YACKO OF ALL TRADES

Broadway veteran Robert Yacko transforms
an evening of songs into a heartfelt journey
through a remarkable theatrical life

Cabaret requires a delicate balance: a voice capable of filling a room, a repertoire built on timeless melodies, and the storytelling ability to make a theater feel like an intimate living room. At CVRep’s Summer Cabaret Series, Broadway veteran Robert Yacko delivered exactly that with his brand new solo show.

Stepping onto the stage, Yacko warned the audience there would be plenty of name-dropping. But when you’ve spent decades performing from Broadway to Los Angeles, shared the spotlight with Carol Burnett and Carl Reiner, and collaborated with Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim, and Burt Bacharach, it isn’t bragging—it’s history.

Yacko structured the evening around four musical giants who shaped his career: Jason Robert Brown, Bacharach, Herman, and Sondheim. What followed was both a musical journey and a personal memoir, anchored by Yacko’s warm, expressive baritone.

Elevating the entire performance was Music Director Gerald Sternbach. Far more than an accompanist, Sternbach proved a genuine musical partner, matching Yacko’s dynamic vocal shifts and emotional storytelling with elegant, sensitive playing. Their chemistry made every transition feel like part of an ongoing conversation.

Robert Yacko

Throughout the evening, Yacko seamlessly folded anecdotes into his set list with warmth and humor. One delightful highlight recalled his summer stock days, when he proudly served as the dance partner entrusted with catching the legendary Cyd Charisse.

Another memorable story centered on Bacharach. Yacko described gathering around the composer’s piano with three fellow singers to prepare a concept album for a musical that ultimately collapsed over rights issues. Remembering Bacharach as “genuine and generous,” Yacko followed the story with a moving rendition of “A House Is Not a Home.”

The evening reached its emotional peak with Stephen Sondheim. After recalling his first meeting with the composer during previews of Into the Woods—years after Yacko had starred in the Los Angeles premiere of Sunday in the Park with George—he explained the three versions Sondheim wrote before arriving at “Being Alive” from Company. His performance of the finished song was nothing short of electrifying.

By the time Yacko returned for an encore of “With So Little to Be Sure Of” (also Sondheim, from Anyone Can Whistle), I was completely captivated. Having made his Broadway debut under Jerome Robbins in Fiddler on the Roof, Yacko has long earned his place among the West Coast’s theatrical treasures. At CV Rep, he offered far more than a concert—he shared a lifetime of stories, friendships, and music that celebrated the enduring heart of show business.

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Robert Yacko
CV Rep Summer Cabaret Series on July 7, 2026
CV Rep Playhouse, 68510 E. Palm Canyon Dr. in Cathedral City
Summer Cabaret Series ends on July 30, 2026
Tues and Thurs at 7
for more shows ($65), call 760.296.2966 or visit CV Rep

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