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54 Below

A Nonprofit Cabaret Venue

Featuring Broadway’s youngest stars performing musical numbers from IT’S EASY! The Friend Strong Musical to benefit the Be A Friend Project, a nationwide organization of student ‘Upstanders’ working to save the lives of their bullied peers and build kinder communities.

The 8x BroadwayWorld Award-winning show inspired the “for kids and by kids” non-profit when its debut junior cast in 2015 asked the playwrights, January Akselrad (composer, benefit director) and Jennifer Young (now BAFP Executive Director) for a way to carry the show’s “speak up, reach out and be a friend” message off-stage. Internationally licensed, IT’S EASY! is not just a middle school musical; it is a middle school game-changer. Please join us for this uplifting and transformational evening with Broadway kids changing the world through song and kindness, and standing against bullying.

“A trailblazing musical that brings to the fore a nationwide epidemic of bullying and carries an uplifting, life-changing message of the role that each person can play in its solution.”
~ The Freelance Star, Fredericksburg, Virginia

“It left an important message on me, that you should always be kind and respectful of others. Also, that you should respect people for who they are, not for who you think they should be… this play was not just great but important for everybody to see.”
~ 4th Grader, Main Street School, Irvington, New York

Direction, music & lyrics by January Akselrad. The evening’s presenters include IT’S EASY! co-playwright, Jennifer Young who is Executive Director of the BAFP, and Teen Kindness Board member, Kimmie Edge. Co-MC’s are musical theater teens Aidan Duver and Jacob Morrell. The Sarah Jane Cion Group conducted by Sarah Cion.

www.beafriendproject.org

Broadway Kids, Stages & Touring:
Audrey Bennett (Disney’s Frozen, The Sound of Music, Amélie)
Austin Elle Fisher (Mrs. Doubtfire)
Titus Landegger (Mrs. Doubtfire)
Alayna Marissa Martus (Disney’s The Lion King)
Jacob Morrell (Kinky Boots, The Last Boy)
Coleman Simmons (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory)
Addison Takefman (Les Misérables, Mrs. Doubtfire)
Jayden Theophile (TINA, Caroline or Change, Disney’s The Lion King)
Samuel Li Weintraub (Miss Saigon)

BAFP Performers & Teen Kindness Board Members:
Aidan Duver
Brielle Diaz Withers
Mika Wurf

Joined by:
Sarah Cion (Conductor) on Piano
Alec Safy on Bass
Mike Camacho on Drums
Eric Zolan on Guitar
Ben Rice on keyboard/Synth


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

Past Performances

  • Mon, May 8 :7:00 pm
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