Tony Yazbeck was born to dance. The Broadway veteran received a Tony Award nomination for his fancy footwork in the 2014 revival of the 1944 musical On the Town. He's also been seen as Billy Flynn in Chicago and opposite Broadway superstar Patti LuPone in Gypsy, among many other roles. Television viewers would know him from Smash, All My Children, As the World Turns, and in the concert version of the musical South Pacific for PBS' Great Performances.
"It was a huge deal," Yazbeck told the B.A.R. as he recalled his Tony nomination. "When you get nominated, you feel like you've won. It was very unexpected."
Yazbeck, who will be performing his one-man show with Bay Area Cabaret at the Venetian Room on December 4, began his career as a child. "I was 11 years old in Gypsy," he said. "I didn't want to just perform, I wanted to affect people. That's why we all do what we do."
It was a learning experience for the young Yazbeck. "During Gypsy I was living in Bethlehem, PA, commuting to New York, doing my homework in the car and backstage," he said. "That experience taught me discipline �" it was great training. I worked with great people, and I wanted to stay in New York. New York was home to me, it was where I could communicate."
Yazbeck also said that he's not had any problems connecting with audiences even though his musical style is firmly rooted in Broadway's past. "It's not difficult to find audiences," he said. "You can always communicate when you sing and dance in a truthful way. I'm introducing songs to a new generation �" these songs were the pop music of their eras. But I still validate that there's great music right now. We can all live in the same boat."
Yazbeck cited On the Town as his personal favorite of all the shows he's done. "It has a special place in my heart," he said. "I first did it eight years ago at City Center in New York �" I did two ballads and a 10-minute ballet. It felt like a marathon!"
He must have done something right. Yazbeck's work in On the Town earned him rave reviews from The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and the Associated Press.
When Yazbeck steps into the spotlight at the Venetian Room he'll be sharing some of the lessons he's learned from his many years in the theatre as he tells the story of his life. "I'll be singing Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, as well as the more contemporary tunes of Joni Mitchell and Coldplay," he said. "I'll be sharing a little bit of my journey and entertaining with old MGM standards and my tap shoes."
Yazbeck added that he gets excited as he prepares to perform. "I sometimes feel like I was born in the wrong era," he said. "I like to challenge myself and see how I fit into contemporary times. I'll be turning some of those songs on their heads!"
Tony Yazbeck plays the Venetian Room, The Fairmont Hotel, SF, Sun., Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($58): www.cityboxoffice.com