Jace LeGarde. Photo submitted.
DD ARTIST PROFILE SERIES: Singer and Actor Jace LeGarde Widens His Horizons Back in His Hometown
Born and raised in Duluth and a graduate of Hermantown High School, Jace LeGarde said, “I have so much pride in being a native Duluthian - this is the greatest city in the world!” Jace is thrilled to be playing one of the famous Four Seasons quartet members in the Duluth Playhouse’s upcoming musical, “Jersey Boys,” September 13-29 at the historic NorShor Theatre in Duluth.
After high school, LeGarde went to Illinois Wesleyan University for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre. “I absolutely loved my time in this program. While there, I got the chance to workshop several musicals, participate and perform in productions of many different styles, and develop my craft in unique and individualized ways.”
While still an undergrad, he started auditioning and performing in regional theaters nationwide and then decided to move to New York. There, he did gigs singing in cabaret bars, auditioned nearly every day, and bartended and walked dogs to make ends meet. Then, when the pandemic began, and performing and bartending were the first jobs to hit the chopping block, Jace decided to move back home.
After reflecting on himself as an artist and performer, he decided that the competitive aspect of a career in performing arts was not a great fit for him. He said he “spent a lot of time in New York craving stability and a simpler life while watching his peers thriving in this fast-paced, crazy industry.”
“Being back in Duluth was like I was living here for the first time,” he explained. “I couldn’t believe how much theatre and art had exploded here since I’d left six years earlier. Even though it was my hometown, Duluth really felt like home for the first time, and I gained a sense of clarity, realizing quickly that everything I needed and wanted was here.”
Once he had moved back to Duluth, he began to work as a speech coach for Duluth East and worked on choreographing a musical at Hermantown. “This kind of sparked a new passion in taking on more of a coach-like position. I started taking on a few private voice students, and it immediately clicked that this is what I should be doing.”
In that endeavor, Jace is also currently pursuing his Master of Music in Commercial Contemporary Voice Pedagogy through Shenandoah University. He noted that this is one of the pioneering pedagogy programs in the world that honor and appreciate all styles of vocal music.
“It is exciting to be a small part of this legacy and to pass along what I learn to my students and colleagues, he said. “I feel incredibly grateful to be learning from some of the best voice pedagogues in the industry and extremely excited to see where this love of teaching takes me.”
“I never thought it would be an option to support myself as an artist here in Duluth, and I’m very grateful to have had this nudge from the universe to realize this possibility!” he added.
Back Onstage
Despite the rest of his busy schedule, Jace has enjoyed acting at Zeitgeist in a production of “Daddy Longlegs” and appearing at the Playhouse in several productions, including “Into the Woods,” “Ragtime,” “Little Women,” and “The Sound of Music.”
Jace playing Jervis in “Daddy Longlegs” For Renegade Theater Company (Photo by Joe Olivieri)
“We are so fortunate to have so much theatre right in our backyard. Every show I’ve been involved in with the Duluth Playhouse has been so magical,” he said.
Jace as Captain von Trapp singing Edelweiss in the Playhouse production of The Sound of Music (Photo by Terry Cartie Norton)
“I find myself mentioning “Ragtime” pretty often in my life. This was my first production with the Playhouse in over ten years, and I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. The artists, both local and guest, involved in that production were genuinely incredible and that story is so beautifully written.”
He added, “Theatre always knows exactly how and when to heal something in me. I have seen and been in productions that so perfectly articulated how something in my life is going in that moment that it is therapeutic. It’s a perfect art form for that, whether that’s through escapism or the catharsis of tackling those feelings head on.”
Family Support
Enjoying time with his parents, Barb and John LeGarde, is one of Jace’s greatest joys. (Photo submitted)
“My parents have been my biggest supporters since day one and I am constantly in awe of their relationship and commitment to each other. I often say they set the bar too high for my expectations in a relationship! I also have the greatest friends in the world who constantly understand and forgive my busy schedule,” he said.
Alex, Jace, and their two dogs, Manny and Oshie, soak in the beauty of Canal Park and the Lift Bridge. (Photo Submitted)
Jace and his fiancé Alex have been together for nearly four years. Alex has introduced him to the world of traveling, and they are always looking forward to the next pin they get to put in their map. They plan to go with Jace’s parents to Winchester, Virginia, next spring for his graduation.
Up Next “Jersey Boys”
Jace explained, “Jersey Boys is a show that has never been on my radar, but I am so glad I got involved in this production and very excited for people to see this. This show is so different vocally than what I’m used to singing, and it’s been a fun challenge to stretch myself in that way.”
He noted, “We crave humanity now more than ever, and this show is such an exciting snapshot of a specific period of time and explores complex chosen family relationships so beautifully.”
“I hope everyone leaves this show feeling a sense of lightness, that they can take away a theme of forgiveness, and that they can have the courage to embrace change, both positive and negative, in their lives.”
Playing the “Jersey Boys” are Eric Elefson (Tommy Devito), Jace LeGarde (Bob Gaudio), Connor Bailey (Frankie Valli), and Ole Dack (Nick Massi)
“Jersey Boys”
The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio
Lyrics by Bob Crewe
Duluth Playhouse at the NorShor Theatre
211 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802
Performances:
September 13 - 29, 2024
Thursdays - Saturdays @ 7:30pm
Sunday Matinees at 2pm
Audio Description: September 15 @ 2pm
ASL Interpretation: September 27 @ 7:30pm
For tickets, call 218-733-7555 or go to www.duluthplayhouse.org/shows/jersey-boys
From the Playhouse: Set against the gritty backdrop of 1950s New Jersey, the jukebox musical tells the riveting story of young Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi as they claw their way to the top of the music world. Determined to escape their rough beginnings, they join forces with songwriter Bob Gaudio, creating the legendary Four Seasons.
Their breakout hit, "Sherry," catapults them into the spotlight, leading to a string of chart-toppers like "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man." But as their fame skyrockets, so do the pressures and conflicts within the group, threatening to tear them apart.
Through it all, Frankie Valli pushes forward, carving out a solo career that cements his place in music history. The musical climaxes with the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, a powerful tribute to their enduring impact and the unforgettable songs that defined a generation.
