Review: Broadway star Jeremy Jordan delighted his Roy Thomson Hall audience

For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in Toronto’s music and culture. This past week, I had the distinct pleasure of taking in a performance to close out this year’s TSO Pops Series: Spotlight on Broadway, featuring Broadway star Jeremy Jordan and acclaimed conductor Steven Reineke.

Accessibility

When consulting the TSO schedule, keep an eye out for “Relaxed Performances”, which are specifically intended to be sensitive to and welcoming of patrons who may benefit from a more relaxed environment, including but not limited to those on the autism spectrum, those with sensory and communication disorders, and those with learning disabilities.

Roy Thomson Hall is equipped with a Sennheiser FM assisted listening system. The Sennheiser system works with both the induction loop and the stethoset. A limited number of headsets are available. They are free to borrow and can be picked up at the Front of House office at each venue. Booking in advance is not required, but may be done by emailing: frontofhouse@mh-rth.com.

Although TSO services do not include Braille material, one of the team members can be made available to assist visitors by reading any information that would enhance their visit. Upon request, certain materials are available in a large font (18 or larger) to further enrich your experience with us.

There are three house wheelchairs available to transport patrons from the lobby to their seats. Call the House Manager at 416.593.4822 X 357 to reserve in advance. Also available are booster seats (in limited quantities) and earplugs, both of which are complimentary.

The main entrance of Roy Thomson Hall, located at 60 Simcoe Street, is fully accessible.

The Show

As a long-time Broadway fan, I could not have been more thrilled to experience Jeremy Jordan live. Known as one of Broadway’s most successful present day leading men, Jordan has starred in nine Broadway musicals. Some of his greatest hits include Newsies, which was filmed live and can be streamed on Disney +, as well as Bonnie and Clyde, Floyd Collins, and The Great Gatsby. He is currently starring on Broadway, playing the role of Bobby Darin in the musical Just in Time (luckily for us, he was able to take a couple of nights off to visit Toronto!). Some fans may be more familiar with his work on screen, having

starred in TV shows such as Smash, Supergirl, and Disney’s Tangled: The Series, and having starred in the film adaptation of The Last Five Years opposite Anna Kendrick.

Performing with the TSO for three shows, Jordan treated the audience to an incredible set of beautifully performed songs, including some of his greatest hits such as “Broadway Here I Come” from the TV show Smash and “Santa Fe” from Newsies. He performed a fresh, re-arranged version of a Rogers & Hammerstein classic (“Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” from Oklahoma!), several moving ballads (“Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables was a particular highlight), and for a change of pace, an impressive medley of Andy Williams jazz standards. Alongside conductor Reineke, he regaled us with stories and jokes about his experiences on both stage and screen – the two played off of each other very well, with great comedic timing.

Reineke, of note, has established himself as one of the leading conductors of popular music across North America, now in his second decade as Music Director of the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. As the creator of more than 100 orchestral arrangements for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Reineke’s work has been performed worldwide and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings. His passion for what he does was evident on stage, and he was a pleasure to watch.

I must say, while I came for the Broadway music and the performance by Jeremy Jordan, I was left in awe of the performance by the TSO and the beautiful setting of Roy Thomson Hall. I certainly intend to return for more of their performances in the future. Tickets are now on sale for their 2026-2027 season, which starts in September and includes both Classic and Pop performances. The first Pops performance of the year will be in October, featuring “The Music of Bond… James Bond”, and next year’s Broadway guest in June 2027 will be Cheynne Jackson. The full schedule can be viewed on the TSO website: tso.ca