Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Nights at 54 Below: DAVID YAZBEK puts on a rollicking show, MATT DOYLE basks in formative songs

• By drediman
• May 11, 2026
• No Comments

Over the past week or so, I had the great opportunity to catch a pair of Broadway talents light up 54 Below’s intimate and well-appointed room. As always, read on for my thoughts on these two immensely enjoyable nightlife outings.

DAVID YAZBEK: A FEW CHEERY SONGS ABOUT DEATH
54 Below

Last week, David Yazbek and company put on a rollicking show in the composer’s latest appearance at 54 Below (RECOMMENDED). Entitled A Few Cheery Songs About Death, his latest show was an eclectic performance that featured songs from both his Broadway shows and his various albums. As usual, Yazbek on piano surrounded himself with only the most superlative of musicians, including Buena Vista Social Club‘s Hery Paz and Javier Diaz on, respectively, saxophone (and, impressively, various other instruments) and percussion, as well Brian Killeen on bass and Grammy-winner Dean Sharenow on drums. Together, they brought down the house with intoxicating music-making that was influenced in equal measure by Yiddish folk music and Latin rhythms. From his Broadway catalog, Yazbek included the fragrant “Omar Sharif” from the award-winning The Band’s Visit and a madcap rendition of “Madrid Is My Mama” from the underrated stage adaptation of the Pedro Almodóvar film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. He also chose a few songs from last season’s Dead Outlaw (the delicate “Ballad”, the unhinged “Killed a Man in Maine”), which where brought back to life by Tony-nominated special guest Andrew Durand — coming downstairs from his delicious turn as Brad Majors in the hit revival of The Rocky Horror Show — and the musical’s co-creator Erik Della Penna. As the evening’s host, Yazbek was in caustic form, amusing the audience with his hilarious sarcasm and slicing sense of humor, which only seemed apropos for our grim and sinister times.

MATT DOYLE: NEW BEGINNING
54 Below

Far more sensitive was last night’s New Beginnings, Matt Doyle’s personal and deeply-felt return to 54 Below (RECOMMENDED). Unlike most cabaret acts by Broadway musical theater stars, Doyle’s show largely avoided recapping his career on the stage, in the process staying clear of the Broadway Songbook. Instead, the immensely likable Broadway star focused squarely on his personal journey from an awkward young man to a cautiously contented adult. A Tony-winner for his memorable performance as the gender-swapped Jamie in the most recent Broadway revival of Company, the show found Doyle in fantastic voice — smooth and soaring — as he basked in the formative songs that have helped shape him over the years. These were culled largely from the treasure troves of the great singer-songwriters of the past decades, whose material thoughtfully commented on Doyle’s various life vignettes of loss, love, and growth. Some highlights from the show included an emotive mash-up of Tracy Chapman’s “New Beginnings” and the iconic “Fast Car”, a luscious “The Art Teacher” by Rufus Wainwright, and a soulful “The Blower’s Daughter” by Damien Rice. Appropriately concluding the evening was a moving rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You”, which perfectly encapsulated the tone and mood of this latest show. Over the course of the evening, Doyle was in reflective and optimistic mood, staying thoroughly in the moment as he crooned through his song selections. Joining him on stage was music director Evan Zavada, whose playing on piano was astute throughout, as well as a brief appearance by special guest Nick Cearley (who is perhaps best known for being one half of the cabaret outfit The Skivvies).