(Photo by Playbill)
Kelli Barrett and Jarrod Spector, who tied the knot in 2014, will take their two person act, “This Is Dedicated: Music’s Greatest Marriages,” to Guild Hall in East Hampton on Sunday, July 10. The captivating talent of these two performers, along with their affable personas, results in a very enjoyable evening of musical nostalgia. If you haven’t seen these two on stage together, you’re in for quite a treat. Tickets are available at this link.
Don’t miss a beat! Click HERE to become a BELLA Insider!
Barrett, a native of Virginia Beach, originated the lead role of ‘Lara Guishar’ in Broadway’s Doctor Zhivago. Other Broadway credits include principle roles in Wicked and Baby It’s You! Barrett has starred in over 20 films and TV shows including NCIS, Blue Bloods, Ugly Betty, and Law & Order: SVU.
Spector, originally from the Philadelphia area, is best known for his Tony Nominated performance in Broadway’s Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. He also starred in Broadway’s Jersey Boys for a record 1500 performances. A child performer, he debuted on Broadway at age nine in Les Miserables.
Recreating songs birthed from the greatest marriages, from Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil to Beyonce and Jay-Z, the themes of love, heartbreak, triumph, and despair infuse not only these incredible songs but also the storied partnerships themselves. The night celebrates marriage as the powerful force behind timeless music. Filled with personal anecdotes, stories of the artists, and pleasantly pleasing self-effacing humor, the two attempt to answer the age old question faced by every couple, “How do you keep the music playing?” According to the couple, much of the show was written in car rides to the Jersey Shore and on other trips.
(Photo by Broadway.com)
“We were always talking about doing a show together and this concept of the music of husband and wife teams was a natural fit,” says Spector. “We have the opportunity to rehearse together at home, so that helps the creative process, which at times can be all consuming,” adds Barrett.
They both take the responsibilities that come with performing on Broadway and at other venues very seriously and always try to honor their professional commitment to the show and to the audience. “There are always new faces in the audience each night so it’s important to keep the show fresh,” says Spector.
Despite having starred on Broadway’s biggest stages, both agree that smaller venues such as Guild Hall give them a personal rapport with the audience that is hard to duplicate at larger theaters. “It’s very intimate being so close to the audience,” explains Barrett. “Also, we have complete control over our own shows and that’s truly satisfying from an artist’s perspective.”
The result is also very satisfying for the audience.
