Jeremy Jordan and Keala Settle to Join Seth Rudetsky for Broadway @ The Herbst Concert Series

Producer Mark Cortale's Broadway concert series, hosted and music directed by Sirius XM radio star Seth Rudetsky, will return to San Francisco for the 2020 season at the Herbst Theatre in the iconic San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center. Kicking off the series this season will be Jeremy Jordan, Tony Award nominee for Newsies and heart throb star of The CW's Supergirl and Netflix' American Son, on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 5 PM. He will be followed by Keala Settle, a star of the film The Greatest Showman, and the Broadway hit musicals Waitress and Hands on a Hard Body, on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 5 PM. The unique format of the series that differentiates it from any other is a seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories prompted by Rudetsky's insightful, funny and revealing questions - and the music from the artists' stellar careers. The result is spontaneous evenings of show-stopping songs and hilarity. The Broadway @ The Herbst series will be raising funds this season for San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, Project Open Hand and Sandy Hook Promise. For tickets and information, please visit www.cityboxoffice.com/broadway or call (415) 392-4400.

Jeremy Jordan first appeared on Broadway in the musical Rock of Ages. He then won the starring role of Tony in Broadway's revival of West Side Story followed by the initial production of Bonnie & Clyde in Sarasota, Florida, starring opposite Laura Osnes. This was followed by his first feature film, Joyful Noise, opposite Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah. Todd Graff, who wrote and directed the film, decided to cast him in the movie after coincidentally attending Jeremy's very first performance as the lead in Rock of Ages. In the fall of 2011, Jeremy was cast as Jack Kelly in Disney's world premiere production of Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. He played Jack at night, and during the day rehearsed the Broadway production of Bonnie & Clyde, after which he returned to Newsies to star in its new run on Broadway, which earned him critical raves and a Tony nomination as Best Actor in a Musical for this star-making role - and a Grammy nomination for the cast album. While starring in Newsies on Broadway at night, he appeared regularly on NBC's hit series Smash. Jeremy also starred in the film adaptation of The Last 5 Years, opposite Oscar and Tony nominee, Anna Kendrick, from the cult musical from Jason Robert Brown was directed by Richard LaGravenese. Jeremy also starred as real life Peter Pan writer J.M. Barrie in the stage musical version of Finding Neverland, directed by Tony-winner Diane Paulus at Boston's legendary A.R.T. theatre. Jeremy reprised his role as Jack Kelly in Disney's live filmed stage production of Newsies which opened in movie theaters around the country last year. He also appears as the voice of Varian in Disney Channel's new animated series, Tangled, based on the 2010 hit movie. Jeremy most recently starred in The CW drama Supergirl opposite Melissa Benoist. On Broadway he played opposite Scandal star Kerry Washington in the drama American Son that was filmed for Netflix this year.

Keala Settle received world-wide attention for portraying Lettie Lutz, a bearded lady, in 2017's musical film The Greatest Showman, alongside stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Zendaya. The song "This Is Me" from the film, principally sung by Settle, won the 2018 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Keala originated the role of Norma Valverde in Hands on a Hardbody, which ran on Broadway in 2013, and was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She was also awarded the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway debut performance during the 2012-13 theatrical season. She has also been featured on Broadway as Madame Thenardier in the 2014 revival of Les Misérables, and originated the role of Becky in the 2016 musical Waitress, after premiering with the original cast at the American Repertory Theater in 2015. She made her Broadway debut in 2011's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as Shirley and in the ensemble. Keala performed in the 2013 Encores! concert staging of Violet with Sutton Foster, but did not move on to the Broadway revival due to taking the role Madame Thénardier in the revival of Les Misérables. She played the role of Tracy Turnblad in the national tour of Hairspray, and appeared in the national tour of the Lincoln Center production of South Pacific as Bloody Mary. Other notable roles include Mrs. Fezziwig in the Pioneer Theatre Company production of the musical A Christmas Carol, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Keala was born in Hawaii, and is a graduate of Kahuku High School, and an alumna of Southern Utah University. She began her singing career as a studio vocalist and one time backup singer for Gladys Knight in Las Vegas. The same week as The Greatest Showman film's U.S. release in December 2017, Settle released her debut EP as Keala, titled "Chapter One," a set of contemporary R&B-infused covers which landed on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart. The follow-up, Chapter Two, arrived shortly thereafter in March 2018. NBC used "This Is Me" as an anthem for their 2018 Winter Olympics coverage.

Seth Rudetsky is the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's On Broadway as well as the host of Seth Speaks on Sirius/XM Stars. As an author, he penned My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan and the sequel The Rise And Fall Of A Theater Geek (Random House) as well as three volumes of Seth's Broadway Diary featuring inside scoop and hilarious stories from all of the stars he's worked with. He co-wrote and co-starred in Disaster! (NY TIMES "critics pick") which also premiered to rave reviews in London. In June 2016, he and his husband, James Wesley, co-produced a recording of "What The World Needs Now" with stars like Idina Menzel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carole King, Audra McDonald which went to number one on iTunes and raised more than $100,000 for the Orlando shooting victims (and is still raising money. Buy it!). Seth and James have a foundation called Your Kids Our Kids that presented Concert For America; a series around the country featuring stars like Barry Manilow, Stephanie Mills, Vanessa Williams, Tina Fey, Randy Rainbow and Audra McDonald that raised money for 5 non-profits that have been working relentlessly since the 2016 presidential election. They also present Voices for The Voiceless, a yearly star-studded concert for You Gotta Believe which helps older foster children find families, even if they've aged out of the system. If you want to hang out with Seth and James and a bunch of Broadway stars performing up a storm, come on one of their cruises! In October 2020 their Transatlantic Crossing sails to England, in February 2020 they journey to the Caribbean, and in June 2020 to The Adriatic and Greek Isles. More info at SethsBroadwayVacations.com.

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