You know Linda Purl, for her work on Movies of the Week, Happy Days, The Bold and the Beautiful, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, The Office and more. Recently she released her fourth album of standards, This Could Be the Start, and she celebrated its debut with a special concert Monday, September 11th at The Green Room 42.

Standards such as “This Could Be The Start,” I’ve Gotta Lot of Living,””Shall We Dance,” “Caravan,“Blue Moon,” “Let’s Get Lost,” “Taking a Chance on Love,” “Here’s To Life” and more were given a sultry, laid back, come hither approach. You can tell Ms. Purl is an actress first, as these song, all told stories that wrapped you in their spell. The lyrics become front and center, but are thrown away with a knowing that surpasses time. Part of the magic is the alternating rhythms to the originals that make these versions stand out and draw you in.

Penny Fuller, Lorna Dallas, Linda Purl

Part of this intoxication is her musical director Ted Firth, who is a musical genius. Purl has been working with him for 15 years. When ever I fall in love with an arrangement, inevitably it is always Ted Firth at the helm. Firth was on piano with David Finck on bass and Ray Marchica on drums. Purl smartly uses the best of the best.

Linda and Ted Firth

During Ms. Purl’s patter we learned about her love of hiking, she hails from Colorado, her partner, Patrick Duffy, and their sourdough starter company, as well as painting old trees with paint and glitter.

Kevin Spiritus, Jamie deRoy, Linda and Pat Addiss

Purl knows how to keep her audience in the palm of her hand and wanting more. She is warm, engaging and a song stylist, that will keep you coming back for more.

Pat Addiss, Dan Lauria, Linda Purl, Kevin Spiritus

Penny Fuller, Lorna Dallas, Linda Purl, Richard Hillman, Ted Firth

Linda Purl, Richard Hillman, Ted Firth

All photo’s and video are Magda Katz

Charles Kirsch is a young man in his teens and knows more about Broadway than any theater enthusiast. He is the host of a very popular Broadway podcast called Backstage Babble.

Charles Kirsch photo by Maryann Lopinto

Charles has brought his Backstage Babble to 54 Below for his 3rd live performance. He is  knowledgeable and charming host as he introduces  each  performer.

 This past Monday the theme of the evening was Tony Awards History. Charles asked each performer if they had a good story about their participation in show that were  awarded a Tony. The performers were Elena Bennett, Lori Tan Chinn

Daisy Eagan photo by Maryann Lopinto

Daisy Eagan

Willy Falk photo by Maryann Lopinto

Willy Falk,

Penny Fuller photo by Maryann Lopinto

Penny Fuller

John-Andrew Morrison photo by Maryann Lopinto

John-Andrew Morrison

Lee Roy Reams photo by Maryann Lopinto

Lee Roy Reams

Austin Pendleton photo by Maryann Lopinto

Austin Pendleton photo by Maryann Lopinto

Austin Pendleton, Virginia Seidel

Jane Summerhays photo by Maryann Lopinto

Jane Summerhays photo by Maryann Lopinto

Jane Summerhays

Last Monday night Matt Baker and Luke Hawkins hosted a magical night at Birdland. They invited their friends to join them to recreate the Salon that usually takes place in Matt’s apartment. Both Matt and Luke are gifted and charming hosts.

Luke Hawkins

Director and cinematographer Srdan Keca’s documentary “The Museum of Revolution” reveals a  story  of three generation of females living hand to mouth just to survive.

MUSEUM OF THE REVOLUTION by Srđan Keča | 2021 | TRAILER from Lightdox on Vimeo.

The child Midica, her mother Vera and an older woman Mara are all homeless. They find refuge in the  dark, dingy  basement of the  unfinished Museum of the Revolution. The Museum was to be built in Belgrade as the pride of a Utopian society but never finished..

Srdan Keca

Vera and her daughter have a very strong bond and are dependent on each other for survival. The little girl is old for her age. She and her mother earn their money by washing car windows on a highway. Most of the money  they earn Vera sends to her husband who is jailed. Vera  shows great tenderness to the little girl no matter how exhausted she is.

Dave Droxler, Merrie Davis, Chad Austin

Abingdon Theatre Company will present the Off-Broadway premiere production of Robin & Me: My Little Spark of Madness written and performed by Dave Droxler, and directed by Chad Austin.

In Robin & Me: My Little Spark Of Madness, Dave’s got a lot on his mind. And the only person who can help him unpack it all is his imaginary friend and real life idol: Robin Williams. Robin & Me: My Little Spark Of Madness is an autobiographical play that follows Dave as he becomes multiple characters and whimsically relives hilarious and difficult life moments, including the times when his father dropped the ball and Robin stepped in to get him through it. But how long will it take before Dave learns how to do it without Robin’s help?

Robin & Me: My Little Spark of Madness will play a strictly limited engagement in Theatre 4 at Theatre Row, starting April 15th, with opening night set for April 20th, and performances continuing through May 14, 2023. Abingdon Theatre Company is continuing to work towards their goal of making theatre accessible for all and will be offering $30 tickets throughout the entire run in honor of their 30th anniversary season. Tickets are on sale now.