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Alissa Rhode

Alissa Rhode

She/Her

Biography

Alissa Rhode is a composer, arranger/orchestrator, music director, pianist and vocalist. Through her association with Northern Sky Theater, she has supported and contributed to the development of over 20 new musicals to date. In addition to her function as music director and piano/conductor, she has also served as music supervisor and copyist for many of these new works. Her specialties include leading and collaborating with small to mid-sized bands, as well as working with actor-musicians and tailoring orchestrations to their strengths.

Regionally, she has also worked with Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage Children’s Theater, Children’s Theater of Madison, Door Shakespeare, Third Avenue Playhouse, Theatre Gigante, and Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua.

As a composer, Alissa’s original theatrical scores include the upcoming 2024 premiere of GIRLS ON SAND, book & lyrics by Lachrisa Grandberry and Molly Rhode; SUNFLOWERED (2022), co-authored with Lachrisa Grandberry & Aidaa Peerzada; and DAIRY HEIRS: THE FAMILY FARMING MOO-SICAL (book by Eva Nimmer and Joel Kopsichke; lyrics and story by Joel Kopischke), premiered in 2018 and remounted in 2019. Other projects include an original score for Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT and the original score for VICTORY FOR VICTORIA (book and lyrics by Peggy Peterson Ryan & Susan Peterson Holmes), a suffragist musical about Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for U.S. President in 1872.

Alissa also has substantial cabaret and concert experience, and can frequently be found leading the house band at the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Alissa holds a Bachelor’s in Music Composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s in Liberal Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for 21st Century Studies.

Professional Experience

  • Regional
  • Concerts/Cabaret
  • Education
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Master’s Degree

Regions

  • Chicago/Midwest

Interested in touring?

  • Yes

Maestra Expertise

  • Theatrical Composer (Music and Lyrics)
  • Theatrical Composer (Music only)
  • Music Director/Conductor (Pianist)
  • Vocal Director and/or Choral Prep
  • Music Assistant
  • Songwriter
  • Singer/Songwriter
  • Orchestrator
  • Vocal Arranger
  • Dance Arranger
  • Incidental Music Composer/Arranger
  • Instrumentalist/Pit Musician
  • Music Copyist
  • Music Transcriber
  • Music Contractor/Coordinator
  • Keyboard Programmer
  • Audition Pianist
  • Class/Voice Lesson/Rehearsal Pianist
  • Rehearsal Pianist

Primary Instruments

  • Piano
  • Synthesizer
  • Voice

Additional Instruments

  • Harpsichord
  • Percussion
  • Ukulele

Software

  • Digital Performer
  • GarageBand
  • Logic
  • MainStage
  • Sibelius
  • QLab

Additional Skills

  • Singer/Performer

Affiliations

  • ASCAP
  • THE DRAMATISTS GUILD