On October 8, a host of Broadway favorites joined forces to raise funds for the West Bank Cafe and its famed downstairs venue, The Laurie Beechman Theatre.
In July, it had been announced that the Beechman, a longtime NYC cabaret venue, would close
along with the restaurant that hosts it due to financial difficulties. A
number of its most passionate fans stepped in to push back against the
August exit, launching a GoFundMe campaign
that has raised more than $100,000. That same team came together to host the recent gala in order to raise additional funds to support the
continued life of the institutions.
Oh Mary! star Bianca Leigh emceed the evening’s entertainment, which included performances from Liz Callaway, Julie Benko, Lorna Luft, Joe Iconis and Family, Amy Spanger, Jessica Hendy, Gabriel Ebert, Annie Golden, Amanda Green, Michael R. Jackson, Richard Kind, Tom Kitt, Judy Kuhn, Eva Noblezada, Christine Pedi, Ryann Redmond, Will Roland, Jonathan Marc Sherman, A.J. Shively, and Gregory Treco. Michael Lavine served as musical director for the evening.
Check out photos from the benefit in the gallery below:
Steve Olsen and Tom D'Angora
Michael D'Angora, Bianca Leigh, and Tom D'Angora
Lorna Luft and Steve Olsen
Julie Benko and Tom D'Angora
Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada
Sharon Barnett, Jana Robbins, and Mercer Ellington
Riki Kane Larimer and Michael Lavine
Kristy Cates
Alexa Spiegel, Michael R. Jackson, and Jennifer Ashley Tepper
Will Roland
Tom Kitt
Joe Iconis and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Richard Kind
Lorna Luft and Julie Benko
A.J. Shively
Liz Callaway
Joe Iconis
Joe Iconis and Family
Jessica Hendy
Devon Meddock, Brooke Shapiro, Daniell Gimbal, Jeremy Morse, Jason SweetTooth Williams Amirah Joy Lomax, Lauren Marcus, Sara Al-Bazali, Jackie Sanders, and Lorinda Lisitza
Gregory Treco
Eva Noblezada
Annie Golden
Amanda Green
Amy Spanger
Christine Pedi
The one-night-only event was produced by Tony-nominated Broadway producers Tom D’Angora and Michael D’Angora (Suffs), Tony-nominated composer Joe Iconis (Be More Chill), actor Tim Guinee (Homeland), as well as owner Steve Olsen. Event sponsors included Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Bronwyn Newport, Todd Bradley, Kristy Cates (Wicked) and Greg Grozdits.
Originally opened in 1983 as the West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theater
Bar, the space was renamed for late Broadway and cabaret icon Laurie
Beechman following her death in 1998, at the age of 44. The theatre,
located at 42nd Street and 9th Avenue, has long served as one of NYC's
most prominent cabaret venues, hosting play readings, concerts, and more
over its long run. Notably, comedian Joan Rivers used to work out
material with regular shows at the space, including the final
performance she gave before her 2014 death.
For more information visit WestBankCafe.com. The Cafe is still taking donations to its GoFundMe.
