Lena Hall, Barrett Foa, Justin Guarini, Lesli Margherita Set for VILLAIN: DEBLANKS BC/EFA Benefit at 54 Below Tonight

By: Jul. 24, 2014
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54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents three benefit performances of "Villain: DeBlanks," a fill-in-the-blanks whodunnit, at 11:30 pm tonight, July 24 and July 31, and August 7. The performances will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Written by Billy Mitchell, "Villain: DeBlanks" is a late-night fundraiser where the cast needs the audience as much as the audience loves the cast.

Among those scheduled to appear are 2014 Tony Award winner Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), stage and TV star Barrett Foa (Buyer & Cellar, CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles),American Idol finalist Justin Guarini (Wicked), Olivier Award-winner Lesli Margherita (Matilda the Musical), Broadway legend Nancy Opel (Rodgers+Hammerstein's Cinderella), drag legend Hedda Lettuce, Tony Award winning producer and actor Hugh Hysell (My Big Gay Italian Wedding/Funeral), Time Out New York's man-about-town Adam Feldman, Sirius XM host Julie James and an array of other hysterical entertainers.

"Good news: Phillip DeBlanks is dead! He was a villain, a scoundrel and a lousy dancer. Or was he? Is it possible Phillip DeBlanks was framed by one of his circle of friends?"

The audience provides nouns, verbs, adjectives, desserts and body parts, and the actors provide the laughs - uncensored and unrehearsed - as the cast enacts the story using the words put in their mouths. It's "Clue" meets adult "Mad Libs," performed by some of the funniest people in New York.

Like a ride to summer camp in the back of a station wagon, each hilarious performance will be ridiculously one-of-a-kind, and, best of all, the proceeds benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

July 24: Bobby Cronin, Bernard Dotson, Barrett Foa, Lesli Margherita, Nancy Opel and Ryann Redmond with Heather Shisler

July 31: Jennifer Cody, Adam Feldman, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Hugh Hysell, Hedda Lettuce and Christine Pedi with Heather Shisler

August 7: Hunter Canning, Justin Guarini, Lena Hall, F. Michael Haynie, Julie James and Leslie McDonel with Heather Shisler

Performers subject to change. Presented in association with La Vie Productions/R.Erin Craig.

Villain: DeBlanks plays 54 Below (254 West 54th Street) on July 24, July 31 and August 7 at 11:30 pm. There is a $10-$30 cover charge and $20 food and beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at http://54below.com/artist/villain-deblanks. Tickets on the day of performance after 4 pm are only available by calling (646) 476-3551.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $250 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Broadway Cares awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide and is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic.

For more information, visit Broadway Cares online at broadwaycares.org, on Facebook at facebook.com/BCEFA, on Twitter at twitter.com/BCEFA, on YouTube at youtube.com/BCEFAtv and on Instagram at instagram.com/BCEFA.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is the new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife. A few blocks from the heart of Times Square and just below the legendary Studio 54, 54 BELOW is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style. The venue provides a food and beverage menu from early evening through the wee hours of the morning that is worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage. Located at 254 West 54th Street, 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $15-$95.



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