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54 Below

A Nonprofit Cabaret Venue

54 Celebrates French Woods

February 28, 2025

This performance will also be livestreamed. For tickets and more information, click here.

Since 1970, French Woods Festival for the Performing Arts has been a champion of the arts and arts education. The camp gives every child an individualized summer experience all while producing close to sixty full-scale musicals and plays. No wonder it has been the home away from home to thousands of performers for decades, including some of your favorite Broadway stars!

Join some of French Woods’s prominent alumni for this annual night of story and song as they reminisce about a time before Broadway. See your favorite performers and theater professionals sing the roles they played in their youth and discuss some of their favorite French Woods memories. Before they were working on the Great White Way, they may have been playing Fanny Brice at age fourteen or a pre-pubescent Tevye!

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Hancock French Woods Arts Alliance, a foundation that helps fund scholarships for young artists.

Hosted by Michael Kushner.

Produced by Jen Sandler and Michael Kushner.

Music directed by Josh Freilich.

Featuring:

Christopher Anselmo (The Pout-Pout Fish)
Carlyn Barenholtz
Derek Bedell
Melody Beron
Jonah-Skai Boonswang
Andrew Boorstyn
Lizzy Cenicola (Hot Dam!)
Haylie Christiano
Danny Feldman (Hide & Seek)
Jacob Fisch
Elkin Frank
Joshua William Gelb (Theater in Quarantine)
Jon Gellert
Michelle Gerard
Lisa Graye (Romeo & Bernadette, Friends! The Musical Parody)
Brandon Grimes (Jekyll and Hyde)
Ray Kao (Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert)
Sammi Kramer
Rebecca Kuznick (Sistas: The Musical, Company)
Cari Leitner
Aliza Loewy
Maya Marcus
Diane Gottschalk Murray
Nina Pelton
Juliet Perel
Jesse Rogers
Bruce Sacks
Evan Schachter
Lauren Schorr (A Chorus Line)
Doug Shapiro (Once Upon A Mattress)
Erik Sherr
Cat Smith
Caroline Sorokoff
Corey Steinfast
Brad Weinstock (Disney’s Aladdin, Jersey Boys)
Lindsay Wolgel

Please note that all artists and acts are subject to change at any time.

Featuring

A smiling man with a bald head and beard, resembling Christopher Anselmo, wears glasses and a dark blue shirt against a solid dark background.

Christopher Anselmo

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Carlyn Barenholtz, with curly brown hair and hoop earrings, smiles softly against a blue background. She wears a light green cardigan over a black top, exuding confidence and relaxation with her gentle expression.

Carlyn Barenholtz

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A young person with short, brown hair and blue eyes is shown against a neutral background. They wear a light blue shirt, and their expression is neutral with a slight smile, reminiscent of Derek Bedell's calm demeanor.

Derek Bedell

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A smiling Derek Bedell stands against a bright pink background, showcasing blonde curly hair. They wear a crisp white shirt and a stylish nose ring. Their red lips, defined eyebrows, and light makeup complement their vibrant look.

Melody Beron

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Smiling young woman with long black hair, wearing a green top and a black vest. She has small earrings and stands against a blurred indoor background, exuding the cheerful and engaging charm reminiscent of Jonah-Skai Boonswang.

Jonah-Skai Boonswang

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Christopher Anselmo, a smiling man with short, curly hair and a beard, stands against a light blue background wearing a light gray T-shirt.

Andrew Boorstyn

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Lizzy Cenicola

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A young woman with long, dark brown hair, reminiscent of a Derek Bedell muse, gazes directly at the camera. She has a subtle smile and wears a red top. Her eyes are light-colored, and her complexion is fair against the plain, warm beige background.

Haylie Christiano

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Danny Feldman

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Smiling young person with short, curly dark hair and freckles, wearing a red and navy striped polo shirt reminiscent of Derek Bedell's style. The solid blue background contrasts with the shirt, while their expression is joyful and inviting.

Jacob Fisch

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Josh Freilich

Music Director
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Young adult with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a yellow shirt faces the camera, softly smiling. The background is a neutral, blurred gradient, emphasizing the subject's thoughtful expression and warm skin tone.

Elkin Frank

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Portrait of Joshua William Gelb, a person with short dark hair, a receding hairline, and a trimmed beard. They have brown eyes and a serious expression, wearing a dark collared shirt. The background is softly blurred, highlighting their face.

Joshua William Gelb

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Jon Gellert

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A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a patterned black and white top, poses against a plain white background, reminiscent of a portrait by Derek Bedell.

