Sixth Grader Set To Perform In New York Musical

While most students will be relaxing during the lazy, hazy days of summer, Tessa Payer, a Ranney sixth-grader, will be adding yet another professional credit to an already impressive resume that includes musical theater, dance and forensics.

In July, Tessa will be a featured performer in an upcoming production of “Annie Kids,” a new musical in development by the creators of the Broadway Jr. series (iTheatrics). After successfully “acing” her New York audition for this role, she will join a prestigious group of students from around the country who will be working with playwrights, choreographers, songwriters, and other NYC theater professionals during the summer as a performer in their pilot program. The program will run for one week (July 26 – 30) and will offer students not only a chance to perform but to lend their input into the development of the script, songs, and staging notes to be included in the school materials for later release to musical theater educators.

Despite her tender age, Tessa is a seasoned professional with a multitude of acting credits to her name both here at Ranney and in local theaters in Monmouth and Ocean counties. She was a member of the Lower School Chorus at Ranney when she was in the third and fourth grade. Among her many performances at Ranney are as a cast member of the 2007 Lower School production of School House Rocks, Jr., as a cast member of the 2008 production of Mulan, Jr. and performing the role of Charlie in the 2009 production of Willy Wonka, Jr. She has also taken part in the MS Cavalcades and is a first year member of the Middle School Chorus, which recently performed at Ranney Voices, Past and Present.

Outside of Ranney, Tessa has appeared in several musical theater productions at the Spring Lake School of Dance and at the Algonquin Theatre in Manasquan, NJ. She recently placed second in Dramatic pairs at the Rumson Country Day Forensics Competition and also continues to hone her singing skills through private lessons and voice lessons with the Monmouth Conservatory.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.