As a star since the age of thirteen, when she originated the eponymous role of Little Orphan Annie in the 1977 Broadway debut of Annie and became the youngest nominee ever for a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Andrea McArdle has continued to enjoy an illustrious decades long career on the stage and screen. Now performing a monthly residency at the West Bank Cafe’s Laurie Beechman Theatre, the mega-talented actress, singer, and raconteur reflects on her journey thus far through the most memorable songs and stories of her life in Broadway on Demand. But this isn’t your usual cabaret act with a pre-determined set list; it’s an interactive show in which the audience selects what she’ll perform, for an even more unique, up-close, and individualized experience with the bubbly and personable McArdle.
Accompanied on piano by the accomplished Steve Marzullo, McArdle entered through the house in a dazzling black jumpsuit with a silver sequined top, took to the stage, and launched smiling into a jazzy rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” apropos to the beginning of the Christmas season following Santa’s appearance on Thursday in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (a parade in which, she later told us, she appeared on a float in 1977, during her run in Annie, and was stranded atop for four hours in 20˚ weather!). After the opening number, the joyful McArdle expressed her sincere appreciation for her new home at The Beechman (Laurie Beechman, after whom the venue is named, was a friend and inspiration to her) and for its proprietors Tom and Michael D’Angora, who were there happily hosting the event – the fourth concert (on Saturday, November 29) in her ongoing residency.
She then explained the format of the show and its title “Broadway on Demand,” as Michael D’Angora circulated around the audience with two buckets – one labeled “Songs” and one “Stories” – from which random members of the packed house were, between segments, asked to pick a paper, on which the title of a tune or the theme of a memory (whichever they preferred to hear) was written, for McArdle to sing or to tell. What followed were lively conversations with her adoring fans – all of whom conveyed their lifelong devotion to her and her work – and a series of blockbuster numbers from the shows in which she appeared or which held a special significance for her, and engaging and revealing anecdotes about her experiences from childhood to adulthood, including her encounters, performances, and friendships with some of the biggest names in entertainment.
In addition to her renowned pitch-perfect vocal range, amazing long notes, and remarkable breath control – she just turned 62, but her powerhouse voice is still as recognizable as her teenage self’s and every bit as strong as it ever was – McArdle’s emotional expressiveness came through with every lyric and movement, and brought us into the mini-narratives of each of the songs. And her storytelling ability is nothing short of captivating, with her open and honest, funny and heartwarming attitude, her obvious comfort on stage and with a live audience, and her clear abiding love for what she does and the people she does it with and for. She is the consummate performer and – as she joked when she flawlessly (of course) hit a note she said she was worried about – she’s “still got it!” Yes she does, and the cheering crowd, who gave her multiple mid-song ovations, wholeheartedly agreed.
Among the selections in the show I attended were legendary hits from Bye Bye Birdie and the theme song from the TV sitcom All in the Family (sung in a spot-on imitation of Edith Bunker’s raucous voice) – both by Charles Strouse, who also composed the music for Annie; Les Misérables and the Jerry Herman musical revue Jerry’s Girls (and Mame), in which she’s appeared; a medley of songs popularized by Judy Garland, whom she portrayed in the made-for-TV movie Rainbow; and more. And it goes without saying that no concert by McArdle would be complete without the iconic numbers from Annie – one selected from the bucket and one in the first of her two smashing encores.
Interspersed between the songs were her anecdotes about them, the world-famous artists she appeared with or met as a result of her acclaimed performances (including John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Carol Channing, and Leslie Uggams), and recollections spurred by the prompts chosen from the “Stories” bucket (such as “Poppers” and “Dream Roles She Has Never Played”) – all highly amusing and enlightening, as recounted by the extremely affable and affecting McArdle, who wears her heart and her delightful sense of humor on her sleeve.
She closed with a beautiful rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. It was a hint of what’s to come next. For the December 17th show, McArdle will perform Christmas on Demand, following the same format but with a focus on holiday songs and stories, then will return to Broadway on Demand in the months to come. Whenever you can make it to The Beechman, be sure to catch the warm and ebullient McArdle in this intimate, uplifting, and masterful show. And since each performance is different, based on the audience’s selections, why stop at just one? It’s likely you’ll want to return month after month; I know I do.
Running Time: Approximately 70 minutes, without intermission.
Andrea McArdle’s Broadway on Demand played on Saturday, November 30, 2025, at 7 pm (doors open at 5:30), and continues a monthly residency at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, downstairs in the West Bank Cafe, 407 W 42nd Street, NYC. For tickets to upcoming performances (priced at $35-50, plus fees, and a $25 food/beverage minimum per person), go online.
