All stories by Jessica Gelt on BroadwayStars

Monday, July 12, 2021

3 L.A. artists are among the first winners of $5 million Latinx Artist Fellowship program by Jessica Gelt

The U.S. Latinx Art Forum, with support from the Andrew W. Mellon and Ford foundations, awards $50,000 each to 15 artists.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:31PM
Monday, June 21, 2021

The Industry, L.A.'s groundbreaking opera company, casts new leaders by Jessica Gelt

The experimental opera company behind 'Sweet Land,' 'Hopscotch' and 'Invisible Cities' turns the artistic director position into a cooperative.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:14PM
Thursday, June 10, 2021

Michael Ritchie will retire from Center Theatre Group and 'make space' for a new voice by Jessica Gelt

After 17 years leading L.A.'s most important theater company, and after last year's racial reckoning, Michael Ritchie says it's time to pass the torch.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:13PM
Thursday, June 3, 2021

Review: Why the fun kids' musical from Geffen Playhouse made this mom cry (in a good way) by Jessica Gelt

The Geffen Playhouse's new virtual musical for kids, "The Door You Never Saw Before," deals with pandemic themes in a tender, charming way.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:05PM
Wednesday, June 2, 2021

This is what reopening looks like at the Music Center in DTLA: joyful dancing by Jessica Gelt

Live performance returns to the Music Center, and being a face in the crowd rarely feels this good. A dispatch from the scene.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:25AM
Friday, May 28, 2021

The sexual misconduct allegations rocking L.A.'s largest LGBTQ theater company by Jessica Gelt

Michael A. Shepperd, artistic director of Celebration Theatre, was fired after allegations of sexual misconduct. What he and his accusers tell The Times.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:01PM
Tuesday, May 25, 2021

L.A.'s biggest LGBTQ theater fires artistic director Michael A. Shepperd after sexual misconduct allegations by Jessica Gelt

Celebration Theatre fires Michael Shepperd after the company's investigation finds allegations of misconduct to be credible.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:55PM
Monday, May 17, 2021

Joy, tears and Billie Eilish: Essential workers revel in Hollywood Bowl return by Jessica Gelt

Tears of joy and plenty of masked smiles could be found at the Hollywood Bowl as it gave its first concert after 18 months of pandemic closures.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:35AM
Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Hollywood Bowl 2021: Every show scheduled for the summer (so far) by Jessica Gelt

The Hollywood Bowl has announced its 2021 season lineup after an unprecedented 18 months dark due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here's what's on tap for summer fun seekers.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:15AM

L.A. Opera's first indoor show will be June 6. Here's how vaccination rules work by Jessica Gelt

L.A. Opera moves its outdoor "Oedipus Rex" into the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, making it the first major L.A. arts group to stage an indoor show.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:15AM
Wednesday, April 14, 2021

The Broad Stage touts projects with Kidjo, Shorter, Spalding and Gehry by Jessica Gelt

Angélique Kidjo, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding and Frank Gehry power artistic partnerships shaping a new direction, the Santa Monica company says.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:51PM
Tuesday, April 13, 2021

L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre pushes reopening to Nov. 30; 'Jamie' joins the lineup by Jessica Gelt

Center Theatre Group will reopen after 20 months of pandemic closure. The lineup includes 'Dear Evan Hansen,' 'Hadestown,' 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie.'

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:49PM
Thursday, April 8, 2021

L.A.'s Music Center plans in-person shows for May, the first since COVID-19 hit by Jessica Gelt

What will the first shows at the Music Center look like? Imagine family pods, outdoors, with masks. Lineup includes ABT, Paul Taylor and Alonzo King.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:03PM
Wednesday, April 7, 2021

L.A. Opera receives $5-million gift to jump-start pandemic recovery by Jessica Gelt

The gift from Terri and Jerry Kohl will help L.A. Opera stage its first major production since the pandemic began: an outdoor show coming in summer.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:46PM

California theaters and concert halls can reopen June 15. With good news comes whiplash by Jessica Gelt

Long-shuttered theater companies, music groups and others were shocked Tuesday by plans for full reopening by mid-June. How realistic is the timeline?

