Photo Flash: Jennifer Holliday Joins Rob Shmalo For His 40th Birthday Celebration
By: A.A. Cristi Nov. 10, 2017
Broadway legend Jennifer Holliday was the surprise guest when man-about-town Rob Shmalo celebrated his 40th birthday in style over last weekend with a series of parties around the city that boasted some of New York's most familiar faces. He treated his guests on Friday night to a show at The Duplex by Robbyne Kaamil where original Jersey Boy Daniel Reichard roasted the birthday boy. Afterwards party-goers went a few blocks away to the Cornelia Street home of Soho House exec David Aldea. The 5,500 sq foot carriage house was once home to Taylor Swift who rented it for $40K. The home boasts an indoor swimming pool and is currently on the market for just under $20 million.
Saturday night's festivities began with cocktails at the Yotel's Green Room 42 in Times Square while listening to the jazz band Carte Blanche. Guests then headed around the corner to Chez Josephine for a night of dining and entertainment. The evening's MC was Perle Noire who bills herself as "the mahogany queen of burlesque." First up was opera singerLarisa Martinez who sang an aria from La Boheme and the evening's other entertainment came from cable access legendRobin Byrd and Randy Jones of the Village People who lead the crowd in a rendition of the group's hit "YMCA."
The big surprise was when Shmalo, a corporate attorney with Weil, Gotshal & Manges, introduced Broadway legend Holliday who tore the place apart singing her signature song "And I'm am Telling You" from Dreamgirls along with other showtunes. She told the crowd, "I don't have a manager or agent. Rob simply found my phone number and called me up!"
Also on-hand was Michael Musto, cabaret star Seth Sikes and Naysh Fox who just wrapped up playing the title role in the national tour of Pippin.
At the end of the night somebody asked Shmalo what he has planned in 10 years for his 50th birthday and he quipped, "Pay off my 40th."
Photo credit: Mikhail Torich
Naysh Fox & Rob Shmalo
Michael Musto & Robin Byrd
Randy Jones
Daniel Reichard, Rob Shmalo, Robbbyne Kaamil
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