Rob Lester - Page 4

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.






Review: Singer SHEILA JORDAN Shimmers (With a Little Sass) at Birdland
Review: Singer SHEILA JORDAN Shimmers (With a Little Sass) at Birdland
November 25, 2023

Jazz veteran Sheila Jordan, full of joy, was a joy to behold, owning the stage and the hearts of her fans in another memorable night at Birdland Theater.

Review: MY KIND OF BROADWAY And THE FRIENDS OF ALEC WILDER Illuminate the Variety at 54 Below
Review: MY KIND OF BROADWAY And THE FRIENDS OF ALEC WILDER Illuminate the Variety at 54 Below
November 13, 2023

What did our critic think of MY KIND OF BROADWAY & THE FRIENDS OF ALEC WILDER at 54 Below? Like night and day, the nightclub's shows are different enough to brighten your night and make your day.

Review: BROADWAY BY THE SEASON Was a Reason to Rejoice.... 
 at Merkin Hall
Review: BROADWAY BY THE SEASON Was a Reason to Rejoice.... at Merkin Hall
November 9, 2023

The man who brings Broadway & Sinatra songs to 54 Below goes 13 blocks north.

Book Review: GARLAND--THAT'S BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT Is a Grand Guide to Judy's Legacy
Book Review: GARLAND--THAT'S BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT Is a Grand Guide to Judy's Legacy
November 4, 2023

It's a VERY informed appreciation and a guide that doesn't gush or rush through the details.

Let's Celebrate This Talented Treasure Who Was Born in November
Let's Celebrate This Talented Treasure Who Was Born in November
November 1, 2023

A monthly column by Rob Lester tributes a birthday celebrant, and the honoree for November is....

Review: FOUR SHOWS Show the Variety Offered by the Venue That's 41 Years Old: Don't Tell Mama
Review: FOUR SHOWS Show the Variety Offered by the Venue That's 41 Years Old: Don't Tell Mama
October 30, 2023

Anita Gillette is hosted by Ricky Ritzel, Jason Henderson sparkles with Noel Coward songs, Therese Lee recalls encounters with Hollywood stars and her own dramas, and some kids and teens strut their stuff at Don't Tell Mama.

Review: TALE AS OLD AS TIME Salutes Howard Ashman with Style at 92NY (The 92nd ST. Y)
Review: TALE AS OLD AS TIME Salutes Howard Ashman with Style at 92NY (The 92nd ST. Y)
October 29, 2023

The Lyrics & Lyricists program embraces the words that Howard Ashman put in the mouths of a mermaid, cutler, a beat, a plant, etc.

Review: FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE: THE SONGS OF RON MILLER Is a Thriller of a Show at 54 Below
Review: FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE: THE SONGS OF RON MILLER Is a Thriller of a Show at 54 Below
October 25, 2023

'For Once in My Life I have someone who needs me...' goes the song. Now there's the show we need, packed with entertainment and insight, that tells about the songs of its lyricist, Ron Miller.

Review: The Annual Cabaret Convention Concerts At Rose Theater Are For The Fans Old And New
Review: The Annual Cabaret Convention Concerts At Rose Theater Are For The Fans Old And New
October 21, 2023

Three nights of cabaret artistry on display was heaven at times, and a long haul at others.

Review: HERE COME THE DREAMERS As MAUDE MAGGART Comes Back To Sing at Birdland
Review: HERE COME THE DREAMERS As MAUDE MAGGART Comes Back To Sing at Birdland
October 20, 2023

Maude Maggart returned to NYC in a show about dreams for one night and then vanished---like a dream.

Review: Jonathan Karrant Suavely Presents ECLECTIC Songs at Chelsea Table + Stage
Review: Jonathan Karrant Suavely Presents ECLECTIC Songs at Chelsea Table + Stage
October 19, 2023

Chelsea Table + Stage continues its eclectic offerings with Jonathan Karrant's set highlighting his new release titled 'Eclectic' --- reviewed at Broadway World in the NYC Cabaret section.

Review: MARILYN MAYE Packs a Wallop in a Packed House at 54 Below
Review: MARILYN MAYE Packs a Wallop in a Packed House at 54 Below
October 17, 2023

She’s got the talent, she’s got the show biz smarts, she’s got the love for performing, she communicates, and she’s in command. 

Review: LITTLE BY LITTLE, CUT TOO SHORT, & BROADWAY BOUND Bring Some Pleasures To 54 Below
Review: LITTLE BY LITTLE, CUT TOO SHORT, & BROADWAY BOUND Bring Some Pleasures To 54 Below
October 17, 2023

These three evenings at 54 Below celebrated what some might cavalierly dismiss as missable musical theatre “also-rans,” but they’d be missing out

Review: Jeff Harnar's A COLLECTIVE CY and THOSE GIRLS SING BROADWAY (Birdland, Don't Tell Mama)
Review: Jeff Harnar's A COLLECTIVE CY and THOSE GIRLS SING BROADWAY (Birdland, Don't Tell Mama)
October 12, 2023

They're swell and just a couple of the acts that you can catch up with at the Cabaret Convention concerts that are around the corner.

Review: VINCE GIORDANO & THE NIGHTHAWKS And THE BRYCE EDWARDS FRIVOLITY HOUR Bring Back Past Eras at Birdland Theater
Review: VINCE GIORDANO & THE NIGHTHAWKS And THE BRYCE EDWARDS FRIVOLITY HOUR Bring Back Past Eras at Birdland Theater
October 7, 2023

Two trips to Birdland, two gifted artists, and two trips into the past make for a spiffy, swellegant look at why the jazz club has staying power, all these years later.

Review: LINDA EDER Is Cookin' with Gas in High-Octane October Shows at 54 Below
Review: LINDA EDER Is Cookin' with Gas in High-Octane October Shows at 54 Below
October 5, 2023

Linda Eder gives the crowd what they want.

Interview: Lisa Dawn Miller Of FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE At 54 Below
Interview: Lisa Dawn Miller Of FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE At 54 Below
October 3, 2023

'For Once in my life, I have someone who needs me...' and WE need to hear this and more written by the man who wrote those words sung by Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and a zillion others, including his daughter (whom we interview) and her son. (Both will be in the show on October 8.)

Can You Guess Who Our October Cabaret Birthday Honoree Is?
Can You Guess Who Our October Cabaret Birthday Honoree Is?
October 1, 2023

Born in the sticks, raised in a musical family, a major player in cabaret circles, celebrating an October birthday.... here's our monthly toast to someone who'll be blowing out the candles on a cake at the end of the month. But let's start the well-wishing now.

RANDY EDELMAN Brings Decades Of Songs And Scores To His Fans at Chelsea Table + Stage
RANDY EDELMAN Brings Decades Of Songs And Scores To His Fans at Chelsea Table + Stage
September 24, 2023

Randy Edelman --- singer, songwriter, film composer, entertainer --- looks back at his decades of music, and looks forward, too.

Singer Judy Wexler Brings Eclectic Material To WEDNESDAY JAZZ NITES At Pangea
Singer Judy Wexler Brings Eclectic Material To WEDNESDAY JAZZ NITES At Pangea
September 15, 2023

Thoughts about a thoughtful singer's set.



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