All stories by Jessica Gelt on BroadwayStars

Sunday, February 19, 2017

What's it like to hear the L.A. Phil play your music in Disney Hall? Ask these composers, ages 16 to 18 by Jessica Gelt

Conductor Christopher Rountree stands illuminated by a spotlight on the Walt Disney Concert Hall stage. He takes a soothing breath and encourages the 2,100 middle school students seated befo…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:35PM
Tuesday, February 7, 2017

'Waitress' and 'The Color Purple' coming to the Hollywood Pantages for 2017-18 season by Jessica Gelt

The crowd-pleasing adaptation of “Waitress” and the national tour of Tony winner “The Color Purple” highlight the Hollywood Pantages season for 2017-18, the theater announced Tuesda…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Saturday, January 28, 2017

This isn't tutus and tiaras: The ballet Grand Prix draws young, driven competitors in droves by Jessica Gelt

The soap in the bathroom of the Huntington Beach High School auditorium is strawberry scented, but inside the main theater it smells of raw ambition. This is the regional semifinals of what�…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Thursday, January 12, 2017

English-Spanish 'Aladdin' opens a whole new world for the dual-language family musical by Jessica Gelt

Aladdin speaks only English. Princess Jasmine speaks only Spanish. The divide is the work of the evil Jafar, though the antagonist accidentally enables Rajah the tiger and Abu the monkey to…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Thursday, January 5, 2017

Meet your Aaron Burr, sir: Casting announced for national tour of 'Hamilton' by Jessica Gelt

The national tour of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical “Hamilton” revealed its cast Thursday: Two-time Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry will play Aaron Burr, Michael Luwoye will be Alex…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:30PM
Friday, December 16, 2016

2016 was a stellar year for women in theater, and yet ... by Jessica Gelt

When you can burn this article like a bra, women will cheer. That is the sentiment among Los Angeles theater professionals at the close of a year in which so many strong productions by women…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:45AM
Friday, December 2, 2016

Can 'Waitress' outshine a 'Bright Star' or 'The Color Purple'? Grammy nominees in musical theater by Jessica Gelt

In a “Hamilton”-less year, the Grammy nominees announced Tuesday for musical theater album consist of five eclectic shows: “Bright Star,” “The Color Purple,” “Fiddler on the R…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:20PM
Friday, November 18, 2016

Lena Hall on her history-making double play in 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' by Jessica Gelt

Lena Hall stares into the mirror in her dressing room backstage at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, where she is  making musical history in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”   To her right …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:05PM
Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Missed out on 'Beautiful - The Carole King Musical'? Now you get another chance by Jessica Gelt

If you missed seeing the Broadway hit “Beautiful — The Carole King Musical” when it was at the Pantages this summer, take note. The show is coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts fro…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:55AM
Monday, September 26, 2016

Disney Hall's giant cloud sculpture 'Nimbus' rains down music on visitors by Jessica Gelt

California may be in a drought, but inside Walt Disney Concert Hall it’s cloudy with a chance of rain. Nebulous slate-colored thunderheads loom above the escalators that transport visitors…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:10PM
Wednesday, September 21, 2016

'Rogue One' composer Michael Giacchino to conduct 'Lost' anniversary show at Ford amphitheater by Jessica Gelt

Twelve years have passed since the premiere of ABC’s hit series “Lost,” but die-hard fans are still as crazy about it as ever. So is Michael Giacchino, the man who composed the series�…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:00PM
Monday, April 25, 2016

Nick Kroll, John Mulaney add another date for sold-out 'Oh, Hello' by Jessica Gelt

Comedians Nick Kroll and John Mulaney will perform one more night in L.A. of their sold-out show, "Oh, Hello," representatives said Monday. The show had a five-night run at Hollywood's Mont…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:47PM
Friday, April 22, 2016

How Southern California is marking Shakespeare's death 400 years ago: Plays, talks, sonnet karaoke by Jessica Gelt

The 400th anniversary of beloved poet and playwright William Shakespeare's death will be marked around the world on Saturday. Places like the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.,…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:34PM
Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Maya Angelou in dance: How Complexions Contemporary Ballet will put poetry in motion by Jessica Gelt

Complexions Contemporary Ballet is known for taking on timely social issues via music and movement, and the New York company's upcoming three nights in Los Angeles are no exception, particul…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:30PM

A female-centric 'Streetcar Named Desire'? It's part of Music Center's 2016-17 dance season by Jessica Gelt

The Music Center of Los Angeles will announce its 2016-2017 dance season on Tuesday, and organizers say the boundary-pushing lineup features some of the art form’s most exciting establishe…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:45AM
Thursday, March 31, 2016

