Jeanine Tesori
Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (Mar 4, 2026)
KIMBERLY AKIMBO Set to Perform at Wharton Center in East Lansing (Mar 4, 2026)
Caissie Levy, Adam Kantor & Jo Lampert To Perform at Jewish Queer Youth Gala (Mar 3, 2026)
Photos
Productions
Writing
Composer
Movies
[ 2008 ] music by
[ 2021 ] Aspiring Composer and Lyricist #22
Awards and Nominations
winner
Jeanine Tesori, Kimberly Akimbo
Jeanine Tesori, Kimberly Akimbo
winner
Jeanine Tesori, Kimberly Akimbo
Jeanine Tesori, Kimberly Akimbo
Jeanine Tesori, Soft Power
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Jeanine Tesori, Soft Power
Jeanine TesoriSoft Power
winner
Jeanine Tesori
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Jeanine Tesori, Fun Home
Jeanine Tesori, Fun Home
Jeanine Tesori, Fun Home
Jeanine Tesori, Shrek The Musical
Jeanine Tesori, Shrek the Musical
winner
Jeanine Tesori, Caroline, or Change
winner
Jeanine Tesori, Caroline, or Change
Jeanine Tesori, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Jeanine Tesori, Caroline, or Change
Jeanine Tesori, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Jeanine Tesori, Twelfth Night
Jeanine Tesori, Violet
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Jeanine Tesori, Violet
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Jeanine Tesori
winner
Jeanine Tesori
Videos
Video: Louise Pitre Leads Canadian Premiere of KIMBERLY AKIMBO
by Joshua Wright - 2026-01-22 11:12:19
Video: Sam Pinkleton Reacts to Tony Win for Best Director of a Play
by Joey Mervis - 2025-06-09 00:08:35
Video: The Avett Brothers Perform During SWEPT AWAY Opening Night Curtain Call
by Stephi Wild - 2024-11-20 07:44:29
Video: BLUE By Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson At Chicago Lyric Opera
by A.A. Cristi - 2024-11-19 18:29:46
Video: First Look at Jeanine Tesori's GROUNDED at the Met Opera
by Joshua Wright - 2024-09-16 16:16:32
Video: Jeanine Tesori and Michael Mayer on the Met Opera's GROUNDED
by Joshua Wright - 2024-09-11 17:39:07
Video: Carolee Carmello and Miguel Gil Sing 'Now' at KIMBERLY AKIMBO Tour Sitzprobe
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-09-01 10:37:54
Exclusive Video: First Look at SOFT POWER at Signature Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2024-08-13 12:00:20
Video: Go Inside Rehearsals & Learn About Signature Theatre's Revised SOFT POWER
by Joshua Wright - 2024-07-31 13:34:25
Exclusive: 'I'm With Her' from Signature Theatre's Revised SOFT POWER
by Joshua Wright - 2024-07-24 10:00:20
Video: Watch 'Democracy (Reprise)' from SOFT POWER at Signature Theatre
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-06-15 15:51:42
Video: Watch LaChanze Discuss Becoming a Broadway Producer on CBS SUNDAY MORNING
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-02-18 10:17:21
Video: Watch KIMBERLY AKIMBO Perform 'This Time' on THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW
by Michael Major - 2024-02-07 10:20:35
News
by Jarrod Michael - Mar 4, 2026
The national tour of Kimberly Akimbo arrives as one of the most resonant productions on the touring circuit this season. Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, this adaptation of the play by David Lindsay-Abaire features a witty and emotional score by Jeanine Tesori.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 4, 2026
Kimberly Akimbo, winner of five 2023 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is coming to East Lansing for its premiere in Cobb Great Hall.
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 3, 2026
Theater and television stars Caissie Levy, Adam Kantor and Jo Lampert will perform, and comedian and advocate Dana Goldberg will host an upcoming gala supporting Jewish Queer Youth (JQY).
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 27, 2026
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has named Darren Edward Johnston as Associate Artistic Director of Commercial Strategy and Partnership.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 27, 2026
Lincoln Center has announced its March 2026 lineup, including American Songbook curated by Clint Ramos, a Deaf Broadway presentation of Violet, and Black Girl Magic Ball: Matriarchs.
by Jared Fessler - Feb 25, 2026
Some musicals are flashy and loud, but Kimberly Akimbo captivates quietly, drawing you in with humor, heart, and honesty. From the first moment on stage, it becomes clear that this is a story about people — messy, awkward, hopeful people — rather than spectacle.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 17, 2026
Get ready for a fairy tale with a twist as Shrek The Musical comes to the Steena Murray Mainstage at Chandler Center for the Arts, for a three-performance run.
