The 9:30 PM concerts, produced and directed by Scott Coulter, will feature Michael Rose (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Wicked), Kristy Cates (Wicked), Jason Robinson (Cinderella), Julian Decker (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Lisa Howard (It Shoulda Been You), Olivier nominee Kyle Scatliffe (Les Misérables, The Scottsboro Boys), Lisa Brescia (Mamma Mia!), Julie James (Sirius XM's "On Broadway"), Todd Buonopane (Cinderella), F. Michael Haynie (Dogfight, Peter Pan Live!) and members of the Broadway by the Year chorus, including Ryan Scoble, Mary Lane Haskell, Mark Cajigao, Ricky Alan Saunders, Madeline Hamlet, Carlton Taylor, Jr., Oakley Boycott, Courtney Simmons, Mat Weinstein, Ally Bonino, John Moser, Matt Hill, Paula Buresh and Graham Bailey.
Here's how the concert is billed: "Celebrate Tony week with us! The Tony Award is Broadway's mark of excellence — and the Best Musical Tony is a highly sought prize. Often the winner is obvious to those in the know, but sometimes there is a fight to the finish. With that in mind Tony Battles honors those historic match-ups between iconic musicals who duked it out to receive the crown. For the first outing we look at 1998’s contest: The Lion King vs. Ragtime — with Side Show and The Scarlet Pimpernel ready to swoop in and steal the whole thing. What a doozy of a battle that was! So many questions flying through the theatre district in the weeks before the Awards. Hey, Elton John and Julie Taymor, 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight?' Will Ragtime ride 'The Wheels of a Dream' to victory? Oh, 'Who Will Love Me As I Am?' Journey 'Into the Fire' to examine how the race was won. Come see how it all played out, with songs, stories, and even some Tony Awards-themed specials!"
Coulter is a producer of original programming at 54 Below.
54 Below is located at 254 West 54th Street. There is a $35-$70 cover charge plus a $25 food and beverage minimum. For more information and tickets, call (646) 476-3551 or visit 54Below.com.