Kyle Riabko has brought his show What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined to the Menier Chocolate Factory.
The piece previously played the New York Theatre Workshop, where it became the venue’s longest running show. Kyle co-conceived What’s It All About? with David Lane Seltzer and also stars in the production which is directed by Steven Hoggett.
What’s It All About? is described as a dynamic 90-minute non-stop musical journey in which Kyle leads a talented group of young performers through Burt Bacharach’s classic melodies, blending nostalgia and innovation, where generations old and new can revel in the joy of these hits as if for the very first time.
Kyle made his Broadway debut in 2008 when he replaced Jonathan Groff as Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening and later reprised his performance in the musical’s U.S. tour. He returned to Broadway in 2010, taking over from Gavin Creel as Claude in Hair.
The Canadian born performer released his first full-length album of original material on Columbia/Aware Records at the age of seventeen. He enjoys a successful music career, having supported the likes of John Mayer, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, BB King, Buddy Guy and James Brown.
I recently spoke to Kyle about creating What’s It All About?, the beauty of Bacharach’s music and how he manages to balance a music career with theatre work…
What's It All About must be like your baby, how did it all begin?
You’re right – this is sort of the first thing that I’ve been a part of and created from the ground up, so it does feel like my baby. It all started when I met Burt in a recording studio in Los Angeles – I was asked to be the singer on some new demos he was working on. When I got into the room and started singing and he started playing, very quickly we bonded on a musical level. I realised ‘this is a guy I want to get to know and really study’.
