Feature: 30 Days Of Cabaret Gratitude - Day Twenty-Five - The Soul Mates

Arielle Jacobs & J.J. Caruncho - The Sweethearts

As actors, J.J. Caruncho and Arielle Jacobs have had many opportunities to play some incredible roles on the stages of the theaters of Manhattan and the country. Both of them consummate actors (and musical theater actors, too), this husband and wife team are in demand and constantly at work. When they met and courted and married, though, something new and special was born in the team that they would make.

During the quarantine and the show business shutdown, Arielle and J.J. created a regular streaming program that they would broadcast from their living room, chatting and singing and playing with each other and their internet audience, bringing more than entertainment into the homes of people shut up for safety - they brought camaraderie, connection, and human interaction. It was a perfect glimpse into who The Carunchos are in person, in real-life. This is the same vibe that comes up on the stage with them in the nightclubs of New York and the world: warm, loving, playful, easygoing, and always, always honest.

In her 54 Below debut solo show (and eventual solo album) A LEAP IN THE DARK, Arielle used her undeniable star power and flawless musical performances to reach people through the story of her life, which has had its ups and downs, and one of the most important ways an artist can reach people with a true story is by always remaining authentic. That is Arielle's superpower: authenticity. Now, J.J. protects that superpower by protecting his superstar: he is the writer and director of versions of A Leap In The Dark (some shorter, some longer) that get booked into venues around the world, always keeping an eye on the integrity of the piece and the message of the play. Together, they bring truth and triumph to the cabaret stage.

Of course, J.J. has his truth, too, which he shares just as easily as Arielle does hers. One of the highlights of the 54 Below group show THE BARRIO SINGS BROADWAY was J.J.'s frank discussion with the audience about his experience as a Latin, getting to see Latin representation in the arts, for the first time. It was a moving reminiscence, one that speaks volumes about the need, the importance, the value of representation to the public, and with this Cuban male and this Filipino female working on the stages of the cabaret and concert industry, audience members of diversity will feel seen, and artists of diversity will feel like they aren't just welcome at the industry's table - they will feel like the table was made with them in mind.

There is also the matter of the power of positivity shared on both Arielle's and J.J. 's social media. From messages of optimism to health and fitness guidance, J.J. and Arielle are stars for today's generation, lifting spirits and leading the way, all from the pedestal of a life in show business, which is, for all of the Jacobs and Carunchos, the family business - something that just feels like it was meant to be. Call it pre-destination, kind of like the union of Arielle and J.J.

Read the Broadway World Cabaret review of Arielle and J.J. in The Barrio Sings Broadway HERE.

Arielles 's online presence is as follows:

Website: Click HERE.

Instagram: Click HERE.

Facebook: Click HERE.

Twitter: Click HERE.

YouTube: Click HERE.

Soundcloud: Click HERE.

Arielle's pronouns are She/Her

Arielle's future projects include:

Arielle can be heard in the cast album of the musical "Between the Lines", set to release on Jan.13th, 2023 from Ghostlight Records. She rescued an adorable shelter dog named Quinn who inspired her to start The Broadway Pup, a brand new company selling Broadway-themed dog bandanas and donates a portion of profits to animal charities across the country. Check out the premiere collection and Pre-order a dog bandana for your favorite Broadway lover! www.broadwaypup.com.

J.J. 's online presence is as follows:

Instagram: Click HERE and HERE.

J.J. 's pronouns are He/Him

J.J. 's future projects include:

J.J. is an accomplished actor and singer, and also wrote & directed Arielle's solo cabaret show "A Leap in the Dark." He has performed at Carnegie Hall three times, and is also the creator and founder of Sanctavía, a company that leads students through Transformational Hero's Journey Experiences, empowering them to take care of their mind, spirit, and body. To find out more about upcoming conference experiences, click here: http://go.sanctavia.com/learnmore

Photos by Stephen Mosher; visit the Stephen Mosher website HERE.

To post a comment, you must register and login.