Gerald Sternbach

Gerald Sternbach is one of Los Angeles’ foremost musical directors, now starting his sixth season as musical director of Reprise! Broadway’s Best in Concert (Los Angeles’ version of New York’s Encores! series), which included ON YOUR TOES. He was presented in early 2007 the Joel Hirschhorn award for excellence in the musical theater by the LA Drama Critics Circle. In addition, he has won one Theater LA Ovation Award and two Garland awards. He is proud to have been handed the baton from the late, great Peter Matz, assisting him in 14 shows during Reprise’s first five seasons. Recent highlights include NO STRINGS (Scott Bakula), SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Manoel Felciano, Kelli O’ Hara), ZORBA (Marc Kudisch, Judy Kaye, Camille Saviola), COMPANY (Chris Sieber, Judith Light), KISMET (Len Cariou), BABES IN ARMS (Joey McIntyre), ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (Carolee Carmello, Bob Gunton, Mimi Hines) ANYTHING GOES (Rachel York, Brent Barrett and Jason Graae) and FOLLIES (starring Patty Duke, Vicki Carr, Harry Groener and Donna McKechnie). He made his LA Philharmonic debut at the Hollywood Bowl the summer of 2005 as on-stage pianist for Stephen Sondheim’s 75th Birthday—The Concert, also assisting Paul Gemignani. He also worked in a pre-production capacity assisting John Mauceri at the Bowl playing rehearsals for the musicals THE MUSIC MAN, MY FAIR LADY , MAME and CAMELOT. He has accompanied a wide variety of artists from Marilyn Horne, Florence Henderson and Carol Burnett to Nancy Wilson, Donna McKechnie, John Lithgow, Kelsey Grammar, and Jennifer Hudson. The winter of 2006, he was seen on stage playing piano for Carrie Fisher in her brilliant one woman show, WISHFUL DRINKING, at the Geffen Playhouse.

Having lived and worked on both coasts, Jerry has been the associate conductor for SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, MERLIN and THE TAP DANCE KID (all on Broadway), LES MISERABLES (L.A. premiere company), and also was the conductor for the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SONG AND DANCE (starring Melissa Manchester). In the fall of 2002, he musically directed the star-studded Actor’s Fund Benefit honoring the music of Richard Rodgers, SOMETHING WONDERFUL. Other MD credits include four S.T.A.G.E benefits; two Les Girls Benefits (for National Breast Cancer Coalition); three of Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Divas Simply Singing Benefits—all star-studded; two benefits featuring the original casts of A CHORUS LINE and DREAMGIRLS—a Michael Bennett tribute for the 17th anniversary of LA Shanti; and for A HOLLYWOOD SALUTE TO BROADWAY, one of the first AIDS Benefits held in Los Angeles (directed by Jeff Calhoun and held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion). Jerry was co-M.D. with Peter Matz for a S.T.A.G.E. benefit honoring Sondheim (recorded on Varese/Sarabande). As a songwriter/composer, his songs have been heard in ASCAP Rising Songwriter Showcases on both coasts, in Cabaret Conventions at New York’s Town Hall and at the Hollywood Roosevelt’s Cinegrill. He has had music and songs (in collaboration with Lindy Robbins) performed around the country in the 1993–1998 editions of the Ringling Brothers’ Circus Red Unit. He has also contributed music to the musicals HEARTBEATS (in collaboration with Amanda McBroom and Bill Castellino), the long running THE GAY 90’S—LOOKING BACK AND MOVING ON (both on Varese/Sarabande), HAPPY HOLIDAYS and the riotous VAMPIRE VIRGINS FROM VENUS (written with Gary MacAuley and directed by David Gallligan).

His song “Mary” (written in collaboration with Faye Greenberg)—a paean to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”—was performed on the 2003 TV Land Awards show by Eric McCormack—in the presence of the original cast of he landmark sitcom. His rave-reviewed, world premiere musical in collaboration with Elin Hampton—MOMMY, MOMMY-the musical musical, which ran successfully at the Hudson Backstage Theater in the spring of 2007—has been optioned for further production.