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54 Below

A Nonprofit Cabaret Venue

Drew Gasparini returns to his beloved Feinstein’s/54 Below to share It’s Kind of a Funny Story, a musical about the simpler things in life: anxiety, depression, and possible insanity. When Craig Gilner, a sixteen-year old piece of social wallpaper, attempts and fails to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, he admits himself into a mental hospital. Far from the squeezing scrutiny of family, friends, social media, and growing up, Craig is able to face his fears with the help of the unlikeliest people on earth and learns the answer to the question, “If everyone is crazy, is anyone crazy?”

Based on the best-selling novel by Ned Vizzini and the 2010 Focus Features film, It’s Kind of a Funny Story – a commission for Universal Stage Productions – features music & lyrics by Drew and a book by 2016 Tony nominee and fellow (M)oron Alex Brightman.

Drew Gasparini is committed to forging a new sound in the intersection between theatre and pop, and to nurturing the next generation of artists. Named one of Playbill.com’s “Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriters You Should Know,” Drew is currently developing a number of new stage musicals in addition to It’s Kind of a Funny Story, including a commission for Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and an adaptation of the children’s novel The Whipping Boy (also with bookwriter Alex Brightman). For more about Drew’s work as a composer, performer, and educator, visit www.thedrewgasparini.com.

The cast includes Bryce Pinkham (Holiday Inn, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), Ann Harada (Avenue Q, Cinderella), Preston Boyd (Sunset Boulevard, She Loves Me), Colton Ryan (Dear Evan Hansen), Rozi Baker (Bonnie & Clyde), Evie Dolan (School of Rock), Molly Hager (Waitress), Reed Campbell (Nice Work If You Can Get It), Noel Carey (“Brooklyn Sound”), Aneesh Sheth (Southern Comfort), Delaney Amatrudo, and Alex Goley. The concert features orchestrations and music direction by Justin Goldner and is produced by Erica Rotstein.