Broadway actor Robin de Jesús returns home to Norwalk for one-night show
“I never thought of myself as a writer. But I took a writing class...and realized that these lists I was making, and these little cabarets I was doing, that’s writing.”
Robin de Jesús
Robin de Jesús said that he grew up in Norwalk’s Crystal Theatre but hasn’t performed in town in more than a decade.
The actor has been busy elsewhere. He’s performed on TV shows like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” according to his IMDb page, as well as Hulu’s “Welcome to Chippendales.” De Jesús has also been in Broadway shows including “Wicked,” “In the Heights,” “Rent,” and “La Cage aux Folles” — racking up three Tony Award Nominations — and Netflix’s adaptation of “Tick, Tick...Boom!” according to a news release from the Music Theatre of Connecticut.
On March 23, the theater will host de Jesús for a much more personal show. “Getting Started” is a cabaret that de Jesús said explores the music and theater that got him interested in the profession.
“My definition of cabaret is a really intimate storytelling,” de Jesús said, adding that “Getting Started” is infused with humor.
This will not be de Jesús’s first time performing this show. He said he premiered it in St. Louis in November, and that performing in an intimate, live setting helped him figure out where to make tweaks and tighten up.
The actor said that he’s always made lists of songs that had an impact on them, and then he would look for a through line that connected some of the songs to his life. He would then work with a director to turn these into cabaret performances.
“I never thought of myself as a writer,” de Jesús said. “But I took a writing class...and realized that these lists I was making, and these little cabarets I was doing, that’s writing.”
The musical director for “Getting Started,” Kyle Brenn, is also from Norwalk. de Jesús said that although the two had different experiences growing up, he’s enjoyed working with someone who understands the city’s culture.
While he’s back visiting his hometown, de Jesús said he plans to go to the beach, visit one of Norwalk’s many Colombian restaurants, make a trip to Stew Leonard’s and spend time with his nieces and nephews.
“I also have a part of Norwalk where I’d like to buy a home one day,” he said. “So, I’ll go through there to manifest that.”
“Getting Started,” begins at 8 p.m. on March 23. Tickets are $65 and available through the Music Theatre of Connecticut’s website.