Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jess Leprotto. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jess, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In the entertainment industry (particularly the theatre industry), there are two things that I feel help establish a successful career. Versatility and Networking. When it comes to versatility, the more the better. If you’re a dancer, how many styles of dance are you in trained in? Can you pick up choreography quick? If you’re a musician, how many styles of music do you have experience in playing? If so, are you a good sight reader and can read music quickly. Same goes for vocalists, how might need to have a classical foundation, but can bounce around to other genres (R&B, Jazz, Pop, Rock & Roll, Musical Theatre, etc.) Now, if you’re a jack of all trades who can dibble in all of these forms, you have built quite the rolodex of contacts and references, as they can always recommend you for different projects along the way. Those people, in my opinion, are probably the most successful people in the industry. They are like great session musicians. Those who can adapt to all styles and find a platform for themselves to showcase those talents will interest those who want you in the room where it happens.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Broadway Performer and have appeared in nine Broadway shows: A Beautiful Noise, Carousel, Hello, Dolly!, Cats, On The Town, Newsies, Bye Bye Birdie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and The Boy From Oz. I have also appeared in Film and Television, having been a contestant on Season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance and as a Jet in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of West Side Story. I graduated from Pace University with a BFA in Musical Theatre.

I am originally from Little Falls, NJ and began dancing at the age of three. I have two older siblings who are in the arts as well. My sister is a Dance Instructor/Choreographer and my brother is Musician and Middle School Music Teacher. All of my family comes from an educational background and serve as teachers in various school districts in the state of NJ.

Growing up, my sister and I went to a local dance studio and were on the competitive dance team. Whenever I wasn’t performing professionally, I was participated in events at my middle school and high school. Spring Musicals, Fall Plays, Summer Theatre, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Children’s Theatre were just some of the opportunities that I had growing up. I loved being able to have a platform to spread my wings and to learn from amazing teachers along the way.

Apart from that, I also teach dance whenever I can, both in NYC and locally in the Metropolitan area. I have just begun building a resume as a choreographer as well, having done independent films, music videos, and local productions. As a side hobby, I am also a musician and songwriter who composes and arranges new compositions that hopefully will have an outlet in the future.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Obviously, social media has become a big platform for performers, artists and creative influencers. It took me a second to find my footing (no pun intended) as a dancer and choreographer. Over the course of the pandemic, I was fortunate enough to have access to a dance studio that was not being used. It was through this period that I began capturing footage and taking videos of anything I could put down as a dancer, whether it’d be a small phrase or a complete solo dance sequence. It was a raw moment of expression for me, and I appreciated the challenge of having to experimentation and letting others have a chance to see it on social media. As a performer who primarily works on the stage, I am not always used to technology to translate my performances, as I am normally used to a live audience. Being able to find a new outlet and let others get a glimpse of it on my social media pages has been a fun challenge that I have learned a great deal from.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Ultimately, the goal would be to harness a lot of my interest into one production. I would like to do what only a few people in my industry have been able to do. Performers like Tommy Tune, George M. Cohen, and Jerry Lewis were dominant in their respected fields for their distinct style and visions. They also had a great deal of talent behind them and can control and oversee all aspects of their productions. Tommy Tune was able to star, direct, and choreograph his own musicals. George M. Cohen starred, wrote both music/lyrics, and even directed his own productions. Jerry Lewis used his innate comedic genius, mixed in with music and film to create a body of work in motion pictures that is incomparable. In modern times, Lin-Manuel Miranda was able to star and write both music and lyrics to two major musicals.

I would like to direct, choreograph, write (music/lyrics), and lead a musical production. Such feats are hard to come by these days, and it takes a certain type of individual to carry that torch. I know that no feat is possible to achieve without the help of many collaborators and financiers to help make this dream come true.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @the_jess_leprotto
• Facebook: Jess LeProtto
• Twitter: @D8Jess
• Youtube: Jess LeProtto
• Other: Apple Music, Spotify, as well as other music streaming platforms.

Image Credits

James Jin, Deen van Meer, Julia Cervantes, Katie Mollison, Evan Zimmerman, Stephen Mosher