All stories by Rob Lester on BroadwayStars

Friday, May 8, 2026

Off-Broadway Review: BIKE SHOP: THE MUSICAL (Theater for the New City) by Rob Lester

PUT THIS IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE A show that takes its audience on a ride, and shifts gears from drama to comedy and back The oft-heard practical advice to authors hoping that their stories, nove…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:51AM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 7, 2026

Theater Review: CARNIVAL! (J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company / AMT Theater, NYC) by Rob Lester

UNDER THE BIG TOP, A SMALL GEM ENDURES A tender revival of a vintage musical finds its strength in sincerity, not spectacle Poignancy, Pep, Pizzazz, and Puppets. If the age of 65 equals beco…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 09:27PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Off-Broadway Review: THREE WOMEN (Frog & Peach Theatre Company at Theater for the New City) by Rob Lester

THREE LOVES, ONE ROAD A gritty, intriguing country-western musical with more implied than explained COMPOSER-LYRICIST/GUITARIST/PROTAGONISTA musician with three younger ladies to romance,two…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 01:49PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Off-Broadway Review: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Theater 2020) by Rob Lester

COMEDY TONIGHT— AND PLENTY OF IT A zippy, low-budget romp that lands big laughs When in ancient Rome,do as the ancient Romans—and moderns—would do:enjoy the kind of humor that never fe…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:19AM[SHARE]
Monday, April 20, 2026

Theater Preview: CREATIVE STAGE COLLECTIVE – MUSICAL MAD LIBS! (Symphony Space, NYC) by Rob Lester

MIX, MATCH, AND MAKE IT UP An intergenerational troupe turns audience ideas into live musical theater Here’s a special recipe for success and entertainment. It’s all in the mixing and bl…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 10:16PM[SHARE]
Saturday, April 18, 2026

Off-Broadway Review: MILK AND HONEY (J2 Spotlight Theatre Company at AMT, NYC) by Rob Lester

MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IN THE MIDDLE OF ADVENTURES Jerry Herman's early musical still charms Through the magic of musical theatre, we're vicariously taking a guided tour thro…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:45AM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 16, 2026

Talkin' Broadway Sound Advice: April Birthdays - 4/16/26 by Rob Lester

Albums from Liz Callaway, Marilyn Maye, Claybourne Elder, Nellie McKay and more.

SOURCE: TalkinBroadway at 03:15PM[SHARE]

Cabaret Review: MARILYN MAYE (54 Below, NY) by Rob Lester

THE QUEEN OF CABARET STILL REIGNS A birthday-month run proves that Marilyn Maye at 98 remains unstoppable Memo to fans of solo singers who've been living in a cave for more than half a centu…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:27AM[SHARE]
Sunday, April 12, 2026

Concert Review: STANDARD TIME WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN"ON THE TOWN (Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall) by Rob Lester

THE SONGBOOK LIVES ON Feinstein's Carnegie Hall "On the Town" concert celebrates classic songs and those who wrote and performed them with style, wit, and swing Like a party that keeps going…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:25AM[SHARE]
Sunday, April 5, 2026

Cabaret Review: DONNA McKECHNIE " A MUSICAL MEMOIR (Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC) by Rob Lester

A LEGEND STILL IN MOTION A radiant, nostalgic evening with a Broadway icon who continues to charm and connect Gracious, graceful, gratifying, glowing, glamorous. Some cabaret shows are every…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:51AM[SHARE]
Friday, March 27, 2026

Cabaret Review: JULIE BENKO: EUPHONIC GUMBO (Birdland in NYC and West Coast Tour) by Rob Lester

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL WITH A TWIST Julie Benko's Mardi Gras"flavored cabaret delights with energy and polish: a tasty Gumbo On a Monday night at Birdland Jazz Club, with a twinkle in her e…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 09:30PM[SHARE]
Thursday, March 19, 2026

Cabaret Review: "THE WIZARD AND I" ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT (Liz Callaway Sings Schwartz [& Sondheim] at 54 Below) by Rob Lester

TWO STEVES WITH LOVE, TWO TRIBUTES, ONE SUPREMELY SATISFYING WEEK From Schwartz to Sondheim, Callaway revisits rich collaborations with warmth, wit, and deeply felt interpretation Once upon …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 12:13PM[SHARE]

Off-Broadway Review: ABOUT TIME (Marjorie R. Dean Little Theater) by Rob Lester

GETTING OLDER NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD A richly satisfying Maltby and Shire revue finds warmth, wit, and wisdom in growing older Lynne Wintersteller, Sally Wilfert, Allyson Kaye Daniel While it…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:59AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Cabaret Review: LORNA LUFT (In Residence at The Laurie Beechman Theatre) by Rob Lester

LORNA LUFT LETS LOOSE LUSTILY AND WITH LOVE A veteran performer pushes through rough patches with grit, gratitude, and plenty of show-biz heart There's plenty of energy and goodwill going ba…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:05PM[SHARE]
Saturday, March 7, 2026

Cabaret Review: BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK (Tony DeSare at Birdland Theater) by Rob Lester

PIANO MAN BY PROXY Tony DeSare salutes Billy Joel with polish, power, and plenty of affection Special thanks go to Billy Joel for changing the career path of the terrifically talented Tony D…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 08:06PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Cabaret Review: JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO (Album Release "Dear Mr. Bennett" at Birdland) by Rob Lester

A BENNETT SONGBOOK WITH PIZZARELLI SWING The singer-guitarist and his trio offer solid entertainment and a nostalgic stroll through a legend's songbook There may not be many things you can c…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 10:23PM[SHARE]
Saturday, February 28, 2026

