Craig Rubano




"A veteran of Les Misérables on Broadway, Mr. Rubano has an intelligence and wit to match his robust baritone...[an] exceptionally well-conceived cabaret debut."
– Stephen Holden, New York Times, Awarded a Star in the Friday "Cabaret Guide."

"The most exciting rendition of ["Climb Ev'ry Mountain"] I've ever heard. I would have never thought that I'd be programming my CD player on "Repeat" for "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," but I have. And will continue to."
– Peter Filichia, www.theatre.com

"A vibrant collection of first act finales that makes one long for Craig Rubano's second act. Rubano has a rich, characterful voice and the album has been given first rate arrangements and productions. Finishing the Act is one of the best collections of show tunes I have heard in years."
– John M. Clum, Professor of English and the Practice of Drama, Duke University

"Theater hunk Craig Rubano...has a high, rich baritone that's as attractive to the ear as his appearance is to the eyes. And he celebrating his wonderful new CD that honors the Act One Finale with a new cabaret show."
– Au Courant NewsMagazine

"Magnificent voice! This is a very special young man — a bright and up-and-coming Broadway star... A rather exceptional CD...such a unique idea, so well thought out and so well put together...a spectacular team of musicians."
– Lynn Di Menna, "Welcome to the Club," WRTN 93.5 FM

"The very handsome Mr. Rubano has extraordinary vocals — full ranged and perfectly placed... I found this to be a most entertaining and exciting evening of cabaret — and the CD can be described with virtually the same words...I urge you to catch it."
— Stu Hamstra, www.cabaret.org

"The first couple of notes of the first song of a CD have to grab you...When I heard the first couple of notes of "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Welcome to the Theater," I knew I was in for a good ride — good stuff!"
– David Kenney, "Everything Old is New Again," WBAI 99.5 FM

"Be sure to check out Craig Rubano's hit cabaret show — Finishing the Act: Act One Finales from Broadway — at the West Bank Cafe on West 42nd Street..."
– Michael Riedel, New York Post, "On Broadway" column

"I LOVE the CD [Finishing the Act] — what a great song selection, so many wonderful songs I hadn't heard in so long. It sent me running to my cast albums to re-listen to the scores they're from. And Craig Rubano has a powerhouse voice!"
– Scott Miller, artistic director, New Line Theatre; author, From Assasins to West Side Story and Deconstructing Harold Hill

"Craig Rubano's Finishing the Act has a terrific concept: a collection of songs that ring down the musicals' Act One curtain. Next to an overture, what is more exciting? These numbers should leave the audience wanting more, so most reveal something about the show's leading character(s), often dynamically... sending the audiences to the lobby on a high. This album has the same effect on the listener, with great song after great song spinning by. Rubano is a high, too. He has been Les Mis' Marius and has the bright Broadway belt-type of voice that role requires. He's equally effective when he lays back... My impression is Rubano's act won't be "finished" for a long, long time."
– Max O. Preeo, editor, SHOWmusic magazine, Spring 2000

"Making his cabaret debut is handsome Craig Rubano in his show Finishing the Act: Act One Finales from Broadway, directed by Scott Barnes with musical-director Alex Rybeck and a five-piece band... [Rubano]'s a comer with a commanding stage presence and is making his mark. The gifted Alex Rybeck's arrangements are perfectly tailored to Rubano's potent style."
– John Hoglund, Back Stage

"Craig Rubano brings the resounding legit voice he displayed well as Marius in Les Misérables to Finishing the Act: Act One Finales from Broadway — celebrating the release of an impeccably produced, gloriously orchestrated same-titled CD."
– Chip Deffaa, New York Post

"Craig Rubano. A singer's singer, if ever there was one, this veteran of Broadway's Les Misérables (he played Marius for 2 years) has just finished work on his first CD, Finishing the Act: Act One Finales from Broadway, and the results are not to be believed.

A truly fresh look at a staple of the American musical, Finishing the Act re-assesses the value of the theater song by completely recontextualizing the first-act closing number.

Accompanied by original orchestrations by several of the industry's best and most imaginative arrangers...

As intellectually rigorous as it is vocally heart-stopping, Craig's magnum opus (thus far, that is) is a jaw-dropping tour-de-force.

It is a virtual vocal declaration of war: for, even as he re-introduces some of the best songs from one of the great canons of songwriting, his vision and talent all assert that no other singers — gifted, talented or otherwise — need attempt them again soon."
– Julian Fleisher, www.ratherbig.com

"Craig Rubano has everything going for him. Since this reviewer first saw him on Broadway as Marius in Les Miserables, Mr. Rubano has maintained his beautiful voice, fine-tuning it to a sensual, haunting instrument one could listen to for hours. His is a voice and a presence one would definitely return to hear and see after the end of any first act of any theatrical performance...Finishing the Act...will hopefully have a local run somewhere after its close at the outstanding Laurie Beechman. Backed up by an incredible five-piece ensemble,...Craig Rubano has a voice one savors and remembers...There is every reason to return to see his second act, wherever or whenever that begins."
– David Roberts, Theatre Reviews Limited

"Handsome, witty, with a beautiful baritone voice. Who could ask for anything more?...Rubano has an undertone of sensuality, a sly nod to the romantic aspects of life...My companion at Finishing the Act was so entranced by Craig Rubano that he said, 'Don't you understand: You are discovering a hit singer! Someone who will be very big!'
– Millicent Brower, Town & Village