Great Neck is a veritable breeding ground for fame, fortune, and people who have their own Wikipedia pages, who call(ed) this town home.
Let’s face it, Great Neck schools are like the Olympics of academia. While other districts are playing checkers, Great Neck is playing 4D chess. We’ve (practically) got kindergartners reading at a high school level, middle schoolers launching start-ups, and high schoolers filing patents.
Great Neck is known for many other things besides its top-rated schools, beautiful parks, and impressive (4 branches!) library system. It proudly boasts the fastest commute from a Long Island suburb to the big city, with “express” trains on the LIRR.
While other Long Islanders are still stuck on the LIE, questioning their life choices, we’re good.
What else really sets our town apart? Our undeniable alumni in the Entertainment Biz. Ever heard of Francis Ford Coppola, the guy who directed “The Godfather.”
What about Jon Taffer of “Bar Rescue” and Sarah Sherman from Saturday Night Live.” It turns out they all walked in town, on Middle Neck Road, and waited in line at a Great Neck bagel shop. A long roster of former residents have gone on to collect Oscars, Grammys, and Pulitzer Prizes. Guess what? Some are still among us.
Enter Robin Newman Gorman, a Great Neck resident and a Renaissance woman of sorts.
Robin is a bona fide success on Broadway, in the tradition of the greats. Robin is a Tony Award-winning producer of “Parade” and a Tony Award-nominated producer of The Who’s “Tommy,” “ Cabaret,” “Fat Ham,” “Natasha Pierre,” and “The Great Comet Of 1812.”
She is also co-producer of “Museum of Broadway,” “Buena Vista Social Club” (February 2025), “Smash” (March 2025), “Dead Outlaw” (April 2025).
In fact, Robin has been nominated for the Tony Award for every show she has produced thus far. Aside from her producing work, Robin is Vice President, board of directors, of the New York Theatre Barn, a non-profit incubator of new diverse musicals.
She has conceived/led various panels for BroadwayCon and is a member of The Drama League of New York. Currently, Robin is in early development with a theatre colleague on a musical inspired by her book, How To Marry A Mensch, and a “love coach” for singles (find her at lovecoach.com).
Outside of entertainment, Robin was a founder who the Independent Business Women’s Circle (iwbc.org) originally based at Womanspace in Great Neck. It is a wonderful way for entrepreneurial women to network, and as a busy woman who started out working from home, it was a great resource.
Robin is a true New Yorker—born in Fresh Meadows, and for the past 20 years, a proud resident of University Gardens.
Like many, she and her husband originally moved here for the highly acclaimed public schools. “I love to swim in the University Gardens community pool each summer. I am grateful to have that convenience. I also love that Great Neck has so many lovely parks to visit,” she said. Yes, there is an indubitable charm on the peninsula, which somehow manages to be both a small-town suburb and just a little bit extra.
Robin is a big proponent of “Shop Local.” Her favorite local spots in town include Inka Fe for the “best” cerviche, Shiraz for its “excellent” shawarma, Golden Garden for its Chinese food takeout, and Great Neck Diner for its delicious salads.
She also enjoys getting foot massages at 9 Foot Spa on Middle Neck Road.
“It’s always a treat and my place of relaxation when life feels particularly busy,” she says. Robin is also a huge fan of Global Harmony House, where she learned to do open-eye meditation and is a go-to and welcome source of support.
“I can’t recommend it highly enough,” she said.” There is no fee for their programming, although donations are welcome.”
Robin is not alone in fondly recalling “old Great Neck,” which used to feel like a popular “shopping and dining destination” that drew big crowds. She recalls places like Squire, the old iconic movie theatre in town, and some of the fine eateries we had here, like Millie’s, Bruces, Bruzelles and Pancho’s.
Robin also misses retail stores like Jildor, but “Nardo is lovely” and there are many other great spots in our bustling town to see and things to do.
So, next time you’re stuck behind a slow driver or double parker on Middle Neck Road, just remember—you could very well be behind the next big Hollywood director, Broadway star, or musical genius. If we’re really lucky, maybe one of them will write a hit song about us and our 15-minute commute just to get to the LIE.
Janet Nina Esagoff, a long-time Great Neck resident, launched her boutique litigation firm, Esagoff Law Group PC in 2017, in her hometown of Great Neck. Prior to the law, Janet was a designer of special – occasionwear for girls and teens at her boutique on Bond Street. In 2021, Janet founded Destination: Great Neck, a 501c3 community organization. Follow @greatneckbiz
