Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At 54 Below, the fabulous Tony-winner MELBA MOORE goes down memory lane

• By drediman
• July 10, 2025
• No Comments

This week, the great Melba Moore returned to 54 Below with the latest iteration of her show From Broadway, With Love. For two performances only (the second show is tonight), the legendary Tony-winner regaled her fans by going deep down memory lane to recount her time in show business, particularly her Broadway successes, as well as her stint as a pop recording artist. The former includes her Main Stem debut in the original company of Hair (later on in the run, she succeeded film eventual film star Diane Keaton in the role of Sheila), as well as her subsequent triumph in the role of Lutiebelle in the the musical Purlie (the musical adaptation of Ossie Davis’s play Purlie Victorious), a performance for which she won a well-deserved Tony Award.

At 79 years young, Moore looked glamorous and was in good spirits. Indeed, there was a spring in step that translated to her set list, which was segmented into three sections — her Broadway canon, followed by her hits as a recording artist, and lastly selections from the Great American Songbook. She kicked off the evening with a crowd-pleasing Hair medley, which flowed into the title song and an exuberant “I Got Love” from Purlie. She also sang a gutsy yet stylish “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables (Moore has the distinction of being the first Black Fantine, the role that brought her back to Broadway after a bit of a drought). Then came some some of her grooving pop hits, including “Falling” and Loves’ Comin’ at Ya”. To close out the evening, she looked to Cole Porter and Lena Horne for inspiration, resulting in piercing performances of “I Concentrate on You” and “Stormy Weather”. Throughout, solid musical support was provided by her music director Darnell White on keys, Jordyn Davis on bass, and Gregory Bufford on Drums.

Although it’s clear that Moore and her team are still shaping the show into the best version of itself, the star’s fierce determination and willingness to have a good old time won the day. And although her iconic powerhouse voice is clearly not what it once was — for that, I implore you to look up her thrilling past performances on YouTube — she attacked her song renditions with captivating chutzpah and ample personality. Suffice to say, her banter over the course of the evening was an absolute delight — at once fabulous and self-effacing — and she didn’t shy away from the hard times she’s had to face after her early successes, which made her star shine all the more brightly (speaking of which, Moore is a recent addition to the Hollywood Walk of Fame).

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MELBA MOORE: FROM BROADWAY, WITH LOVE
Cabaret
54 Below
1 hour, 10 minutes (without an intermission)
Through July 10