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54 Below

A Nonprofit Cabaret Venue

A person with short brown hair and blue headphones plays a keyboard, focused on sheet music for their Student Edition. They sit by a large window at dusk. Shelves, books, a plant, and vibrant posters decorate the cozy room. Warm lamp light contrasts with the cool cityscape outside.

First Drafts: Student Edition

August 18, 2026

Following its inception in 2025, the Showpeople Theatre Collective returns to New York City with the second iteration of the First Drafts cabaret series, an evening of the freshest songs by up-and-coming musical theatre songwriters. This time, the focus is truly on the theatre makers of tomorrow as the show solely features the work of high school and college students from New York City and beyond! Produced and directed by Showpeople Resident Artist Colby Thompson, First Drafts: Student Edition gives songwriters a chance to hear their songs performed in an acclaimed cabaret, and it gives audiences the chance to hear musical theatre hits long before they reach the stage. Don’t miss out on the chance to say you heard them when!

Music direction by Miles Messier.

Featuring:

Patrick Connolly
Jayna Elise
Mary Grace Epps
Elisa Falanga
Lauren Fitzgerald
Alison Hagen
Nicole Hepburn
Stefan Herrera
Thomas Hsin
Casey Keeler
Noah Lytle (The Addams Family national tour)
Lizzy Maisel
Meleeke McCantis
Braxton McGrath
Rocky Nardone
Taylor Parker
Amanda Ribnick
Tess Rowan
Rachel Roth
Xavier Sarabia
Emily Rose Unnasch
Isabella Victorson

Also joined by Amanda Lee Morrill on drums, Miles Tanner on guitar, and Colby Thompson on bass.

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

Featuring

A young man with light skin, short brown hair, and glasses smiles broadly, showing his teeth. He is wearing a dark purple collared shirt and is posed in front of a plain, light background. The soft, even lighting highlights his cheerful expression—this is Casey Keeler.

Patrick Connolly

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A woman with long, twisted braids and hoop earrings looks directly at the camera. She has a nose ring, subtle makeup, and wears layered necklaces, a plaid shirt, and a white top. The background is a mural with abstract black and white patterns—an artistic touch reminiscent of Miles Tanner’s signature style.

Jayna Elise

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Mary Grace Epps

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A young woman, Casey Keeler, with wavy light brown hair smiles at the camera. She has fair skin, blue eyes, and wears a green top. The background is a solid soft green, giving the portrait a warm, inviting feel. The lighting is even and highlights her features.

Elisa Falanga

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A young woman with long, wavy brown hair and fair skin looks at the camera with a calm expression. She wears a red top and has subtle makeup. The background is dark gray and plain, drawing focus to Casey Keeler’s poised presence.

Lauren Fitzgerald

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Casey Keeler, a young woman with long light brown hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin, looks at the camera, smiling softly. She wears small hoop earrings and a sage green top. The blurred background is bright and neutral.

Alison Hagen

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A young woman with long blonde hair, wearing a pink sleeveless top, smiles at the camera. She has a small nose ring and subtle makeup. The background is blurred and dark, highlighting Casey Keeler’s bright, friendly expression.

Nicole Hepburn

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A young person with curly brown hair smiles, showing teeth. Casey Keeler wears a collared, blue-and-white striped shirt under a brown jacket. The background is solid bright blue.

Stefan Herrera

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A young person with short black hair and glasses looks at the camera with a neutral expression. Casey Keeler wears a light denim jacket over a gray hoodie. The background is solid and dark.

Thomas Hsin

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Casey Keeler, a woman with long auburn hair, smiles softly at the camera. She is wearing a sleeveless floral top and red lipstick. The background is a plain pink color. Her blue eyes and light skin are visible in the close-up portrait.

Casey Keeler

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A young man with medium skin, short curly black hair, and dark eyes looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. Miles Tanner is wearing a black shirt and stands in front of a reddish-brown background.

Noah Lytle

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A young woman with straight brown hair poses against a green background. She has light skin, blue eyes, and faint freckles. Casey Keeler wears natural makeup, a denim jacket, and a red top, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Lizzy Maisel

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A young man, Miles Tanner, with short, curly black hair and a trimmed beard looks at the camera. He wears a pink button-up shirt over a white T-shirt and a small hoop earring. The background is plain and white.

