Rob Lester

Rob Lester

Rob Lester, native New Yorker, has been covering entertainment for more than 15 years for various outlets and has recently returned to Broadway World writing staff.  His involvement in cabaret has also led to involvement with the genre's awards as a voting judge and, pre-pandemic, he helped to curate the Artists In Partnership (AIP) Cabaret Festival. As far as musical theatre, he loves attending, researching, reviewing, directing, writing songs and scripts, as well as being a dramaturg.  He also worked with author Deb Berman on her book for kids about what happens before birth called "9 Months in The Play Womb: The Inside Story." He personally hails from the womb of a mother who loves the Great American Songbook and its singers, instilling that appreciation in him.






MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Review: TO BARBRA, WITH LOVE Was a Swell Streisand Salute at 54 Below
Review: TO BARBRA, WITH LOVE Was a Swell Streisand Salute at 54 Below
May 31, 2024

Barbra Streisand's songbook gets paged through by admiring talents in this Streisand salute on May 23rd

Review: MOSS's Reunion at Joe's Pub Is Radiant
Review: MOSS's Reunion at Joe's Pub Is Radiant
May 31, 2024

MOSS sang at Joe's Pub almost 20 years ago before making their first (and, so far, only) album. The occasional reunion of this group is an occasion for rejoicing! They were back for one of their regions and sound splendid. They are MOSS and they are marvelous.

Review: Carolyn Montgomery Connects to Rosemary Clooney at 54 Below
Review: Carolyn Montgomery Connects to Rosemary Clooney at 54 Below
May 26, 2024

Rosemary Clooney's lifetime of music is explored in Carolyn Montgomery's thought-provoking, memory-stoking act GIRLSINGER, directed by Sally Mayes. Its second NYC presentation on May 22nd is updated and expanded from its opening night in January. It will be followed by bookings in Florida plus LA, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, & Seattle.

Review: FINDING WORDS FOR SPRING Finds Steve Ross in Fine Form at Birdland
Review: FINDING WORDS FOR SPRING Finds Steve Ross in Fine Form at Birdland
May 25, 2024

Finding words for FINDING WORDS FOR SPRING with veteran singer-pianist Steve Ross could result in adjectives such as 'lovely' and 'savvy' and 'charming.' Ross, the ultimate class act and champion of classic songs, makes us appreciate them anew, blossoming one more time, like the annual spring flowers. He's a perennial, too.

Review: FABLES IN CONCERT at Green Room 42 Is Fun-Filled & Loaded with Lessons
Review: FABLES IN CONCERT at Green Room 42 Is Fun-Filled & Loaded with Lessons
May 23, 2024

The Green Room 42 celebrated Mother's Day with a family-friendly musical inspired by centuries-old fables. The messages and life lessons come through in force and in song when Aesop's characters are the characters in a musical.

Review: REEVE CARNEY SINGS THE BEATLES Is a Knockout at Green Room 42
Review: REEVE CARNEY SINGS THE BEATLES Is a Knockout at Green Room 42
May 22, 2024

The versatile singer/songwriter/musician/actor Reeve Carney (Hadestown) took on The Beatles last week at the Green Room 42. The May 13th show was a rocking sensation.

Review: LOVE IS NEVER GONE Spotlights Marvin Hamlisch at Green Room 42
Review: LOVE IS NEVER GONE Spotlights Marvin Hamlisch at Green Room 42
May 20, 2024

MARVIN HAMLISCH: LOVE IS NEVER GONE recalls the ups and downs and talents of the late man of music in advance of his 80th birthday in June. The much-admired composer and conductor's life story gets the musical biography jukebox treatment. The May 10th show shone a warm spotlight on Hamlisch, best known for writing the music to A CHORUS LINE.

Review: Jane Monheit & Band Bring Smokin' Hot Music to Smoke Jazz & Supper Club
Review: Jane Monheit & Band Bring Smokin' Hot Music to Smoke Jazz & Supper Club
May 17, 2024

You have until Sunday May 19th to make your way to catch jazz delight Jane Monheit sing with her small but very mighty band at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club. Monheit's singing is heavenly.

Review: J2 Spotlight's BACK TO BEFORE at AMT Theater Is Spot-On
Review: J2 Spotlight's BACK TO BEFORE at AMT Theater Is Spot-On
May 15, 2024

A cabaret night called Back To Before looked back at the numerous scores of Ahrens and Flaherty. Material from Seussical, Anastasia, Ragtime, The Glorious Ones, and more sounded glorious at the May 7th show.

