In the mid-1970s, a young man (portrayed by As One’s Michael Kelly) lands ashore in Manhattan without a map. Negotiating his way into a life in the performing arts, The Pleasing Recollection chronicles his musical adventures as he charmingly stumbles into some of the musical and theater giants of the era including Larry Kert, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Ludlum, and Aaron Copland among them. Librettist Stephen Kitsakos’s autobiographical story rolls forward with composer Martin Hennessy’s ingenious score. At the intersection of cabaret and opera theater they create a playful, witty, and joyful tale.

Join us at Feinstein’s/54 Below for a performance that sings in the sensibility of contemporary musical theatre, but reminisces about a period in the lives of LGBTQ+ people that was both exhilarating and dangerous.

The award-winning American baritone Michael Kelly has led a versatile and multifaceted career performing and concertizing with major international opera and theater companies in a wide-ranging repertoire including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Geffen Hall, and the Kennedy Center. An interpreter of composers Bernstein, Sondheim and Ricky Ian Gordon, his repertoire includes appearances ranging from Passion in Paris to Kiss Me, Kate in St. Petersburg to the transgender character, Hannah Before, performing the role across the USA in As One, the most performed chamber opera in America today.

Directed by Murphy Davis. Musical direction by Benedicte Jourdois.

Bénédicte Jourdois is a pianist, vocal coach, French diction & vocal literature teacher. A graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera she is currently on music staff at the Met Opera & Faculty at the Juilliard School. With Steven Blier, she directs the Schwab Vocal Rising Stars Series at Caramoor. Born in Paris, Ms Jourdois holds degrees from the Conservatoire National de Région de Saint-Maur, the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, Mannes College, and the Juilliard School. She has performed in numerous venues in Europe & the U.S. including Alice Tully & Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera Houston Grand Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Washington National Opera, Spoleto Festival USA & many others.

Please note that all artists and acts are subject to change at any time.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to enter the club.