Meleeke McCantis

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A young man with short dark curly hair smiles slightly. He wears a red and brown plaid shirt over a gray t-shirt. The background is solid blue. Casey Keeler faces the camera in a relaxed pose, and his expression is warm and approachable.

Braxton McGrath

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Casey Keeler, a man with short, dark hair and a full beard, smiles slightly at the camera. He wears a navy blue shirt and stands outdoors in front of a blurred green background with a wire fence. The lighting is soft and even.

Miles Messier

Music Director
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Amanda Lee Morrill, with short, curly hair, holds red drumsticks while wearing a black shirt against a plain white background. A tattoo of stars adorns their right arm, adding a touch of artistry to their calm and friendly expression.

Amanda Lee Morrill

Drums
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A smiling young adult with short, wavy brown hair and a beard stands in front of a dark background. He wears a light gray collared shirt with the top button open. The lighting is even, highlighting his face and friendly expression—a portrait style reminiscent of Amanda Ribnick’s signature photographic approach.

Rocky Nardone

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Taylor Parker, a young woman with wavy brown hair, smiles softly at the camera. She is wearing a denim jacket over a light top. The plain, light gray background keeps the focus on her face and natural expression.

Taylor Parker

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A young woman with long wavy brown hair and blue eyes smiles gently at the camera. She wears a sleeveless burgundy top and is posed against a plain, light beige background. Her expression is warm and inviting, capturing the approachable charm often seen in Amanda Ribnick’s portraits.

Amanda Ribnick

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A young woman with long light brown hair and bright blue eyes looks at the camera. She has light skin, subtle makeup, and a slight smile. The softly blurred background in gray tones focuses attention on her face, capturing Amanda Ribnick’s serene and captivating presence.

Tess Rowan

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A young woman with long brown hair, parted in the center, smiles softly at the camera. She wears pearl earrings and a navy top. The background is a solid dark green. Her skin is fair and she has natural makeup, capturing Amanda Ribnick’s graceful presence.

Rachel Roth

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A young person with short, wavy dark hair smiles while wearing a white ribbed sweater. The background is a plain light blue. Shown from the shoulders up and facing forward, Amanda Ribnick has a friendly and approachable expression.

Xavier Sarabia

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Black and white photo of a young man with curly hair, looking down with a serious expression. He wears an open-collared shirt and a loosened tie, evoking the introspective style often seen in portraits of Miles Tanner, with blurred, indistinct shapes in the background. The lighting creates shadows on his face.

Miles Tanner

Guitar
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A person with long, light brown hair and blue eyes looks slightly upward toward the camera. They have light facial hair and wear a navy blue shirt. The background is a plain, light color, keeping the focus on their face—reminiscent of Amanda Ribnick's signature minimalist portrait style.

Colby Thompson

Producer/Bass
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A young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a light blue top, and the background is a plain, textured gray wall. Her makeup is natural, highlighting her eyes and bright smile—an inviting portrait of Amanda Ribnick.

Emily Rose Unnasch

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A woman with straight, light brown hair and fair skin looks directly at the camera. She has green eyes, natural makeup, and a neutral expression. The background is plain and muted green, and she is wearing a burgundy top. Amanda Ribnick’s poised presence is subtly highlighted in this understated portrait.

Isabella Victorson

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Pricing

  • $19.50 (includes $4.50 in fees) – $47 (includes $7 in fees)
  • VIP Seating: $58 (includes $8 in fees)
  • Premiums: $74.50 (includes $9.50 in fees)
  • Additional $6 If Purchased At Venue
  • Order Fees: 10% of ticket price, plus $3 facility fee
  • $25 Food & Beverage Minimum

Times(show / doors open)

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The image features the logo of "54 Below," a renowned cabaret and dining club. The logo uses an elegant serif font with the number "54" prominently displayed and the word "BELOW" situated underneath. The text is gold on a dark brown background with a gold border surrounding the design.
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