In December of 2021, I had a great conversation with Larry Lelli about his incredible journey through music and Broadway. Larry talked about growing up in the Midwest, studying jazz performance at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and how those early experiences shaped his approach to drumming. From there, he played with major country artists in Nashville before making the move to New York City.
Once in New York, Larry started out subbing on Broadway shows like Miss Saigon and Les Misérables. Over time, his talent and professionalism led him to land his own chairs on hit productions such as The Producers and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He shared what it takes to build a lasting career on Broadway — from being prepared and versatile to knowing how to connect with the right people.
We also talked about the challenges of managing subs, creating drum parts for dance-heavy shows, and recording for Broadway cast albums and the Tony Awards. Larry’s experiences as both a drummer and producer show just how much dedication and teamwork go into every performance.
If you’re interested in Broadway, drumming, or what it takes to build a real career in music, you’ll get a lot of inspiration and insight from this conversation.