Cabaret Review: OUR SINATRA: A MUSIC CELEBRATION (25th Anniversary Production at 54 Below) by Rob Lester

A SINATRA SONGBOOK REVUE RETURNS WITH STYLE, SWING, AND STAYING POWER The revue recalling the repertoire of "Ol' Blue Eyes" is a song-stuffed, sure-fire success (again) So, who doesn't love …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:11PM[SHARE]
Thursday, February 19, 2026

Cabaret Review: LINDA EDER: PLAY IT FORWARD (54 Below) by Rob Lester

A FAMILY AFFAIR AT 54 BELOW Linda Eder shines, with a promising assist from Jake Wildhorn; like mother like son " both likeable Casual and confident, a smiling Linda Eder strode onto the sta…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 09:24PM[SHARE]
Thursday, February 12, 2026

Off-Broadway Review: AN IDEAL HUSBAND (Storm Theatre at A.R.T./New York Theatres) by Rob Lester

WITNESSING WILDE'S WONDERFUL WIT IS ALWAYS WELCOME Storm Theatre delivers elegance and precision, if not always sparkle Lurking under the characters' control, courtesies and curtseys, calcul…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 01:51AM[SHARE]
Saturday, February 7, 2026

Cabaret Review: JIMMIE HERROD (54 Below) by Rob Lester

A HIGH VOICE, SOME HIGHLIGHTS, AND A HIGH-SPIRITED CROWD If you were shopping for the most versatile fantasy fabric for fashioning a fabulous outfit, imagine it by checking each of these box…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:57AM[SHARE]
Friday, February 6, 2026

Cabaret Review: QUINTIN HARRIS TRIO (Quintin Harris, Griffin Frank, and Max Marsillo at Birdland Jazz Club) by Rob Lester

QUINTESSENTIAL QUINTIN Essential jazz, effortless swing, and a trio's genuine chemistry Jazz fans bid farewell to January with a smile at Birdland Jazz Club by settling into a sublimely sati…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:00AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Cabaret Events: AMERICAN SONGBOOK HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION & CABARET WORKSHOP CONCERT (Mabel Mercer Foundation, Laurie Beechman Theatre) by Rob Lester

A CONTEST AND A CONCERT The Mabel Mercer Foundation nurtures the next generation of cabaret artists Three cheers for the Mabel Mercer Foundation (MMF) and its ongoing commitment to introduci…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:31AM[SHARE]
Monday, February 2, 2026

Theater Preview: CREATIVE STAGE SPECTACULAR 2026 (Creative Stage Collective, Symphony Space) by Rob Lester

AN INTERGENERATIONAL, SENSATIONAL THEATRE GROUP Creative Stage Collective's annual revue proves that age is irrelevant when imagination leads To get to their Sunday rehearsals, the many memb…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 08:03PM[SHARE]
Monday, January 26, 2026

Concert Review: ISABEL LEONARD AND FRIENDS (Carnegie Hall) by Rob Lester

A VARIED AND VOLUPTUOUS NIGHT OF SONG A night at Carnegie Hall always feels special and elegant, and the evening of January 15 was no exception. Applause was plentiful, cheers resounded, and…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 08:11PM[SHARE]
Sunday, January 25, 2026

Theater Review: CAMELTON (Stephen Cole's One-Man Show About One Man's Wild Ride) by Rob Lester

THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST Stephen Cole's backstage Qatar saga is stranger than fiction"and just as entertaining In the story category of "truth …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:25PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Theatre Review: GOING BACHARACH: THE SONGS OF AN ICON (Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater) by Rob Lester

A REMARKABLY RESPLENDENT & RADIANT REVUE If you're wandering around Manhattan, just "Wishin' and Hopin'" for a magnificent musical revue with some "Magic Moments," don't "Walk On By" the…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 01:59AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 19, 2026

Concert | Theater Review: OKLAHOMA! IN CONCERT (Carnegie Hall) by Rob Lester

OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL EVENIN'! RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN RIDE AGAIN AT CARNEGIE HALL With a full cast, full dialogue, and a glorious orchestra, this Oklahoma! concert leans into the classic's…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 01:59AM[SHARE]
Sunday, January 18, 2026

Theatre Review: FINDING DOROTHY PARKER (Laurie Beechman Theatre) by Rob Lester

SARCASM ON STEROIDS To say that Dorothy Parker had a way with words would be the understatement of the century"and she spanned two of them, being born in the last decade of the 1800s and han…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 03:00AM[SHARE]
Saturday, January 17, 2026

Cabaret Review: BOOM! 15TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT (Ann Hampton Callaway & Liz Callaway at 54 Below) by Rob Lester

BOOM! IS A BLAST! Separately, each is terrific. Together, the two are sublime. When singing sisters Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway combine their voices and sensibilities"echoing each …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 01:59AM[SHARE]
Thursday, January 15, 2026

Off-Broadway Review: THE DISAPPEAR (Minetta Lane Theatre) by Rob Lester

MARRIAGE, MOVIES & MISERIES AT MINETTA LANE Marriage may be like a garden " has to be consistently and attentively nurtured and cared for or it will wither instead of bloom and grow " bu…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 09:30PM[SHARE]
Friday, January 9, 2026

Cabaret Review: DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER & BILL CHARLAP (Birdland) by Rob Lester

A PLEASING PAIR Standards stretched, teased, and joyfully reimagined The song "'S Wonderful" will be a century old next year, so it's not a new thing to wonder if its titular positive adject…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 01:21PM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off