Review: ONE OF THE GIRLS Is a Springtime Sensation at Chelsea Table + Stage
Review: ONE OF THE GIRLS Is a Springtime Sensation at Chelsea Table + Stage
May 13, 2024

Chelsea Table + Stage continued its 'Box Set' of shows by Klea Blackhurs. With the May installment, she finds joy and pow with Jerry Herman's show tunes. Jerry Herman's lively life-affirming songs are a perfect fit for Blackhurst.

Feature: MONTHLY BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE: Let's salute Irving Berlin
Feature: MONTHLY BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE: Let's salute Irving Berlin
May 11, 2024

Irving Berlin's songs continue to fill the air. Let's toast him on the anniversary of his birth, May 11.

Review: Broadway Kids Take the Stage at Chelsea Table + Stage
Review: Broadway Kids Take the Stage at Chelsea Table + Stage
May 10, 2024

Wondering what the kids are up to? The Broadway Kids are singing at a nightclub and training for their professional careers. BKA (Broadway Kids Auditions) hosted a talent showcase of young aspiring performers. The young folks raising their voices in song seemed at home on a stage, delivering their material with gusto and grace

Review: Wednesday GUITAR NIGHTS Are Wonderful at Birdland
Review: Wednesday GUITAR NIGHTS Are Wonderful at Birdland
May 9, 2024

Frank Vignola makes the guitar sing. And his May 1st GUITAR NIGHT brought singer Karrin Allyson's tones, too, along with the band and guest violinist and a varied repertoire.

Review: Backstage Babble Uncovers Broadway Flop History at 54 Below
Review: Backstage Babble Uncovers Broadway Flop History at 54 Below
May 5, 2024

Not every Broadway show is a smash. A focus on 14 hidden gems from shows that disappeared too quickly fueled an entertaining evening at 54 Below last Sunday on April 29th. Hosted by Charles Kirsch of Backstage Babble podcast and Robert W. Schneider, the evening was a success.

Review: Take 6 Takes the Cake at Birdland
Review: Take 6 Takes the Cake at Birdland
May 3, 2024

Take note: Take 6 is at Birdland Jazz Club through Saturday. They take the art of vocal harmony singing to impressive heights. Their opening show on Wednesday May 1 was a smash.

Review: SONGBOOK SUNDAYS Delights Once More at Dizzy's
Review: SONGBOOK SUNDAYS Delights Once More at Dizzy's
April 29, 2024

The 'Songbook Sundays' makes the second day of a weekend a first-rate experience. Rodgers & Hammerstein were on tap on April 21 in a season that included a focus on Frank Loesser, with Johnny Mercer's turn coming up in June.

Review: MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY: Cabarets Are Happy Partner Projects for J2 ...at AMT Theater
Review: MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY: Cabarets Are Happy Partner Projects for J2 ...at AMT Theater
April 28, 2024

J2 Spotlight Musical Theater is finishing its run of 'Do Re Mi' this weekend, but set aside a night to have a cabaret evening on the stage at their home base, the AMT Theater on West 45 Street.

Review: Cyrille Aimée & Band Make Their Gig a Party at Birdland
Review: Cyrille Aimée & Band Make Their Gig a Party at Birdland
April 25, 2024

Through April 27, Aimée and a six-piece band bring jazz flavors and smiles (theirs and the audience's) to Birdland with energy galore. Celebrating a new recording, and adding in some other material, Cyrille Aimée and band take command in a grand way this week at midtown Manhattan's home for jazz.

Review: A CELEBRATION OF TONY BENNETT Was a Starry Night at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Review: A CELEBRATION OF TONY BENNETT Was a Starry Night at Jazz at Lincoln Center
April 23, 2024

This year's Jazz at Lincoln Center gala featured a host of star-studded performers including Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters, Josh Groban, and many more. A small sample of the hundreds of songs superstar Tony Bennett recorded and sang in concerts sparkled in this one-night-only concert on April 17th.

Review: AUTUMN IN NEW YORK: VERNON DUKE'S BROADWAY Is a Crowd-Pleaser at Chelsea Table + Stage
Review: AUTUMN IN NEW YORK: VERNON DUKE'S BROADWAY Is a Crowd-Pleaser at Chelsea Table + Stage
April 21, 2024

At Chelsea Table + Stage, Klea Blackhurst 'Box Set' shows are continuing to draw crowds and bring smiles. Songs of Vernon Duke were on the bill in April, and May 5 will find her saluting Jerry Herman.



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