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 13, 2026
Co-chaired by Duvi Stahler and Rachel Sussman, the host committee includes Tovah Feldshuh, Caissie Levy, Bess Kalb, Judy Kuhn, Joshua Malina, Cristin Milioti, Andrew Rannells, Jeanine Tesori, and Zachary Noah Piser, among others.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 12, 2026
Luna Composition Lab has released a new short film titled 'Hannah Wolkowitz: An Ocean Escapade', marking the 10th anniversary of LunaLab. The film features 2023-24 Luna Lab Fellow Hannah Wolkowitz and her journey composing for the Kronos Quartet.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 12, 2026
The Educational Theatre Association have announced an expanded slate of student performance opportunities for ITF 2026, reinforcing the festival's growing role as a national celebration of what is happening in school theatre programs.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 12, 2026
Makai Music has announced the launch of WIP², a new development program for musical theatre writers in NYC and online, starting April 2026. Applications are now open until March 2, 2026.
by Joshua Wright - Feb 10, 2026
KIMBERLY AKIMBO will make its Buffalo and Rochester debuts this March. Performances at Shea's Buffalo Theatre run March 17-22 and at the West Herr Auditorium Theatre March 24-29. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
by DC Felton - Feb 6, 2026
February is going to be an exciting month for Des Moines Performing Arts, as not one, but two Tony Award winners for best musical make their debut on the Civic Center stage. They are opening the month with a week-long run of the 2023 winner for Best Musical, 'Kimberly Akimbo.' If the lead-up activities, like turning their stage into a 90's dance club and a roller skating night, are any indication of how great this show is, then Des Moines Audiences are in for a treat.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 5, 2026
Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen will receive its first London staging since its 1998 premiere in a new production. Opening at Hampstead Theatre in March. The cast will feature Alex Kingston and Richard Schiff.
by R. Scott Reedy - Jan 31, 2026
What did our critic think of AN EVENING WITH SUTTON FOSTER at Emerson Colonial Theatre?
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2026
The Muny has selected the seven teams of directors, choreographers, music directors and lead designers whose creative visions will shape the Tony Award-winning theatre’s 2026 season in Forest Park.
by Richard Sasanow - Jan 22, 2026
A bold statement of opera industry solidarity with the Washington National Opera was issued following the news of the company's decision to leave Kennedy Center. A group of more than 60 opera industry leaders, including John Adams, Kevin Puts, Kelli O'Hara, Joyce DiDonato, John Corigliano, Isabel Leonard, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Jeanine Tesori and more, signed an open letter pledging support to the company.
by Joshua Wright - Jan 22, 2026
Get a first look at the Canadian premiere of Kimberly Akimbo, which stars Louise Pitre in the title role at Toronto's CAA Theatre through February 8, 2026.
by Alan Portner - Jan 22, 2026
“Kimberly Akimbo” is a tiny, idiosyncratic musical with a cast of only nine actors that somehow manages to share the full Broadway experience with its opening night audience at Kansas City’s Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
by Lauren Gienow - Jan 20, 2026
Sunday night was the Toronto opening of the Canadian premiere of KIMBERLY AKIMBO – the 2023 Tony Award winner for Best Musical. Directed by Robert McQueen, this quirky musical boasts a fabulous cast and is chock full of heart. With an incredibly strong (and Tony Award Winning) book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, this musical weaves together comedy and drama in the same way that real life does. Offering performances that are both funny and heartbreaking, KIMBERLY AKIMBO is a very special show that is not to be missed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Jeanine Tesori has written 6 shows including Don Juan de Marco (Composer), Violet (Composer), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Composer), Caroline, or Change (Composer), Fun Home (Composer), Shrek the Musical (Composer).
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Kimberly Akimbo, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Kimberly Akimbo, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Kimberly Akimbo, Outstanding Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Kimberly Akimbo, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Soft Power, Outstanding New Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Soft Power, Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Soft Power, Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee (The Lortels), Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Fun Home, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Fun Home, Pulitzer Prize for Drama (The Pulitzer Prize) for Fun Home, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Shrek The Musical, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Shrek the Musical, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Special Citations (Obie Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for Thoroughly Modern Millie, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Caroline, or Change, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Thoroughly Modern Millie, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Twelfth Night, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Violet, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Violet, Special Citations music for Violet (Obie Awards) and Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award (Richard Rodgers Award).
Jeanine Tesori has received numerous awards throughout her career. She won the Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Kimberly Akimbo and Fun Home. Kimberly Akimbo also earned her the Best Musical award from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards. She received the Outstanding New Score from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Soft Power. Tesori was inducted into the Playwrights’ Sidewalk by The Lortels. Her work on Caroline, or Change garnered Outstanding Music at the Drama Desk Awards as well as Special Citations from the Obie Awards. For Violet, she won Best Musical from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards and received Special Citations in music from the Obie Awards. Additionally, she was honored with the Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award from the Richard Rodgers Award program.
Videos