Lee Roy Reams: My Best of Times with Jerry Herman
54 Below254 W 54th St, New York 10019
Lee Roy Reams brings My Best of Times with Jerry Herman to 54 Below, accompanied by music director Alex Rybeck at the piano. The cabaret set celebrates Reams’s decades-long professional and personal friendship with Herman through the composer’s Broadway songs and Reams’s stories of their time together. Their connection began when Reams was cast as Cornelius Hackl in Carol Channing’s revival of Hello, Dolly!; he later appeared with Herman on Broadway and at the Hollywood Bowl.
A Tony-nominated star of 42nd Street, Reams originated the role of Billy Lawlor and has also appeared in La Cage aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Applause, Lorelei, and Oklahoma!. The New York Times called him “Broadway’s song & dance man nonpareil.” Writing about an earlier Herman tribute, BroadwayWorld called Reams “sexy, magnetic, energetic, and generous to a fault,” noting that his sharing of Herman’s music alongside personal stories made “something special” happen. This performance draws directly on that musical history and long friendship.
A nonprofit cabaret venue dedicated to live music, 54 Below is a listening room where audiences gather to experience legendary artists performing in a dedicated space. The atmosphere is elegant and intimate, with a focus on the music and the performers. The room is designed for seated audiences, offering close proximity to the stage, and the experience is centered around the show rather than conversation or drinking. Shows are ticketed and require advance purchase, with a nonprofit mission that supports the arts. The venue has a strong reputation for excellence in theatre, as recognized by a 2022 Tony Award nomination.