Marilyn Maye
54 Below254 W 54th St, New York 10019
On November 27, Marilyn Maye takes the 54 Below bill under her own name. No additional performers are named for this appearance. The evening centers on Maye’s cabaret singing, with a repertoire associated with the Great American Songbook, Broadway songs, and popular music. She is known for a theatrical approach that pairs singing with conversation and comedy, rather than presenting a narrowly defined tribute or album program.
54 Below calls Maye a theatrical legend and Manhattan’s “Queen of Cabaret.” Her long career includes recording for RCA, making the first hit recording of “Cabaret,” and appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 76 times. Ella Fitzgerald called her “marvelous Marilyn Maye, the greatest white female singer in the world.” Reviewers have characterized her concerts as “a master class in singing conducted by a polished pro,” in The New York Observer; The Wall Street Journal heard her performing “in the hippest, most swinging way imaginable,” while Opera News praised “great music, great theater, and great comedy.”
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.