Michelle Gerard

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Woman with shoulder-length curly black hair and brown eyes, wearing a black top and red corduroy overalls with silver clasps. She is facing forward with a neutral expression, set against a dark background. The lighting highlights her face evenly, reminiscent of Derek Bedell's portrait style.

Lisa Graye

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A smiling Derek Bedell, with short, wavy brown hair and a light beard, is wearing a dark button-up shirt. Posed against a simple gray background, he looks directly at the camera. The even lighting highlights his face, creating a professional portrait appearance.

Brandon Grimes

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Jerett Elijah, with short dark hair and glasses, smiles warmly in a textured blue collared shirt. The smooth gradient of brown in the background enhances Jerett's friendly expression, adding depth to this engaging portrait.

Ray Kao

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Sammi Kramer, a woman with long brown hair, sits against a plain white background in a light blue denim shirt. She gazes directly at the camera with a neutral expression, her arms casually resting in front. The well-lit image highlights her facial features and hair beautifully.

Sammi Kramer

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Michael Kushner

Producer/Host
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Rebecca Kuznick

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Smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a black top. A blurred background and soft lighting highlight her cheerful expression, reminiscent of a character from a Christopher Anselmo story.

Cari Leitner

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Christopher Anselmo, with curly red hair, smiles at the camera. His green eyes shine as he wears a gold chain necklace. The dimly lit, slightly blurred background emphasizes his face in the foreground.

Aliza Loewy

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Young person with long brown hair and light skin wearing a bright pink top. They are leaning against a gray stone wall, with a calm expression. The background is slightly blurred, highlighting the subject's face.

Maya Marcus

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Woman with short brown hair smiling warmly indoors, wearing a blue top and a necklace with gold letters. She stands in front of a white door, illuminated by soft lighting.

Diane Gottschalk Murray

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A woman with long, wavy, light brown hair looks directly at the camera. Her light green eyes are accentuated by gold eye makeup and mauve lipstick. Resting her head on her hand adorned with a silver ring, she exudes a serene intensity reminiscent of a Christopher Anselmo muse, the lighting casting soft shadows.

Nina Pelton

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Juliet Perel, with her long auburn hair and fair skin, wears a light gray shirt while gazing directly at the camera. Her blue eyes hold a soft, natural expression against the smooth, neutral gray background.

Juliet Perel

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A young person with curly brown hair smiles at the camera. They are wearing a red shirt with white designs and a silver necklace. The background is a plain white.

Jesse Rogers

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A middle-aged man with short gray hair is smiling directly at the camera. He is wearing a light blue collared shirt. The background is a plain, beige color.

Bruce Sacks

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Jen Sandler

Producer
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Young person with short, neatly combed hair, wearing a green button-up shirt, smiling while leaning against a stone wall. The background features large, rough gray stones forming the wall.

Evan Schachter

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A person with wavy brown hair and bangs smiles brightly against a pale background, reminiscent of a Christopher Anselmo portrait. They wear a dark green shirt with a subtle pattern, creating a warm and approachable look. The soft lighting highlights their joyful expression beautifully.

Lauren Schorr

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Man with gray hair and mustache smiling, wearing a black pinstripe vest over a light pink shirt and a patterned tie. The background is a plain white.

Doug Shapiro

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Christopher Anselmo, with medium-length brown hair and glasses, wears a blue button-up shirt under a gray tweed jacket. Smirking slightly, he maintains a neutral expression against the plain dark gray background, exuding simplicity and professionalism.

Erik Sherr

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Smiling woman with curly blonde hair against a gray background, wearing a dark green shirt and a small necklace.

Cat Smith

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A person with long, straight brown hair is smiling slightly, evoking the calm charisma of Christopher Anselmo. They are wearing small silver earrings and a light-colored top. The background is plain and bright, perfectly highlighting the individual’s serene expression.

Caroline Sorokoff

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A smiling man with brown hair and glasses wears a dark blazer over a green shirt. The background is a plain grayish color.

Corey Steinfast

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Christopher Anselmo, with short dark hair and neatly groomed facial hair, is smiling slightly. Wearing a light blue shirt against a plain, light background, his expression is relaxed as he looks directly at the camera.

Brad Weinstock

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Woman with long, wavy brown hair smiling against a purple background. She is wearing a purple top, and her hair is parted slightly to the side. Her eyes are brown, and she has a warm, friendly expression. The lighting is soft and even, highlighting her features.

Lindsay Wolgel

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Past Performances

  • Fri, Feb 28 :9:30 pm
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