Still More Theater Saturday - Jelly's Last Jam

We were given complimentary tickets to Jelly's Last Jam for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Jelly's Last Jam 

Where: New York City Center

             131 W. 55th St.

             New York, NY 

Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up

When: Through March 3, 2024

If you want to see some incredible dancing, you aren't going to want to miss City Center Encores! production of Jelly's Last Jam. The music is amazing as well especially if you like jazz. While the voices are great in general, three performers in particular deserve special mention. Tiffany Mann, who plays Mamie, clearly was not given the chance to show off her full potential vocally when she previously appeared in Be More Chill because there was no indication in that show that she had the chops to give the powerhouse vocal performance that she gives here.  Joaquina Kalukango, on the other hand, is always a powerhouse even though her performance here is only a hint of the awe-inspiring range that led to midshow standing ovations every night when she starred in Paradise Square. Leslie Uggams was giving powerhouse performances long before the other two were born, but vocally she hasn't lost a step, and her extraordinary performance here reflects that.

Despite all the fabulous dancing and singing, not everything is great about the show. At least as portrayed here, the main character, Jelly Roll Morton, who is, of course, based on an actual person, is kind of a jerk. He is rude, full of himself, and has no regard for other people and their feelings. Accordingly, he is hard to like and/or root for. He is not even really an antihero because even an antihero should have some redeemable qualities. Nevertheless, as unlikeable as the character is, you still aren't going to want to miss the show because of the aforementioned terrific dancing and singing.

And that's our view. For more information or to purchase tickets to one of the few remaining performances of Jelly's Last Jam, visit www.nycitycenter.org/About/our-programs/encores

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits: 

All Jelly's Last Jam production photos by Joan Marcus.

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us here, and we will look into the matter.