TESS, a new rock opera
Annie Pasqua
(Music, Lyrics, and Libretto)
The Writers
Jenna Pasqua
(Music, Lyrics, and Libretto)
Annie Pasqua is an award winning singer, pianist, and composer whose performance credits include Carnegie Hall, Nassau Coliseum, and Good Morning America. Annie started playing the piano at age four, taught by her mother Susan and by age seven, Annie was composing pieces for the piano. At age ten, Annie began studying classical piano with noted American concert pianist Morton Estrin, who also taught Billy Joel and Deborah Gibson.
Attending NYU on a music scholarship, Annie studied music composition with Dr. Joseph Church, conductor and musical director of Broadway's Tommy and The Lion King. Annie graduated first in her class from NYU and went on to receive her Masters in Composition from Queens College. Annie was accepted into the BMI Lehman Engel Music Theater Writing Workshop as a Composer/Lyricist, working with Skip Kennon, Richard Enquist, and Maury Yeston as a member of the advanced workshop.
In addition, Annie is a highly sought after musical director, having musical directed productions at NYMF, The York Theatre, and Symphony Space. In June 2010, Annie and sister Jenna were proud to present a staged reading Tess at the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, where it received an overwhelming 7 nominations including Best Musical and Best Score.
In October 2010, Tess played a sold out extended run at the New York Musical Theatre Festival and was named by the New York Post as one of the few musicals to have an Off-Broadway or Broadway future ahead of it. In April 2011, music from Tess was performed at the King’s Head Theatre in London to high praise.
In October 2011, Annie and Jenna were chosen as composer/lyricists for the prestigious Broadway in South Africa Benefit Concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom. and were featured in the Broadway’s Future composer series at Lincoln Center in 2011 and 2012. In January 2013, Annie and Jenna were honored to perform with Stephen Schwartz, Mark Shaiman, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and other notable Broadway talent for the From Broadway with Love benefit concert for the families of Newtown, Connecticut. In March 2013, music from Tess was featured at the From Page to Stage Gala at the Landor Theatre in London. In May 2013, Annie and Jenna performed an entire evening of original works for the Broadway's Future Composer Songbook Series at Lincoln Center.
In addition to Tess, Annie and Jenna are writing book, music, and lyrics to OCD, and other Tales from the DSM and The Boyfriend Chronicles.
Annie is a proud member of ASCAP, The Dramatists Guild, and GIAA.
Jenna Pasqua is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress who has performed at Alice Tully Hall, The Kennedy Center, and The Tilles Center. Jenna attended The Long Island High School for the Performing Arts, where she studied with film veteran Bert Michaels and was awarded the Stephanie Bell Musical Theatre Scholarship upon graduation. Jenna also studied theater and dance at the Usdan Center for the Performing Arts and went on to study voice at the Juilliard School on scholarship. Jenna earned her BFA in Acting from Montclair State University.
Jenna first starting receiving attention for her writing at age 7, winning statewide competitions for young composers. Jenna has been involved with Tess throughout its entire development and arranges and orchestrates the show as well as co-writing music, lyrics, and libretto with sister Annie.
On stage, Jenna was last seen as Tess at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in October 2010, where Tess played a sold out extended run. She was awarded Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical at the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, where Tess played as staged readings in June 2010. Jenna has also appeared as Tess at the musical’s staged reading at the York Theatre and has performed numbers from Tess at Don’t Tell Mama, The Tilles Center and on PBS. She has also performed with Kenny Rogers as well on Good Morning America and was recently heard on Seth Rudetsky’s “On Broadway” show on Sirius XM.
In April 2011, music from Tess was performed at the King’s Head Theatre in London to high praise. In October 2011, Annie and Jenna were chosen as composer/lyricists for the prestigious Broadway in South Africa Benefit Concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom. In 2011 and 2012, Jenna and Annie were proud of present their original works for the Broadway’s Future concert at Lincoln Center. In January 2013, Annie and Jenna were honored to perform with Stephen Schwartz, Mark Shaiman, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and other notable Broadway talent for the From Broadway with Love benefit concert for the families of Newtown, Connecticut. In March 2013, music from Tess was featured at the From Page to Stage Gala at the Landor Theatre in London. In May 2013, Annie and Jenna performed an entire evening of original works for the Broadway's Future Composer Songbook Series at Lincoln Center.
In addition to Tess, Jenna and Annie are writing book, music, and lyrics to OCD, and other Tales from the DSM and The Boyfriend Chronicles.
Jenna is also a devoted singer/songwriter, working on a solo album that she plans to release later this year.
Jenna is a proud member of Actors’ Equity, ASCAP, The Dramatists Guild and GIAA.
