I Can Cook Too: A Celebration of Barbara Cook at Chelsea Table + Stage

Lindsey Johr's I Can Cook Too: A Celebration of Barbara Cook, presented at Chelsea Table + Stage for one night only on June 25th, is a glorious celebration of Barbara Cook's enduring legacy.

Barbara Cook possessed that increasingly rare gift of making every lyric sound as though it had just occurred to her. Rather than attempting an imitation, Johr wisely captured the qualities that made Cook unforgettable: honesty, warmth, crystalline musicianship, and an unwavering commitment to storytelling. The result is a vibrant celebration of a performer whose influence continues to shape musical theatre.

The thoughtfully curated program (inclusive of some clever medleys and mashups provided by music director Danny K. Bernstein) traces Barbara Cook's artistic evolution, moving gracefully from the bright optimism of Broadway's classic ingénue roles toward the richer emotional landscape of her celebrated concert career. Selections from She Loves Me, The Music Man, Candide, and Follies became more than beloved standards—they became chapters in a life devoted to the art of interpretation. The show would benefit from patter that more clearly told the story of Cooks journey as a performer, or the relevance of the song at hand so as to feel what it might have meant to her.

Blessed with a radiant coloratura soprano of astonishing purity, Johr navigates Cook's demanding repertoire with ease. More impressive is her ability to color each phrase with emotional specificity, allowing every lyric to land with clarity and purpose. It is easy to understand why audiences and criticism alike have praised her remarkable vocal gifts. Her personal performance highlights are her picture-perfect delivery of the iconic “Vanilla Ice Cream”, and “My White Knight”, as well as a sassy “I Can Cook Too!”

Musical director Danny K. Bernstein provides elegant accompaniment throughout the evening. His playing breathed with the singer, allowing tempos to expand naturally around emotional moments while maintaining the original musical structure.

The evening's guest artists each contributed performances that reflected both individual artistry and a shared reverence for Cook's legacy. Their appearances broadened the evening into a communal celebration of Broadway tradition. Samantha Streich brings subtle sophistication with “The Music That Makes Me Dance” (I hadn’t known that Cook took a turn at playing Fanny Brice in Funny Girl!). I was impressed by Laurence London’s “Not A Day Goes By” - an excellent job with a difficult song! Erich W. Schleck lends a comedic tone to the event, along with a surprisingly emotional “Losing My Mind”. Broadway veteran Sean McDermott brings seasoned theatrical presence and a rich baritone singing voice. Providing a memorable performance of the song “Being Alive” and lending his voice in duets with Johr such as “If I Loved You”.

What made I Can Cook Too especially memorable was its understanding that Barbara Cook represented far more than a beautiful soprano voice. It doesn’t hurt that Johr is of exceptional physical beauty. (even managing to squeeze in a gown change). But, she – like Cook - embodies elegance without pretension, and technical mastery in service of emotion. There were no unnecessary vocal acrobatics, no manufactured sentiment, no attempts to modernize material that remains timeless. Instead, every song was allowed to speak with its own voice.

In an era when musical theatre often celebrates volume over nuance, I Can Cook Too is quite simply, a glorious evening of musical storytelling. A lovingly crafted, beautifully sung homage that honors one of Broadway's greatest interpreters while simultaneously revealing the remarkable artistry of the performers paying tribute.