Welcome

To
54 Below

A Nonprofit Cabaret Venue

In the 1930’s, radio mystery theatre was the talk of the town. And so were Nick and Nora Charles! Join Feinstein’s/54 Below for a tribute to the short-lived musical, and the radio plays of the 1930’s. W54B Mystery Radio Players will gather to present a broadcast of the latest chapter in Dashiell Hammett’s Nick and Nora Charles series. Inspired by the original 1934 broadcast of Hammett’s The Thin Man, the concert evening will feature songs by Charles Strouse and Richard Maltby, Jr.. Complete with commercial breaks (featuring jingles by Strouse), surprise guests, a celebrity narrator and sound effects create live, before your eyes — and ears — Nick and Nora Charles will take over the Feinstien’s/54 Below stage for one night only.

In 1934, Dashiell Hammett published his final novel and introduced two of the most beloved couple in literature to the world. In 1991, Arthur Laurents (Gypsy, Do I Hear A Waltz?), Richard Maltby, Jr. (Closer Than Ever), and Charles Strouse (Annie, Rags, Bye, Bye Birdie) brought the extraordinary pair to Broadway. Despite an all-star ensemble, the short-lived musical failed to find an audience and closed after only nine performances. The musical has lived on through a cast recording and twenty-five years of Broadway legend.

Now, members of the original ensemble will reunite for two concerts to bring the notorious Nick & Nora to Feinstein’s/54 Below in a special “radio play” presentation of the musical. Fans of the short-lived musical can expect to hear songs featured on the Original Cast Recording, as well as numbers cut in workshops and previews.

Nick & Nora is presented as part of the Second Act Series, produced by Steven Carl McCasland and James Horan. Each evening revisits a short-lived musical, highlighting its neglected score and inviting audiences to rediscover a forgotten gem. Previous evenings include: Onward Victoria, Charlie and Algernon and Eating Raoul.

Featuring:
Barry Bostwick (The Robber Bridegroom, Scandal, Spin City)
Marcus Choi (Allegiance, Wicked, Sweet Charity)
Timothy Connell (Nick & Nora)
Joanna Gleason (Into the Woods, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)
Cady Huffman (The Producers)
Yvette Lawrence (Falsettos, Beauty and the Beast)
Christine Pedi (Newsical, Spamilton)
Carly Sakolove (Mamma Mia!, Newsical)
Chris Sarandon (Dog Day Afternoon, The Light In The Piazza)
Daniel Walstad (Charlie and Algernon).

Also Featuring:
Lianne Marie Dobbs (Himself & Nora, White Christmas)

and The W54B Radio singers: Arianna Armon (Buxton Opera House, International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival), Suzanne Dressler (Oh, Brother!, Mademoiselle Colombe), Kimberly Faye Greenberg (One Night With Fanny Brice), Paul Thomas Ryan (Onward Victoria), and Thia Stephan (Charlie and Algernon).

Nick & Nora will be narrated by Robert W. Schneider (Behind the Curtain: Broadway’s Living Legends).