By Melissa Griegel

Photos by Melissa Griegel Photography

A favorite 54 Below performer, Linda Eder (Jekyll & Hyde) returned to the illustrious cabaret venue, along with musical director and pianist, Grammy nominee Billy Stritch. Eder, who originated the role of Lucy Harris in Broadway’s Jekyll & Hyde, has focused most of her career on her singing career and has 20 solo albums and appears on several musical theater albums. Her March 25th, 2026 performance at 54 Below was filled with fans, many of whom have seen her perform a multitude of times.  

Billy Stritch, who also has a strong following in the cabaret community, was a welcome addition to the show, occasionally singing from the piano. Stritch joined in on “What a Wonderful World” and “Steppin’ Out”. David Mann had several saxophone solos and his assets included playing several instruments including the flute. He was expertly accompanied by David Finke on bass and  Eric Halvorson on drums.

Eder, looking comfortable and at home on the 54 Below stage, sang a diverse collection of songs and added in a few medleys. A really delightful one was her medley of Judy Garland songs, someone she credits being a big influence on her life. Eder has become a mentor to a former student of hers, Gianna Grosso, who has a strong and beautiful voice and stage presence. She came on stage for a duet with Eder for “In His Eyes”. I think we will be seeing a lot more of Eder in the future. 

With her diverse repertoire spanning from Broadway, to Standards, Pop, Country, and Jazz, we were treated to a great mix of songs. The audience really responded well to “Someone Like You” and you could hear the excitement in the room when Stritch played the opening notes. It was soft and moving and several people stood at the end of the song. She talked a little bit about occasionally enjoying songs that were written for men and sang a few lines of “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Maria” before delving into “What Kind of Fool am I?”

My favorites of the evening were “Bring on the Men”, “Preacher Man”, and “Man of La Mancha”. I never tire of hearing Eder singing those songs. The audience joined in a bit on “Preacher Man”, singing along. Eder loved the audience’s response and said happily, “I can’t believe this is my job!”  For her finale, Eder sang “No One is Alone”, a song she said she “Added in not long ago to freshen things up. I really do love this one and I really do think it fits our time.” Eder is a classic, and it’s always wonderful to hear her sing.