Getting Taken Advantage of by a Rodgers and Hart Revue at 54 Below

Christiane Noll

 By Lauren Yarger
Christiane Noll, Darius de Haas and Debby Boone took advantage of us at Feinstein's/ 54 Below and we're perfectly fine with that.

The singers joined creator/host Deborah Grace Winer in "You Took Advantage of Me: Rodgers and Hart on Love"," a celebration of the songs of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The March 27 concert was the first of a Classic American Songbook Series created, written and hosted by Winer at 54 Below.

Directed by Mark Waldrop and backed up by Musical Director/pianist John Odo along with Jay Leonhart, bass and James Saporito, drums, the singers presented some Rodgers and Hart classics like "Where or When," The Lady is a Tramp," This Can't Be Love" and "You Are too Beautiful," among others, woven with some personal reflections and history about the song-writing team from Winer.

Debby Boone

Noll (Jekyl and Hyde; Ragtime) entertained with a more seductive version of "Bewitched" from Pal Joey and was the perfect cabaret image with beautiful voice and a stunning look in a blue dress set off by lighting the brings out the red hues of the walls downstairs at 54 below.

Everyone looked smashing, for that matter and appeared to be enjoying themselves in this entertaining, fast-moving hour and a half. Boone (Grammy Award) and de Haas (Shuffle Along; Kiss of the Spider Woman) joined forces for "Everything I've Got" and Noll topped off the fun with "Johnny One Note." Overall, a fun way to spend an evening celebrating the theater if you aren't actually in a theater seat.

Darius deHaas

Winer  continues the series with a Jerome Robbins Centennial Concert May 8 hosted and directed by three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall. She will explore how the legendary director/choreographer shaped some of Broadway's greatest musicals by Bernstein, Sondheim, Bock and Harnick, Jule Styne, Irving Berlin, Comden and Green and others.

On June 17 Winer hosts "Till There Was You: A Celebration of Barbara Cook."  Noll returns, joined by Christine Andreas, Kate Baldwin, Rebecca Luker, Linda Purl and Karen Ziemba and more to raise their voices in celebration of Barbara Cook, one of the greatest interpreters of the American Songbook.

Deborah Grace Winer

Prior to the series at 54 Below, Winer made her debut at the supper club in January with "Baby, Dream Your Dream: Great Women Writers of the American Songbook." The evening celebrated the often un-sung heroines of the Great American Songbook including Marilyn Bergman. Dorothy Fields. Mary Rodgers. Jeanine Tesori. Betty Comden. Carolyn Leigh and Lynn Ahrens.

"We’re purposely launching this brand new classic American songbook series with Rodgers and Hart’s take on love—because these songs are fresh, fun and relevant, and that’s what these shows will be,” Winer said. "It's truly exciting to be bringing a stellar family of artists and longtime collaborators to the series. We'll celebrate the greatest songwriters and their greatest songs with ultimate insider stories, the backstage world they were created in, and why these songs are cool today."

Winer is a leading expert on the American Songbook and musical theater. She recently completed a nine-season run as artistic director of the 92Y’s Lyrics and Lyricists concert series.

For information on the series at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit 54Below.com/Feinsteins.