Broadway nightspot
54 Below rang in the holiday season on December 14 and 15 with the
5th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular, an environmental rock-and-roll concert-revue that has become a cult favorite. Directed by John Simpkins and produced by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, the production, hosted by Drama Desk nominee Iconis, featured a cast of three-dozen and special guests including Santa Claus, Jesus, Charles Dickens, Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris (currently of
Evita), Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan (
Newsies), Kimberly Kaye (
Loose Cattle), Susan Blackwell (
[title of show]), and Annie Golden (
The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World). Songs included Christmastime favorites like “Santa Baby,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Hard Candy Christmas,” and “Fairytale of New York,” along with a few of Iconis’ own compositions.
We followed the cast from rehearsal room to their closing night performance at 54 Below for this slideshow of holiday merriment.
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In the studio on Wednesday, December 12, cast members Susan Blackwell, Lauren Marcus, Jason “SweetTooth” Williams, and Jeremy Morse go over a scene.
(© David Gordon)
Badia Farha rehearses a moment with her deceased on-stage husband, played by Jordan Stanley.
(© David Gordon)
Scripts in hand, Susan Blackwell and Lauren Marcus share a moment in their rehearsal studio.
(© David Gordon)
Director John Simpkins offers his take on the moment between Blackwell and Marcus.
(© David Gordon)
Badia Farha and Krysta Rodriguez learn a new song for the role they share as The Christmas Widow.
(© David Gordon)
Joe Iconis teaches his cast members a new song for the concert.
(© David Gordon)
Producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper, host/composer Joe Iconis, and director John Simpkins are excited just minutes before the show begins at 54 Below.
(© David Gordon)
Jason “SweetTooth” Williams plugs in the holiday lights at 54 Below as Lance Rubin and Joe Iconis look on.
(© David Gordon)
Lauren Marcus plays A Sickly British Ragamuffin.
(© David Gordon)
Rachel Sussman and Ashley Sweetman play Gertie and BJ, a pair of lesbian elves.
(© David Gordon)
Susan Blackwell makes a special appearance as Ms. Needlebaum, the evil landlord who threatens to shut down the Christmas Spectacular.
(© David Gordon)
Krysta Rodriguez tears into a brand new Christmas song written by Joe Iconis.
(© David Gordon)
Katie Schorr appears as Joe’s Aunt Lorette from Long Island.
(© David Gordon)
MK Lawson joins the stage as Joe’s kooky West Virginia Auntie Toots.
(© David Gordon)
During a flashback sequence, the big-voiced Katrina Rose Dideriksen takes on the role of “Disco Queen.”
(© David Gordon)
AJ Shively (right) shows Alexandra Ferrara his dance moves.
(© David Gordon)
Lance Rubin and Eric William Morris (Mr. Macabee) bond over the ashes of Lance’s late spouse (which are in the candy cane).
(© David Gordon)
Joe Iconis is joined by the evening’s first special guest, Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan (who came bearing a festive holiday Panettone).
(© David Gordon)
Jeremy Jordan brings down the house with the Christmastime standard, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
(© David Gordon)
The evening’s other special guests, Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris and Kimberly Kaye, serenade the audience with their cover of Big Star’s Jesus Christ.
(© David Gordon)
Joe’s Jewish neighbor, Gladys Levine (Julia Mattison), reveals she has a certain attraction to older men like Mr. Maplestone (Jeremy Morse).
(© David Gordon)
Santa Claus (Jason “SweetTooth” Williams) has arrived, and he’s not taking any guff from the Mistletoe Munchkins (Kristen Da Costa and Jessica Kent).
(© David Gordon)
What’s Christmas without a booze-fueled fight between Santa and Linda Claus (Lorinda Lisitza)?
(© David Gordon)
Katrina Rose Dideriksen raises the roof off 54 Below with “Please Come Home For Christmas.”
(© David Gordon)
Taylor Trensch (as Mr. Chestnut) and Jenny Donoghue duet on a Christmas medley that includes “Walking in a Chestnut Wonderland.”
(© David Gordon)
Even Rudolph (Jared Weiss) gets to sing!
(© David Gordon)
The Sweet Baby J (Bill Coyne) strikes a traditional Jesus pose on stage.
(© David Gordon)
Liz Lark Brown (as the Virgin Mary) offers a steamy rendition of “Santa Baby.”
(© David Gordon)
A Fast-Talkin’ Waitress Named Denise (Molly Hager) hits the stage to sing a life-changing rendition of The Pogues’ and Kirsty MacColl’s “Fairytale of New York.”
(© David Gordon)
Ms. Needlebaum (Susan Blackwell), now a happy nun, decides not to shut the show down AND gets to reunite with her long-lost British Ragamuffin daughter (Lauren Marcus).
(© David Gordon)
George Salazar, who served as the evening’s narrator, finally gets to go on stage.
(© David Gordon)
Jason “SweetTooth” Williams closes the concert with Joe Iconis’ “Goodbye Song.”
(© David Gordon)
But no one wants to say ‘Goodbye.’
(© David Gordon)
The full company joins in on “Goodbye Song.”
(© David Gordon)
Annie Golden (as The Rock and Roll Christmas Angel) offers up a Christmas wish.
(© David Gordon)
Snow rains down on 54 Below during the very last number, “Baby Please Come Home.”
(© David Gordon)