby said.

Luckily the playscript section suffered the least damage, he said. A lot of the damage is covered by insurance, but Hubby said it may take months to collect. Meanwhile, the store has to restock the lost inventory and repair physical damage.

The store's website, DramaBookShop.com, described the damage as “extensive.” A video shows part of the store as empty shelves and part of the store still operating normally.

Miranda used his weekly Ham4Ham online concert event (see below) to appeal to theatre lovers to help the shop. Miranda said in the video that he wrote part of his Tony-winning musical In the Heights in the offices beneath the shop, located on West 40th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

In the video, Miranda shows off his purchases and urges theatre lovers to patronize the store, which has operated at various midtown locations since 1917.

Hubby said business has shot up since the Feb. 20 appeal. The most-ordered item is Miranda's own book about the creation of Hamilton, which is not scheduled for publication until April. Hubby said, "We have 200 orders for the book as of now. We've never had 200 orders for anything!"

There also have been some individual donations. He said Fun Home composer Jeanine Tesori donated $2,500 to the shop.

Another important donation: the nightclub Feinstein's/54 Below donated its stage for the 7 PM March 26 show so the Drama Book Shop could organize a fundraising concert. Tickets are now on sale at the Feinstein's/54 Below website.

Store hours are 10 AM to 7 PM Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday; 10 AM to 8 PM Thursday; and noon to 6 PM Sunday.

Here is Lin-Manuel Miranda's video appeal:

 
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