Eliana Nunley

The Princess Within

54 Below, NYC, January 26, 2026

Reviewed by Cabaret Scenes

It’s always a joy to be introduced to a new voice in cabaret. That new voice belonged to Eliana Nunley who brought The Princess Within to 54 Below. A show composed (mostly) of songs performed by Disney princesses could get tedious, but it wasn’t when performed by Nunley. She possesses a strong, clear soprano that glided easily from chest to head voice with no break. Add to that her poise, her confidence, and her ability as an actress to get to the heart of a song’s story, and you have of a voice and a presence to be reckoned with. She’s still young (a mere 22!), and she’s already impressive.

We heard selections from The Little Mermaid, Cinderella (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s version), Anatasia, Beauty and The Beast, and Frozen. You may wonder why Nunley chose to present a show of Disney princess songs, especially when her voice can surely handle more challenging and varied material. This theme had been used in cabaret shows prior to this one, sometimes by singers who had played the characters in those films and on stage. But Nunley has a deeper connection to this material. She is a survivor of childhood cancer. She was 22 months old when she was diagnosed and she turned to the Disney films to sustain her during her long period of treatment and recovery. Since then, she has lent her support to the children and families who find themselves in the same situation, which leads us to her involvement with the nonprofit Starlight Children’s Foundation. Its programs include providing hospital wear, games, and deliveries to hospitalized children.

The show moved along smoothly and included Nunley’s stories about her battle with and triumph over cancer. There was also a video testimony from Paige O’Hara, who voiced Belle in the animated film Beauty and The Beast. In addition to being a beautiful singer, O’Hara is also an accomplished painter, and she is one of the few sanctioned by Disney to recreate its characters. She donated her lovely painting of Belle to be auctioned during Nunley’s show. After a slow start the bidding picked up when two people kept topping each other until the final bid reached $2,050! (The total amount raised during the evening from the auction and the ticket sales was $4,500.) There was also video testimony from one of the mothers of a girl with cancer. She and her daughter Acacia were in the audience. The show was quite emotional at times, and ended on a high note when Acacia joined Nunley for a rousing version of “Let It Go” (Kristen Anderson-Lopez/Robert Lopez from Frozen), with Acacia performing her own choreography!

Nunley co-produced the show with Kurt Peterson and Claire-Frances Sullivan. He joined her for a medley of “Woe Is Me” (from The Frog Prince) and “If I Were a Princess” (from The Emperor’s New Clothes). He took the solo spot for a moving rendition of “With So Little to Be Sure Of” (Stephen Sondheim from Anyone Can Whistle). Pianist Ian Herman mastered the 88s.

But the night belonged to Eliana Nunley who is a welcome addition to the cabaret stage. Here’s hoping we see more of her in this intimate setting. But it may not be long before we find her on a Broadway stage. This young woman can easily join the ranks of Kelli O’Hara, the late Rebecca Luker, and serendipitously, Paige O’Hara.