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:47AM
Tuesday, April 6, 2021

L.A. Stage Alliance shuts down in fallout from treatment of an Asian actor by Jessica Gelt

The 46-year-old theater association collapses after more than 50 members pull out. Critics say Ovation Awards mistakes reflect long-standing problems.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:37AM
Friday, April 2, 2021

An Asian actor got disrespected at L.A. theater awards. What happened next was swift and powerful by Jessica Gelt

Ovation Award organizers mistake nominee Jully Lee for a different Asian actor. In protest, the city's largest theaters pull out of the L.A. Stage Alliance.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:44AM
Tuesday, March 30, 2021

New California guidelines clear the way for pop-up outdoor theater and music by Jessica Gelt

Newly issued guidelines make live theater and music possible in pop-up outdoor venues beginning April 1. Here's what that will look like.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:50PM
Thursday, March 25, 2021

Live music and theater in L.A. will happen outdoors in summer. But it won't be easy by Jessica Gelt

Theaters and other arts groups big and small scramble to make COVID-safe plans, but in many cases the rules are still murky.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:09AM
Saturday, March 13, 2021

Live theater was left out of California's COVID-19 plan. But now it gets guidelines by Jessica Gelt

Indoor theater will remain closed even as counties move from red to orange to yellow tier, and the state spells out capacity limits for outdoor stages.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:08AM
Thursday, March 11, 2021

She was hired to play at the Grammys with Lizzo. Then everything changed by Jessica Gelt

She performed with Lizzo and Titus Burgess and got hired for a Broadway musical, but then came COVID-19. Kyra Sims joins classical musicians from both coasts sharing their stories of struggl…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:39PM

There are tough choices facing cash-strapped musicians. An L.A. gig artist explains by Jessica Gelt

Corinne Olsen, a gig artist who's part of L.A.'s so-called Freeway Philharmonic, talks about the tough choices facing cash-strapped musicians. She's one of 11 voices from both coasts sharing…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:39PM

How Broadway's delayed reopening affects classical musicians like her by Jessica Gelt

Violinist Melissa Tong landed her dream job playing a Broadway musical when the pandemic became the ultimate showstopper. She's one of 11 classical musicians from both coasts sharing their s…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:39PM
Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Fountain Theatre's first play on its pandemic outdoor stage? 'An Octoroon' by Jessica Gelt

The Fountain in East Hollywood will mount Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' acclaimed satire 'An Octoroon' on an outdoor stage. Target opening: June.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:55PM
Thursday, February 18, 2021

L.A. Phil and Hollywood Bowl leader is leaving for the Boston Symphony Orchestra by Jessica Gelt

Gail Samuel, president of the Hollywood Bowl and chief operating officer of the L.A. Phil, will be the first female leader of the 140-year-old BSO.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00PM
Wednesday, February 17, 2021

San Francisco Opera to launch live drive-in performances this spring but not in S.F. by Jessica Gelt

S.F. Opera bets on spring to launch drive-in performances, including a new 'Barber of Seville.' But San Franciscans will have to cross the Golden Gate to see them.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:26AM
Thursday, February 11, 2021

How this drag performer is trying to save regional theater, one cocktail at a time by Jessica Gelt

Kris Andersson, star of 'Dixie's Happy Hour,' aims to bring much-needed cash to 21 pandemic-hit arts centers, including Segerstrom in Costa Mesa.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:14AM
Friday, February 5, 2021

Center Theatre Group raises $700,000 on Zoom with RWQuarantunes party by Jessica Gelt

Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Dolly Parton lend their pandemic support to L.A.'s largest nonprofit theater.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:29PM
Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Not a drive-in: An L.A. theater gets city approval for an outdoor stage by Jessica Gelt

The Fountain in East Hollywood gets city permission to turn its parking lot into an outdoor theater with distanced seating for up to 84 people.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:08AM
Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Reactions to Ali Stroker's historic Tony Awards win will make your heart soar by Jessica Gelt

When Ali Stroker rolled onstage in her wheelchair to accept the Tony Award for featured actress in a musical, audiences at home went bananas. As Ado Annie in director Daniel Fish’s revival…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:05AM

Tony winner Rachel Chavkin of ‘Hadestown’ on being a woman alone by Jessica Gelt

Rachel Chavkin was glad to win the Tony Award for best director of a musical for “Hadestown” at the Tony Awards on Sunday night, but made it clear that she was profoundly unhappy about t…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:05AM

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2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards