54 Below Podcast

Ann Hampton Callaway is a Platinum Award winning singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger and songwriter whose songs are featured on six of Barbra Streisand's recent CD's.  She s best known for her Tony-nominated performance in the hit Broadway musical Swing! And for her jazz-cabaret singing as a solo performer and with her sister, Liz Callaway, in the award-winning show Sibling Revelry. 

Tonight she speaks with Richard Frankel about her 54Below show, the "Streisand Songbook" (September 25-29^th) a tribute to iconic singer and performer, Barbara Streisand, as well as her life growing up in Chicago, her dutiful “greatness training” as a young, aspiring performer, and the formative influence of her family including sister and co-star, Liz Callaway. 

Eden Espinosa is known to Broadway audiences for her roles in Wicked, Rent, and Brooklyn.  But for her new show at 54Below, she departs from Broadway to pay tribute to singer/songwriter, Eva Cassidy.  Hear programming Director, Phil Bond, talk with Eden about some of the songs for the evening, her Broadway dream roles, and her upcoming solo album.

More information and tickets at 54Below.com

Tonight, we're backstage with Tony award-winner, Tonya Pinkins known for performances in Milk Like Sugar, Jelly’s Last Jam, and Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s 2004 Broadway musical Caroline, or Change. She is familiar to television audiences for her roles on "As The World Turns," "All My Children" and "Army Wives."

Pinkins talks about landing her first role in Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along", an unexpected encounter with Michelle Obama, and her show based on the life and music of Ethel Waters, for one night only, on August 27th.

More informaton and tickets at 54Below.com

A conversation with 54Below's program director, Phil Geoffrey Bond, and Broadway and T.V. star Tituss Burgess, best known for his recurring role on "30 Rock" on NBC. He has also originated memorable roles in the original Broadway casts of Jersey Boys, The Little Mermaid and the revival ofGuys and Dolls. Tonight he talks about how he fell into theater, his upcoming show for one night only at 54Below, and his new album coming out in October.

More info and tickets at 54below.com

A conversation with 54Below's program director, Phil Geoffrey Bond, and Broadway and T.V. star Tituss Burgess, best known for his recurring role on "30 Rock" on NBC. He has also originated memorable roles in the original Broadway casts of Jersey Boys, The Little Mermaid and the revival ofGuys and Dolls. Tonight he talks about how he fell into theater, his upcoming show for one night only at 54Below, and his new album coming out in October.

More info and tickets at 54below.com

Faith Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as “Ms. Adelaide” in Guys and Dolls. Other Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Bells Are Ringing (Tony, DD, OCC noms), Nick & Nora (OCC Award), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (Tony, DD noms), Little Me, The Dead, and Noises Off, A Catered Affair.  On T.V.: Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva” as Elaine Bingum, mother of series star Jane (played by another Broadway Diva – Brooke Elliot

Most recently, Faith starred in the national tour of the Broadway hit Billy Elliott. Cabaret debut  in 2000 at Joe’s Pub - preserved as the critically-acclaimed live album, “Leap Of Faith”

 Jason Graae has starred on Broadway in "A Grand Night For Singing", "Falsettos", "Stardust", "Snoopy!", and "Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up?". In 2008, Jason won his second L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award - the 2008 Joel Hirschorn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre.

 He has performed his one-man show all over the country, and has been included in TimeOut NY's Top 10 Cabaret Shows. 

 See Faith and Jason, at 54 Below, August 21 - 25

Vy Higgenson is a proud Harlemite and New Yorker known for a many significant firsts in the entertainment industry: The first black female radio personality in the prime time New York City market on WBLS.  First woman to host a morning show on New York radio at WWRL. The first black woman to produce a drama on Broadway with Joe Tuner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson. The first black female writer, producer, director of the longest-running, Off-Broadway musical in the history of American theatre with Mama, I Want to Sing.

Tonight she talks with Richard Frankel about another first, creating a cabaret show for 54Below.  The show, following the roots and evolution of Gospel music, will kick off a series of Saturday Gospel brunches on August 25th. For more information and tickets, visit 54below.com

Victor Garber is one of the most respected and talented actors of his generation, with six Emmy and four Tony nominations for memorable roles on the Broadway stage and big and small screen in shows like "Noises Off" the original "Sweeney Todd", on T.V. in "Alias" and "Eli Stone," and famous movies including "Milk" and "Titanic".  But his show at 54 Below, his debut cabaret performance, is the first time audiences can see Victor Garber playing only himself. 

Tonight, in his conversation with Richard Frankel, hear why this accomplished star finds the cabaret stage so terrifying.  Hear about James Cameron's legendary "Titanic"...behind the scenes, Garber's turn as a rock star in a 60's Toronto-based band called The Sugar Shoppe, and how Sondheim inspired him early in his career.

Plus, an exclusive preview from the first Sold Out show at the club on August 13th.

More information at 54below.com

Tonight, Hilary Kole –the first jazz singer to play 54Below.  But she wasn't always destined for jazz singing.  Hear how Ms. Kole went from dreams of becoming the next John Williams to being the youngest singer to ever perform at the Rainbow Room

She's played with music legends Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck and Michel LeGrand, recorded with Hank Jones, John Pizzarelli, David Frishberg, Monty Alexander, Benny Green, Freddy Cole, Alan Broadbent, Cedar Walton and Mike Renzi, and starred in the off-Broadway hit, Our Sinatra.

Her newest album, You Are There, was named as record of the year in USA Today (2010), as well as winning the 2010 Bistro Award for record of the year.  www.hilarykole.com

At 54 Below August 14-18^th, more info at 54below.com