Laurie Beechman Theatre

So many of my favorite memories of my life have taken place at the West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theatre. It is where I produced my first concert, celebrating underappreciated musicals, If It Only Even Runs a Minute. It is where I have collaborated with Joe Iconis & Family for nearly two decades. (Ask me about the night that we did Broadway, Here I Come! in a concert, leading to it being a centerpiece of Smash on TV. John Stamos was there.)

Just downstairs from the West Bank Café is the Laurie Beechman Theatre, where I had my favorite New York Moment seeing Joan Rivers. The venue is named after the late Broadway icon Laurie Beechman and has been home to countless performers, comedy, cabaret and even burlesque shows. Notably, Jinkx Monsoon performed her record-breaking hit off-broadway show, THE VAUDEVILLIANS, there as well as drag stars Jackie Cox and Paige Turner. Being connected to the West Bank Café has its perks, such as having the best cabaret menu you can find — including…you guessed it: RISOTTO BALLS. Again, I opt for the chicken Caesar salad, unless the pork chop is on the menu. I can’t even count how many shows I have seen or performed there, but I can say I have laughed and cried and applauded more in this venue than any other in the city. I performed my first leading role in NYC here as Bobby in COMPANY and I will be performing my last show in New York City here at the Beechman on June 23 at 7pm (shameless plug!)