Meeting Leanna - Q&A With Local Performer Leanna Rodgers
The Coachella Valley is brimming with talented musicians and artists - one of whom is the gifted singer and actress Leanna Rodgers. Leanna’s story is one of serendipity, community, nostalgia, and a calling to return to a place she visited as a child. Since arriving in Palm Springs 6 years ago, Leanna has become an artist to watch - dazzling the stages with her theatrical performances in breakout roles such as Sisser in ‘The Sugar Witch,’ which earned her a Desert Star nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama. Professionally singing at intimate venues all over town, she performs as a duo with her husband Miguel Gomez and her jazz band, The Jive (featuring Miguel Gomez, conguero; Eric Lindstrom, piano; and Phillip Pollerana on drums). Leanna’s talent extends across genres from Latin to jazz to bossa nova, her captivating multi-lingual performances filled with so much expression and soul that it will leave you feeling like you’ve taken a step back in time. We excited for the opportunity to sit with her in anticipation of her performance at Mr. Lyons Sessions, the restaurant’s monthly live music series. If you are into sultry music, delicious cocktails and great food, be sure to join us for Leanna & The Jive on February 20th at 6pm at Mr. Lyons for an unforgettable evening. Click HERE for table reservations.
Read on below for our exclusive Q&A with local actress and singer, Leanna Rodgers.
F10 - Tell us a little bit about your life growing up?
LR - I grew up in Long Beach, CA. Born and raised. I come from a family of performers. Some featured on radio stations (when singing live on radio was a staple of broadcasting back in the 1950s.) My Mom and Dad both did Civic Light Opera, Regional and Community Theatre my entire upbringing. My father is a member of the Screen Actor's Guild and was in national commercials. My grandfather, aunts, cousins were singers, performers, dancers. My entire upbringing was one of being surrounded by the arts and self-expression was embraced and nurtured.
F10 - What is something you would like our readers to know about your art?
LR - I embody the music, I tell a story with expressions, acting out the arc of the lyrics and songwriting. It is a spiritual experience for me and I like to share that with my audience in every vocal nuance. My parents did musicals my entire upbringing, and I strayed away from them for a long time… I have since explored roles in musical theatre, and in a cathartic way - the roles I have played have been a homecoming for me - connecting me to my parents. I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts and Directing from California State University, Long Beach, and prior to that was trained as a jazz and classical vocalist in my nationally award-winning jazz ensemble at Long Beach Poly High School - performing at the Hollywood Bowl at the Playboy Jazz Festival, in Washington DC at the International Jazz Educators Convention, and numerous other venues. I went to high school with Snoop Dogg, and was friends with Cameron Diaz and Tyus Edney (he played point guard for UCLA and is considered to be one of the most famous players in NCAA Tournament history). I share this to say, I have been surrounded by highly driven individuals my entire life, which led me on the path to expect the same in my training and subsequent work in the arts, and within my craft.
Leanna Rodgers (left) and the cast of ‘On the Twenty First Century’ opening night at Desert Ensemble Theatre
PC: Jerome Elliot
F10 - What brought you to Palm Springs?
LR - I grew up coming here as a child with my childhood friend Annie Arnold, who owns Organic Wine Exchange. Her grandparents lived here, and she ended up moving here. My husband and I were in transition in Long Beach, looking for our next home and she made an "off the cusp" suggestion and said "why don't you move here". This led us to take the plunge over six years ago, it was the best decision we could have ever made. We love it here! It feels a lot like when I was growing up in Long Beach, families and locals in this town know each other, help each other out, meet up for playdates, etc. There is this sense of community that was felt from the instant we moved here.
F10 - How do you like to spend your free time?
LR - Free time (when it happens) for me consists of listening and researching new music, spending time with friends, connecting with followers of my music (I appreciate them all SO much), and soaking in the various world-class mineral spas of Desert Hot Springs with my husband Miguel (we’ve been known to soak at 3am after a night of performing to unwind and reflect on my performance of the evening) - 24 hour access to these pools is an underrated bonus!!
Leanna Rodgers as Sisser in ‘The Sugar Witch’
F10 - What is your favorite performance and why?
LR - My favorite role: Sisser in ‘The Sugar Witch’ and Eve in ‘Ruthless’ (it's a tie). Most challenging role: Sisser in The Sugar Witch - which I was nominated as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama - Professional. People still come up to me today and say I had an impact on them. Nightmares. I guess wearing a fat suit, and embodying a mentally fragile, murderous, perpetually childlike character, who is wheelchair-bound for almost an entire two-hour production, can have that effect on people. Oh, what fun to torture the minds of theatre patrons for months after playing a role. Ha! All kidding aside, it is truly why I do this - to make a deep impact on the theatergoer, whether it be in drama or comedy.
F10 - What do you hope viewers take away from your musical performances?
LR - A feeling of bliss, a suspension in time, to feel inspired, and for that one moment in time, or in the couple hours that I am entertaining them, to forget whatever is happening in the outside world, and just be in the moment. Whether I am performing jazz, Latin jazz, Bossa Nova or modern charts - I want them to experience something new from my performance.
F10 - Is there a particular place you draw inspiration from when performing?
LR - I actually draw my inspiration from the people I am singing to at that moment. I feed off the energy of the room. And within the music, I draw my inspiration from the nuances of the composition of each song, and the lyrics that I sing.
F10 - Tell us about any upcoming performances or projects that you’re excited about.
LR - I’m so excited about our partnership with the ‘Mr. Lyons Sessions’ and this monthly live music series. After a successful December performance at Mr. Lyons to a packed house, I was so excited to receive the call that management would like to see us back in January 2020 and move the entire event into the beautifully adorned Conservatory space within Mr. Lyons. Since moving here seven years ago, my dream has always been to create a musical experience in Palm Springs that harkens back to the nostalgia of old Hollywood, to the era of Palm Springs where a night out was a glamorous experience, where folks dressed up and went out to listen to the magic of the jazz greats, of musical exploration and fun. I remember coming to Mr. Lyons as a young girl, the feeling was so special, it felt so glamorous dining here - the significance was not lost on me. I love the feel of a room when it’s ‘dressed to the nines’, as much as the entertainers on stage - tablecloths, candlelight, amazing cuisine, impeccable cocktails, attentive service. This is Mr. Lyons’ historical importance in this town and legacy - and to have my dream come to fruition with Leanna & The Jive’s upcoming performance at Mr. Lyons on Jan 16, 2020, and hopefully, monthly affair in the Mr. Lyons Sessions, is beyond words. I am so humbled.
F10 - How have you seen the Coachella Valley Music & Art Scene change during your time living here, and what can we do to support its continued positive growth?
LR - I have seen it grow tremendously. So many venue owners, who otherwise would not have had entertainment, are starting to see the importance of booking live acts. Coachella Valley, and notably, the Palm Springs area, is having a musical and entertainment renaissance. Any night of the week, you can find live entertainment. There is so much great talent here, I am honored to call many of them my friends - both in the amazing theatre scene and music industry. The entertainers support each other here - we go to each other’s shows, we cheer each other on. What you can do to support its continued positive growth is to encourage the venues you frequent to book local talent and to continue to come out and be entertained - for we, as artists, love the support of those that come to be inspired and entertained. We live for it.
Click below to learn more and reserve your spot to see Leanna & The Jive on February 20th.
Interested in booking?
Leanna Rodgers has performed all over the Coachella Valley as a duo with her husband Miguel Gomez on the congas, but can also be booked as Leanna & The Jive’s for private events or venues when a larger band is desired.
