the gods of comedy
“Cannizzaro [is] a rising New York star [...] Director Amanda Dehnert and her capable cast also keep the energy sustained with the ever-kinetic Cannizzaro and Oscar leading the way.”
“Oscar and Cannizzaro bring the full zany, and you’d have to be comatose not to laugh. Cannizzaro, in particular, shows off a sprightly energy that keeps the production moving."
-Culture Vulture | The Gods of Comedy, The Old Globe
“Cannizzaro and Oscar bring the comedic charm as the titular gods with their scene stealing energy.”
-BroadwayWorld Review | The Gods of Comedy, The Old Globe
“With thunder, confetti, and the Star Wars theme, Dionysius (two-time Tony nominee Brad Oscar) and Thalia (Jessie Cannizzaro) make an unforgettable entrance that picks up the play immediately. Both actors are fully invested in their zany characters and instinctively know how to pace for the biggest laughs—and they get them.”
-Broadstreet Review | The Gods of Comedy, The McCarter Theatre
“Predictably, Oscar and Cannizzaro walk away with The Gods of Comedy, emboldened by the go-for-broke script and some clever stage effects that allow them [...] to show off their powers.”
-San Diego CityBeat | The Gods of Comedy, The Old Globe
“Dionysus is played marvelously by Broadway veteran Brad Oscar. Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, matches the brilliance of Dionysus with a vivid and playful performance by Jessie Cannizzaro. [...] All seven actors are terrific, with Oscar and Cannizzaro serving as the standouts with a lion's share of the laughs.”
-BroadwayWorld Review | The Gods of Comedy, The McCarter Theatre
“Brad Oscar and Jessie Cannizzaro form an outstanding comic duo. The exuberant, feisty lust for life that Oscar brings to Dionysus, paired with the impish charm with which Cannizzaro infuses Thalia, keeps the audience eager to follow their antics.”
-Town Topics Review | The Gods of Comedy, The McCarter Theatre
“The fast paced comedy will delight audiences with the humor, quick timing, a touch of slap-stick and the wonderful comedic pairing of the two leads, Jessie Cannizzaro and Brad Oscar. [...] [They deliver] outstanding, hilarious, clever performances. They play off of each other’s banter, their physical comedy is wonderful as is their timing and their facial expressions are as comedic as the lines they present.”
-The Vista Press | The Gods of Comedy, The Old Globe
PUFFS
“Just witnessing Stout’s Alan Rickman, Philips’ Maggie Smith and Cannizzaro’s Bippy the house elf are worth the price of admission.”
"[Puffs] never goes more than a minute without a laugh, mining its humor from meta jokes, impressive physical gags, and its characters’ charming ineptitude. "
-Nerdist | Puffs, New World Stages
"So fans of Harry Potter […] will likely be charmed by Puffs, a new Off Broadway Potter parody/alternate story of sorts that’s packed with knowing winks to its source material and has a heart all its own"
-Entertainment Weekly | Puffs, The Elektra Theater
“Jessie Cannizzaro, Nick Carillo, AJ Ditty, and Ellie Philips round out the cast, all of them special and funny in their own fantastic and brilliant ways [...] Put simply, the cast is great, and they do Cox’s script a great service.”
-OnStage | Puffs, The Peoples Improv Theater
“Many familiar characters pop up, played by a fine ensemble […] Puffs exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry.”
-The New York Times | Puffs, The Peoples Improv Theater
“The rest of the company includes skillful comedians [...] who masterly portray what seems to be hundreds of characters each, some new and some familiar. Just witnessing Stout’s Alan Rickman, Philips’ Maggie Smith and Cannizzaro’s Bippy the house elf are worth the price of admission.”
-Frequent Business Traveler | Puffs, New World Stages
“Favorite performances included Eleanor Philips’ portrayal of Professors McGonnagal and Sprout, Madeleine Bundy’s portrayal of Harry Potter, and Jessie Cannizzaro’s brief but memorable portrayal of Draco Malfoy.”
-Times Square Chronicles | Puffs, New World Stages
"Puffs biggest asset is the entire twelve member ensemble, a gilded Pandora's comedy jack-in-the-box of solid performers as good as the best of any Broadway season. They revel in each other's agility to the point of almost cracking up at one another's comic sincerity."
-Edge Media Network | Puffs, New World Stages
Hamlet The Hip-Hopera
“However, the highlight performance for me was Jessie Cannizzaro who captures the angelic Ophelia with such grace and delicacy. Cannizzaro’s voice floats above the music and commands attention.”
“Jessie Cannizzaro plays a beautifully-voiced, convincing Ophelia.”
-Theater Pizzazz | Hamlet the Hip-Hopera, FringeNYC
“However, the highlight performance for me was Jessie Cannizzaro who captures the angelic Ophelia with such grace and delicacy. Cannizzaro’s voice floats above the music and commands attention, especially in her confrontation with Hamlet in the ‘nunnery’ scene.”
-Theatre Is Easy | Hamlet the Hip-Hopera, FringeNYC
“Stand out performances were delivered by Ophelia (Jessie Cannizzaro) a soulful light singer and Hamlet himself…It was when these two had scenes together that the real heart of the show had a chance to shine.”
-NY Theatre Guide | Hamlet the Hip-Hopera, FringeNYC
“The impressive supporting cast, under the direction of Phoebe Brooks, evinces a fine understanding of their characters’ thoughts, emotions, and actions. […] This is a must-see show, and for those who can’t make it to FringeNYC, a must-travel production.”
-Phindie | Hamlet the Hip-Hopera, FringeNYC
…AND MORE…
HAMLET
“Jessie Cannizzaro plays the Prince of Denmark with aplomb, bringing a kind of charm and exuberance (however unsettling that may be) to the character; it’s simply electrifying to watch.”
Markets Media | Hamlet, American Theatre of Actors
MY LITTLE RED/GREEN COAT
Tony Award winner Laura Benanti after retweeting My Little Red/Green Coat (View here): “Jess Cannizzaro you are so WONDERFUL and beautiful and talented!!”
THE PINKERTONIAN MYSTERY
“The actors in the show are wonderful, especially the woman (Jessie Cannizzaro) playing the very attractive, and very duplicitous Kate Warren.”
-History News Network | The Pinkertonian Mystery, New-York Historical Society
UP AND AWAY
“Generosity and gentleness of spirit may be the two most striking features of “Up and Away,” a joyous new show created for children on the autism spectrum...Worthy endeavors are easy to applaud, but “Up and Away,” [...] is small-batch, immersive theater at its most thoughtful and deliberate....It was surprising, even moving, to see artists consider [the audience] so deeply, in such a compassionate embrace of human variety.”
-The New York Times | Up and Away, Lincoln Center
THE MYSTERIES
"The Bats give emotionally (and sometimes literally) naked performances as they boldly illuminate this millennia-old tale. [...] There are too many brilliant moments to mention them all."
- Theatermania | The Mysteries, The Flea