The 54 Below Podcast

Broadway and "Smash" triple threat Megan Hilty joins us and guest host Alan Seales in this special crossover episode with The Theatre Podcast for a heart to heart about her career and Bernadette Peters, the objectification of performers, and her upcoming solo debut at Feinstein's/54 Below's Diamond Series! Already a fan favorite for her portrayal of Glinda in Wicked and Doralee Rhodes in Dolly Par...

Hollywood royalty Lorna Luft sits down for a fun and intimate chat with Assistant Programming Director Kevin Ferguson about growing up in Hollywood, having Judy Garland as a mother, and being considered a gay icon. For more information about Lorna's upcoming show, visit 54Below.com The Feinstein’s/54 Below podcast is hosted by Nella Vera and Assistant Programming Director Kevin Ferguson, and produ...

Broadway's power couple Kelli Barrett & Jarrod Spector dropped by to chat with Assistant Programming Director Kevin Ferguson about kings and queens of music, FX channel's Fosse/Verdon, and becoming characters based on real life people. For information about Kelli & Jarrod's upcoming show, visit 54Below.com The Feinstein’s/54 Below podcast is hosted by Nella Vera and Kevin Ferguson, and produced by...

Mexican-born musical multi-hyphenate Jaime Lozano sat down for a heart to heart with Feinstein’s/54 Below’s Director of Marketing, Nella Vera, ahead of his upcoming concert. The two discussed Jaime’s incredible journey to NYC, how he found a chosen “familia” in the theater, and how Hamilton’s Alex Lacaimore changed his life one afternoon at a performance of In The Heights. Jaime Lozano is consider...

Triple threat Tony Award® nominee Tony Yazbeck joins the club’s Assistant Programming Director, Kevin Ferguson, for a chat about his upcoming Feinstein’s/54 Below show. Tony and Kevin talk about dancing with prima ballerina Megan Fairchild, life on and the future of Broadway, and why Tony’s solo show at 54 Below will make you smile. Tony Award® nominee Tony Yazbeck has starred in ten Broadway show...

Drama Desk nominee Amy Spanger talks about the musical Chicago, her amazing career as Broadway's leading lady, and binging during lockdown. For information about Amy's upcoming show, visit 54Below.com The Feinstein’s/54 Below podcast is hosted by Nella Vera and Kevin Ferguson, and produced by Bailey Everett and Michael Allan Galvez, with support from the Feinstein’s/54 Below marketing staff. Origi...

Dear Evan Hansen's Kristolyn Lloyd dropped by the podcast to talk with Assistant Programming Director Kevin Ferguson about turning journal entries into songs, her contemporary Christian influences, and her solo debut at Broadway's Supper Club! For information about Kristolyn’s upcoming show, visit 54Below.com Watch Kristolyn Lloyd sing "Only Girl In The World" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP...

Award-winning composer Adam Gwon chats with Assistant Programming Director Kevin Ferguson to discuss his high school origin story, the importance of mentorship in musical theatre, and the thrills of returning to the live stage. For information about Adam's upcoming show, visit 54Below.com To see Santino and Jessica Fontana's iconic performance of “Fine,” visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO4lK...

Theater legend André De Shields dropped into our podcast ahead of his Feinstein’s/54 Below show for a conversation about coming of age during the age of Aquarius, why he took on the monumental role of King Lear for the second time, and how destiny led him to his Tony-winning role in Hadestown.  A showstopper at the age of 75, De Shields was the triple-crown winner of the 2019 award season, garneri...

Beloved musical theatre writer Bree Lowdermilk joins the podcast to discuss her star-studded new show at Feinstein's/54 Below. Bree sat down with our Senior Digital & Graphics Associate, Grace Benigni, to talk about the magic of performing to live audiences, her identity journey, and the importance of uplifting trans and non-binary artists and stories. For information about Bree's upcoming shows,...

Maria-Christina Oliveras caught the attention of NYC theater fans with an explosive, show-stopping turn in David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s multiple award-winning musical Here Lies Love. On August 6, she brings her gift of storytelling and unique style to Feinstein’s/54 Below in an electrifying night of music and surprises. In this episode, she joins our Director of Marketing, Nella Vera, for a chat...

Tony Award® nominee Adam Pascal joins us as we celebrate his return to Feinstein’s/54 Below. The star of RENT, Aida, Something Rotten!, Cabaret, and Pretty Woman, among others, chats with our Director of Marketing, Nella Vera, about life during the pandemic, recalls highlights from his career, and tells us what audiences can expect from his solo show. For information about Adam's upcoming shows, v...