Nick Kroll, John Mulaney and their geezer alter egos take on L.A. by Jessica Gelt

Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland think they're the funniest people in the room. Their creators, however, comedians Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, know that most of the time Faizon and St. Ge…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:00AM
Tuesday, March 15, 2016

L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards: Big wins for 'Hit the Wall' and 'Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles' by Jessica Gelt

"Hit the Wall," a play about the 1969 Stonewall Inn riots, and "Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles," which sets a classic Greek tragedy in Boyle Heights, won the top award Monday night at the Lo…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:18PM
Sunday, March 13, 2016

Sheila Callaghan plays with gender identity in 'Women Laughing Alone With Salad' by Jessica Gelt

Sheila Callaghan doesn't just want to make you laugh. She wants to tickle you until you squirm.The playwright behind Center Theatre Group's "Women Laughing Alone With Salad," opening at the …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:34PM
Tuesday, February 9, 2016

'Empire's' multi-level set a featured player in musical at La Mirada Theatre by Jessica Gelt

The set for La Mirada Theatre's new musical "Empire" is so different that director and choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge has given it a name: Helga. The old-fashioned musical is all about w…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:02AM
Sunday, January 31, 2016

Debbie Allen tackles gun violence, race relations in 'Freeze Frame' by Jessica Gelt

The Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Baldwin Hills is hot. Hot with sweat, hot with frenetic movement and hot with excitement. On a brisk January morning, the unassuming, cheerful space around …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:11PM
Friday, January 29, 2016

L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards: LGBT Center's 'Hit the Wall' leads nominations by Jessica Gelt

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle announced its annual awards nominations Friday, and the L.A. LGBT Center's "Hit the Wall" led all contenders with seven citations, followed by "Mojada: A…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:47PM
Thursday, January 7, 2016

Sheldon Epps to step down as artistic director at Pasadena Playhouse by Jessica Gelt

Pasadena Playhouse artistic director Sheldon Epps, a leading voice for more diversity onstage and in theater audiences, will step down from his post at the end of the 2016-17 season, officia…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:26PM
Sunday, January 3, 2016

In a new era of surveillance and doublethink, '1984' takes to the stage by Jessica Gelt

Big Brother isn't watching you. You're watching him. An acclaimed adaptation of George Orwell's dystopian vision on the future, "1984," is crossing the Atlantic to make its U.S. debut on the…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:49PM
Wednesday, November 25, 2015

'Grey Gardens' replaces 'Titanic' in the Ahmanson's current season by Jessica Gelt

"Grey Gardens" will replace "Titanic the Musical" in the Ahmanson Theatre's current season, Center Theatre Group announced Tuesday. Broadway mainstays Rachel York and Betty Buckley will star…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:35PM
Thursday, November 12, 2015

Benjamin Millepied to return to L.A. for Dance Project performance by Jessica Gelt

L.A. Dance Project founding director Benjamin Millepied, who left Los Angeles to be director of dance at the Paris Opera Ballet, will return next month to perform with former New York City B…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:57PM
Wednesday, November 4, 2015

'Hopscotch,' the opera performed in cars, extends its sold-out L.A. run by Jessica Gelt

"Hopscotch," a mobile opera performed by the experimental company the Industry in 24 cars driving the streets of Los Angeles, is extending its sold-out run. The show, which takes place in ca…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:02PM
Monday, October 26, 2015

Bolshoi Ballet names new director to replace Sergei Filin, injured in acid attack by Jessica Gelt

Makhar Vaziev will replace Sergei Filin as the ballet director of the Bolshoi Ballet early next year, the Bolshoi Theater announced Monday. Filin, who suffered severe eye injuries and impai…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:55PM
Thursday, August 20, 2015

Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming to perform in L.A. Pavarotti benefit concert by Jessica Gelt

Beloved tenor Andrea Bocelli and vaunted soprano Renee Fleming will perform in a benefit concert titled "Remembering Pavarotti" on Sept. 25 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:41PM
Saturday, May 30, 2015

Madeline Puzo to step down as dean of USC's School of Dramatic Arts by Jessica Gelt

Madeline Puzo, the dean of USC's School of Dramatic Arts, will step down from her position on June 30, university provost Michael W. Quick has announced.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:15PM
Friday, May 15, 2015

Actors' Equity and L.A.'s 99-seat theaters: A brief history by Jessica Gelt

A brief history of the small-theater debate:

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:00PM

At Road Theatre Company, how the Equity-mandated minimum wage might play out by Jessica Gelt

ACT I. SCENE 1: A small black-box theater with a scuffed black floor. A charcoal gray armchair and matching ottoman sit in the center of the stage. Two long metal benches flank the armchair.…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:00PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime