You know Leo Robin's lyrics, even if you don't know they're his: their wit, warmth and often intricate rhyming provide the spine and snap behind many of America's most popular songs. Active from the mid-1920s through the early 1950s, Robin wrote for Broadway and Hollywood in partnership with such composers as Ralph Rainger, Jule Styne, Richard Whiting, Frederick Hollander, Vincent Youmans, Jerome Kern, Sigmund Romberg, Arthur Schwartz and others, and his songs were performed by stars of the day, including Bing Crosby, Kittly Carlisle, Maurice Chevalier, Shirley Temple, and, in one his best-known shows, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, by Carol Channing.

It was Robin's work that took center stage in the May edition of 37th annual season of the 92nd Street Y's forever-fresh Lyrics & Lyricists series, with Andrea Marcovicci as guest artistic director. Performing and narrating as well, Andrea assembled a fine cast of singers to join her: Klea Blackhurst, singing in a variety of moods and bringing down the house with each one; Brian Byers, as handsome a leading man as the Y has seen; and Jennifer Sheehan, a protegé of Andrea's whose stage presence and shining voice have developed markedly since her cabaret premiere just three year ago. As the cast performed, many songs were accompanied by projected images of their early song sheets, picturing the stars who had introduced them, and bringing an added historic depth to the music-making. With Shelly Markham fronting a five-piece band, including Christopher Denny on second piano, the evening included the series' traditional audience sing-along, this time on "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend."

Next up, in June: Steve Ross steps in as musical director for Noel Coward and His Ladies, June 2-4.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
May 5, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org