Bob Ost

Sing Me: A Birthday Celebration of the Songs of Bob Ost

Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC, March 9, 2026

Reviewed by Shannon Hunt

Songwriter Bob Ost marked his 75th birthday in style with a lively showcase of his songs performed by a lineup of Broadway-caliber vocalists. With music direction by Clare Cooper along with contributions from Michael Lavine and Brad Ross, the show featured selections that were clever, charming, and frequently laugh-out-loud funny.

One of the many comedic highlights was “Don’t Worry About Me,” a delightfully passive-aggressive message from an overbearing mother to her grown son, delivered with impeccable timing by the hilarious Debi Toni. She impressed also in the offbeat “Be My Valentine” (co-written with Phyllis Pastore), a quirky love letter to the most romantic person in the world: the anonymous writer of the messages on Hallmark cards.

Ost, who co-directed the show with Georgina Bates, curated a program of more than a dozen songs from his extensive catalog that revealed his depth as a composer and lyricist. The selections ranged from the heartfelt to the wickedly witty and were reminiscent of a time when theater songs were sharp and cerebral.  “A Party in Southampton,” in which a pretentious hostess’s social aspirations are undone by an ill-timed rainstorm, was a masterclass in rhyme and clever wordplay. Likewise, the wily “The Baker’s Daughter” (co-written with Scott Oakley) reveled in risqué puns and cunning double entendres. Both numbers were performed to perfection by soprano Alison Quin. Ost’s flair for parody shined in “The Subway Song,” a playful send-up of “The Trolley Song” from Meet Me in St. Louis. In this updated New York City version, the promising meet-cute on public transit spirals out of control as a cascade of mishaps and misunderstandings derails any chance of romance.

All of the show’s singers impressed, and several performers stood out. Thos Shipley’s rich, velvety voice earned the evening’s biggest applause for his rendition of the wonderful “Back to Blue.” Raymond Cusick’s smooth rendition of “Your Heart Is Much Bigger Than That” was reminiscent of bygone crooners from a golden era and made him a rising talent to watch.