Backstage, a weekly Sunday evening event, will kick off June 17 when Ann Harada will host special guest stars from the cast of the NBC musical series "Smash." Backstage, which will be held from 5-7 PM, is "where the theatre community can convene to relax and unwind - have a cocktail, enjoy the food of Chef Andre Marrero, and maybe get up and sing," according to press notes. Backstage is hosted by Brooks Ashmankas (The Producers, The Ritz, Gypsy), Harada (Avenue Q, Seussical, 9 to 5) and Susie Mosher (Hairspray). There will be no cover charge or drink minimum for Backstage.
54 Below's new series for composers, New Mondays, celebrates the work of New York's new songwriters for musical theatre. The series also salutes some of Broadway's most legendary talents. There will be an $18 cover and a two-drink minimum for New Mondays. Upcoming events in the series follow:
June 4: David Zippel (City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl, Woman in White), Steve Marzullo (Somedays), Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk (The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown) with guest vocalists Lisa Brescia (Mamma Mia!), Annie Golden (Hair, Assassins), Randy Graff (City of Angels, Les Mis), Terri Klausner (Sophisticated Ladies, Evita), Lindsay Mendez (Godspell), Kenita Miller (Xanadu, The Color Purple), Rebecca Naomi-Jones (American Idiot) and Darren Ritchie (Wonderland).
June 11: Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Addams Family), Katie Thompson (Giant) and Sam Willmott (Scarlet Takes a Tumble).
June 18: Henry Krieger (Sideshow, Dreamgirls, The Tap Dance Kid), John McDaniel ("The Rosie O’Donnell Show," Grease, Annie Get Your Gun), Farah Alvin (The Marvelous Wonderettes, Nine) and Lance Horne (First Things Last). June 25: Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde), Jeff Blumenkrantz (Urban Cowboy, A Class Act) and Amanda Green (Bring It On: The Musical, High Fidelity).
July 9: Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel, Titanic, Death Takes a Holiday), Joe Iconis (The Black Suits), Brett Kristofferson (Insanities) and Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days).
The Green Room series will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after 10 PM and feature live music, creative cocktails and small food plates. There will be no cover charge or drink minimum for Green Room. Musicians scheduled to appear include Sean Harkness & Steve Doyle (June 5, 12, 19, 26), John Miller Quartet (June 6, 20, 27) and The Barry Levitt Trio (June 7, 14, 21, 28).
Click here to read about previously announced bookings at 54 Below.
54 Below is located at 254 West 54th Street. Tickets are available through www.TicketWeb.com and www.54Below.com.
