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Review: SWEET CHARITY! at The JAXX Theater Hollywood is “must see” MUSICAL THEATRE!

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Review: SWEET CHARITY! at The JAXX Theater Hollywood is “must see” MUSICAL THEATRE!

SWEET CHARITY!

Disclosure: Sunday 3/22/26  7pm Performance with two understudies!

Presented by Jaxx Theatricals of Hollywood  AEA 50 Seat Signatory

5432 W. Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, CA  90029

 

Creatives:

Book by Neil Simon   based on Fellini’s Film Nights of Cabiria 

Music Directed & Conducted by

Publicity by SANDRA KUKER PR 

Photo: Ren Shelburne

 

Jaxx’s production introduces triple threat performer Kasey Hentz in the titular role. Tom Sys (A Queen’s Runway) co-stars as Oscar and Amor Christensen* (Broadway’s Hamilton) doubles as Daddy Brubeck and Frenchy and Ana Dragovich as Ursula, Natalie Reff as Nickie and Alex Mojaher as Vittorio Vidal. The principal cast is brilliantly completed with Ai Yamato as Helene and Aryiel Hartman (Burlesque’s Claire, the Loon) as a fanatastic gender-swapped Mme. Herman.

POW! THRUST! BAM! JAXX’s Charity case is the best polished musical theater production currently on the boards in LA!  Musical Theater god, James Lent, took a four piece hugely talented band with only a five piece orchestrations to sound magically like a full orchestra bringing a solid punch to each number!  Creatively choreographed geometrically with not a square inch left unused across the formidable proscenium! Lighting truss to create a center curtain egress but also double as an elevator was sheer innovation worthy of an Ovation unto itself! Mics were too hot for the softer songs but the sparkly sexploitation costumes make their #Metoo point however the pulled ANNIE OAKLEY costumes for the mise-en-scene chorus number looked a little too pulled (they need Mylette Nora to pull) within the perfect dramatic moody lighting of the Fandango taxi-dance nightclub.  Risque’ costumes and Fosse burlesque bend overs are not for the Disney family musical gate droppers. Overall, Lucas grasps the in-depth work of presenting the centrifuge of the realistic vs naturalistic pull and tug of making a living while playing by the men’s rules..

 

Charity Hope Valentine (Kasey Hentz) has the bright vocal chops perfect for Cy Coleman’s score along with  the voice and beauty of Lea Michele but with Neil Simon comic timing of a Queens beauty, Fran Drescher. Scene stealers seen stealing were Ursula (Ana Dragovich) in her realistic ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK  interps then Brubeck (Amor Christiansen) bringing UP the full house to their feet with a full throttled RHYTHM OF LIFE! in his sexy Brad Pitt THELMA AND LOUISE charms! (Who forgot this four part harmony standard HS choral piece derived from the salacious SWEET CHARITY?)  Deftly directed, efficiently staged and Fossily choreographed inside an extended black rectangle theater by its inspired founder, Jeremy Lucas. 

 

The professional Ensemble features Taylor Bailey, Juliana DeSilva, Brennan Eckberg (Vittorio U/S), Anna Gagliardo, Genevieve Grey (Nickie U/S), Sofia Gutierrez (Helene U/S), KiSea Katikka, JD Morabito, Charlotte Nevins, Andrew (AJ) Sear & Kyler Wells. Ellis Meng (AKA Alexia Yumi) serves as the production’s Burlesque Consultant. 

Jeremy Lucas’ SWEET CHARITY! of JAXX Hollywood Theatricals  and Bruce Kimmel’S DRAT THE CAT! of The Group Rep Theatre of North Hollywood are formidable proof Hollywood is no longer just a Netflix town but an industry concept because these two pillars of musical theater are air lifting Broadway to Los Angeles.

Few TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Street parking 1 block west of 101 FWY. METRO stop Red Line B Santa Monica Blvd./Vermont Ave. station 1 Block east of 101 FWY.  Dinner nearby at Tlayuda Oaxacan restaurant for savory mole’ before this salacious musical! Go Go Grandparent for reduced Lyft fares.

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2026 Theater Fans’ Choice Awards – Live Stats

Best Long-Running Broadway Show – Top 3

1.
Hadestown

18.4% of votes

2.
Hamilton

16.6% of votes

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