Melodie Wolford: Waiting In The Wings
54 Below254 W 54th St, New York 10019
Melodie Wolford brings Waiting In The Wings to 54 Below as a one-woman cabaret told through song and story. The show draws on her life as a standby and understudy, a perspective shaped by covering 24 women, including Chita Rivera. Wolford is joined by Stephen Purdy on piano, Alden Terry on bass and cello, and Adam Wolfe on drums.
Wolford is a professional actress, singer, and dancer who moved to New York City before joining the national tour of 42nd Street. Her theatre work includes touring productions of 42nd Street and La Cage aux Folles, plus Off-Broadway appearances in The Baker’s Wife, Summer and Smoke, and Menopause the Musical. She has performed in more than 100 musicals, bringing the accumulated stories of a working musical-theatre career to this cabaret. Reviewing an earlier presentation of Waiting In The Wings, BroadwayWorld called the show “charming and strong,” praising Wolford’s “clear-voiced singing” as “as bright as her personality.”
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.