Jessi Kirtley

Jessi Kirtley
Kirtley at the curtain call of Operation Mincemeat, 2026
Alma materBaldwin Wallace Conservatory
OccupationActor
Years active2022-present
Websitejessikirtley.com

Jessi Kirtley is an American stage actress. She is known for her performance as Jean Leslie in Operation Mincemeat on Broadway.

Early life and education

Kirtley is from Roswell, Georgia, where she attended Mountain Park Elementary School, Crabapple Middle School, and Roswell High School. She began performing at a young age, partaking in public school musicals, local public theater camps, and dance lessons. In 2018, she received a Schuler Award[nb 1] for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress for her performance as Paulette Bonafonte in Legally Blonde.[1] The next year, for her performance as Mary Poppins as a junior in high school, she was awarded Best Leading Actress.[2][3] Later that year, she performed at the Jimmy Awards, where she was a finalist.[4][5]

Kirtley earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts.[6]

Career

Kirtley's professional theatre career began when she became a member of the Forestburg Playhouse resident company in 2022.[7] Kirtley performed at Cleveland's Beck Center as Lizzie Borden in Lizzie: The Musical (2022)[8] and Molly in Ghost (2023)[9] as part of a collaboration between the Beck Center and Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. In 2023, she led the Great Lakes Theatre production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 as Natasha to critical acclaim.[10][11] The production premiered in Boise, Idaho at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.[12] In 2024, Kirtley played Claire in Ordinary Days at Playhouse Square.[13]

In 2025, Kirtley joined the original Broadway cast of Operation Mincemeat as first cover for Jean Leslie & Others and dance captain, marking her Broadway debut.[14][15] In February 2026, she was promoted to principal for the role.[16][17]

Notes

  1. ↑ Also known as the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards

References

  1. ↑ Rhame-Minor, Betsy (2019-05-06). "Roswell Student Receives Award for Best Actress". Roswell, GA Patch. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  2. ↑ Fuller, Sally (2026-04-09). "Broadway dreams come true for Roswell native and 'Operation Mincemeat' star Jessi Kirtley". ARTS ATL. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  3. ↑ Lane, Mary Anne (2019-06-13). "Georgia's Top Student Actors Compete In National High School Musical Theatre Awards". Georgia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  4. ↑ Peacock, Keith (2020-05-28). "Faces of ITS: Jessi Kirtley". Dramatics Magazine Online. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  5. ↑ "From Atlanta to Broadway: Jimmy Awards Finalist: Follow-up Interview with Jessi Kirtley". From Atlanta To Broadway. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  6. ↑ "JESSI KIRTLEY - Resume". Actors Access. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  7. ↑ "Who is Jessi Kirtley". TheaterMania. 2025-02-03. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  8. ↑ Smason, Alan (2022-02-12). "Spellbinding 'Lizzie: The Musical' rocks at Beck Center". Theatre Criticism. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  9. ↑ Howey, Christine (2023-02-13). ""Ghost the Musical," Now at the Beck Center, Lacks a Certain Melodic Flair but Delivers the Ghostly Goods". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  10. ↑ Smason, Alan (2023-10-03). "'Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812' mesmerizes at GLT". Theatre Criticism. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  11. ↑ "'Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812' review: Great Lakes production soars". News-Herald. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  12. ↑ Skoutas, Simon; Saadeh, Ursula (2023-10-23). "Theatre students and alums shine in regional premiere of 'Great Comet'". The Exponent. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  13. ↑ Skoutas, Simon; Saadeh, Ursula (2024-03-15). "'Ordinary Days' inspires audiences to appreciate beauty in little things". The Exponent. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
  14. ↑ Hall, Margaret (3 February 2025). "Operation Mincemeat Finds Full Cast and Creative Team For Broadway Bow". Playbill.
  15. ↑ "Interview with Jessi Kirtley - Dreams to Broadway with a slice of Mincemeat". Broadway Unexpected (Podcast). 13 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Jessi Kirtley - Performer". Playbill. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  17. ↑ Kravitz, Jamie (13 February 2026). "Meet Operation Mincemeat's New All-American Cast". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
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