Jared is originally from Iowa and now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up surrounded by the performing arts, which sparked an early and lasting connection to theatre. His training spans music, dance, and theatre, including BFA-level musical theatre work. He holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing and Communications with coursework in Music and Theatre, as well as a master’s degree in Organizational Management and Public Administration.
Some of his favorite stage experiences include State Fair, Oliver, Guys and Dolls, Working, Damn Yankees, A Chorus Line, and The Crucible (opera).
Professionally, Jared works in workforce development and IT. He is also an accomplished photographer and a commercial model, having appeared in numerous advertisements for large corporate companies. While his career has taken him beyond the stage, his love for the arts remains central to his life—he regularly attends productions, participates in workshops, and occasionally performs.
A longtime reader of Broadway World, Jared has come full circle as the platform now features his own work, reflecting the role theatre continues to play in his life.
You can follow his creative journey on Instagram at @jaredfessler.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Jared Fessler
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When it comes to musical preferences, Jared’s top favorites include A Chorus Line, Aladdin, Allegiance, Beautiful, Company, The Color Purple, Hamilton, Jekyll and Hyde, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Light in the Piazza, The Notebook, Phantom of the Opera, The Prom, Ragtime, Six, Sweeney Todd, Waitress, Wicked, and The Wiz.MOST POPULAR ARTICLES
March 1, 2026
What did our critic think of AS YOU LIKE IT at Novagrex?
March 1, 2026
What did our critic think of DISNEY ON ICE ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE at Target Center Minneapolis?
February 25, 2026
Some musicals are flashy and loud, but Kimberly Akimbo captivates quietly, drawing you in with humor, heart, and honesty. From the first moment on stage, it becomes clear that this is a story about people — messy, awkward, hopeful people — rather than spectacle.
February 24, 2026
As the touring production of The Music Man makes its way to Mason City, Iowa, it feels less like just another tour stop and more like a homecoming. After all, this is the hometown of composer Meredith Willson—the very place that inspired River City.
February 24, 2026
Seeing Glen Phillips at the Dakota Jazz Club on February 23 felt easy in the best way. No production, no band, no big entrance. It was just him, a guitar, and a room full of people who really wanted to be there.
February 22, 2026
What did our critic think of THE CAKE at Theatre In The Round?
February 22, 2026
What did our critic think of BRANDI CARLILE: BE HUMAN TOUR at Target Center Minneapolis?
February 21, 2026
What did our critic think of GUYS AND DOLLS at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres?
February 20, 2026
On February 19, Conan Gray hit the Target Center in Minneapolis for the Wishbone World Tour, and honestly, it felt like we were all just hanging out in his world for a few hours. From the very first note of “My World,” the energy in the arena was insane. Everyone knew every word, screaming along like they’d been waiting their whole lives for this night.
February 18, 2026
The barricade is up at the Orpheum Theatre, and yep — Les Misérables still packs a punch. It’s in town through February 22 with the Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin series, and whether you’re a longtime fan or finally seeing what all the fuss is about, this cast makes it worth the trip downtown.
February 13, 2026
What did our critic think of BLUE MAN GROUP at State Theatre Minneapolis?
February 13, 2026
Thursday night at Orchestra Hall had a different kind of energy right from the start. The place was full, and you could feel that people knew this wasn’t just another concert — it was the first time Cantus and The King’s Singers were sharing the stage.
February 10, 2026
Les Misérables returns to the Orpheum Theatre February 17–22, bringing one of the most beloved musicals in theatre history back to Minneapolis. Set in 19th-century France, the show’s sweeping story of hope, sacrifice, and redemption continues to resonate just as strongly today as it did when it first premiered.
February 9, 2026
On February 22, 2026, Flipphone Events brings the heat to Heated Rivalry Drag Brunch at Quincy Hall in Minneapolis, featuring a special performance by Locky Brownlie, the creator and star of BROLESQUE.
February 9, 2026
The Happiest Man on Earth is the kind of show that quietly asks you to sit down, listen, and really pay attention. There’s no spectacle here, no flashy staging—just one man telling a story that’s stayed with him for a lifetime.
February 8, 2026
What did our critic think of ERIC CHURCH: FREE THE MACHINE TOUR at Grand Casino Arena?
February 6, 2026
Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures comes to the Twin Cities, it will be a special homecoming for Kenny Short, a Minnesota native and cast member of the touring production. Performing in front of a hometown audience, Kenny is part of the ensemble bringing this energetic, family-friendly show to Target Center, February 27–March 1, 2026.
February 5, 2026
Set in the American South of the 1920s and 1940s, Bright Star tells a story about love, loss, and the things we carry with us whether we want to or not. When Alice Murphy, a literary editor, meets a young soldier just home from World War II, something shifts. That meeting opens a door Alice has kept closed for a long time, and once it cracks open, there’s no turning back.
February 3, 2026
In 1986, Tamara Erickson was just nine years old when she appeared on the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres stage as Marta Von Trapp in The Sound of Music—the second child from the left, brimming with confidence and joy. At the time, no one could have predicted that this young performer would one day help lead the very theatre where her journey began.
February 3, 2026
Theatre in the Round Players kicks off 2026 with How to Catch Creation, Christina Anderson’s moving and lyrical play about what it means to create—and to connect—with art, with others, and with ourselves.
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