Derrick Baskin is a Grammy and Tony-nominated artist for his astounding performance in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. Other noteworthy Broadway credits include Memphis The Musical, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Film/TV credits include The Good Lord Bird starring alongside Ethan Hawke, Marshall with the late Chadwick Boseman, a...

An episode for Sondheim fans! This week, we turn our focus to Sondheim Unplugged, one of the most popular and long-running series presented at Feinstein’s/54 Below. A celebrated New York event since 2010 (It’s a Hit!), the show features some of Broadway and cabaret’s most dynamic voices, accompanied by piano only, delving into the musical world of Broadway’s master composer. In December 2020, Sond...

It’s our biggest and most enchanting episode ever! To celebrate the streaming debut of Broadway Princess Holiday Party, we chatted with the delightful cast, Broadway’s original princesses: Laura Osnes (Cinderella), Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast), and Courtney Reed (Aladdin). They are joined by special guest prince Adam J. Levy (Waitress) and musical director and Fairy Godfairy Benjamin Rauhala ...

Marilu Henner is a star of television, film, and the Great White Way.  On Broadway, she has appeared in Over Here!, Pal Joey, Social Security, Chicago, and most recently, Gettin’ the Band Back Together. She was also part of the National Tour casts of Grease and Annie Get Your Gun. She began her film career in 1977 with “Between the Lines,” and has since appeared in "Cannonball Run II," "Johnny Dan...

Our guest today is Nicole Henry, Soul Train Award winner who has been described as “….a paragon of perfection… the vocal love child of Whitney Houston and Sarah Vaughan." She has performed in more than 30 music festivals worldwide and in some of the world’s most famous venues. She will be playing her show, Nicole Henry Sings Whitney Houston on March 3 and 17 at Feinstein’s/54 Below.  Nicole sat do...

Joining us today are Matt Dahan & Kelly Lynne D’Angelo, writers of the emotional and explosive pop-rock musical Starry, about brothers Vincent and Theo van Gogh.  Matt and Kelly have written two full-length musicals together including The Count of Monte Cristo and Starry. Matt is also the Music Director for Starkid, the internet sensation behind A Very Potter Musical that helped launched Darren Cr...

Today’s guests are longtime friend of the club Alice Ripley and her frequent collaborator Christopher Schelling. Alice, who has been hailed by The New York Times as “simply astonishing,” is a consummate Broadway star, a versatile film and TV actor, and a distinguished singer-songwriter. She earned her first Tony Award nomination in 1997 with her brilliant work in the legendary Side Show, before wi...

Our guest today made his Broadway debut at the age of 16 in the title role in Dear Evan Hansen. He was the winner of the Best Actor Award at the 2018 National High School Musical Theatre Awards (known more commonly as the Jimmy Awards).  Andrew joined our Director of Marketing, Nella Vera, to discuss how he related to the role of Evan, his theatre company Zneefrock Productions, and heading off to...

For this special live taping of the Feinstein’s/54 Below Podcast at BroadwayCon 2020, we were joined by Broadway favorites Jelani Remy and Amanda Jane Cooper. Jelani Remy is currently starring as Eddie Kendricks in Ain't Too Proud! The Life and Times of The Temptations. He was last seen in the recent off Broadway revival of Smokey Joe’s Cafe  after playing Simba in Disney's The Lion King!  Amanda...

John Hill is an actor, producer, TV and radio personality.  John starred as Jason McConnell in the off Broadway cult favorite, BARE: A pop opera and also performed in the original Broadway productions of Hairspray, The Boy From Oz and the National Tour of Miss Saigon. Currently, he is a producer of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” and co-host of “Andy Cohen: Live” on Sirius XM. He...

This week we are joined by internationally-acclaimed singer, songwriter and recording artist Anthony Nunziata. Anthony has performed hundreds of concerts over the past few years headlining major performing arts centers, theaters, symphony concert halls and private events across the country and around the world. He recently appeared in the Netflix film "The Last Laugh" opposite Chevy Chase and Rich...

This week we are joined by two-time Tony Award® nominee Christine Andreas. Our guest today is Christine Andreas, a multiple-award-winning singer, actress, and two-time Tony nominee. She most recently appeared on Broadway as Jacqueline in the recent revival of La Cage aux Folles with Kelsey Grammer, and also created the role of Marguerite in The Scarlet Pimpernel. She captured theatergoers’ hearts...

This week we are joined by our final composer from the New Writers at 54! Series, Helen Park. Helen's recent work includes KPOP, her Off-Broadway musical debut for which she co-wrote music and lyrics. Produced by Ars Nova, Ma-Yi Theatre Company and Woodshed Collective, the critically acclaimed show received a sold-out, extended run in NYC and was awarded the 2018 Richard Rodgers Award and the Luci...