Jessica Giannone (she/her) is an actor, teaching artist, and baker of NY Times acclaimed Pie Birds pies in and around NYC. She combines these activities with her original musical series, Baking Broadway, and by hosting Pie, Pint, & Play Readings in Brooklyn.
Photo by Michael Kushner
Jessica earned her M.F.A. in Professional Acting at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in England. While in the UK, she performed at venues such as the Bristol Old Vic while working with the Glasgow Citizens Theatre and The Tobacco Factory Theatres. Along the way, she was chosen "Expert's Choice" by THE STAGE and "Stand Out Performer" by SPOTLIGHT.
On return to the States, Jessica was part of Old Vic New Voices and then played Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, where she was nominated for a Falstaff Award in the category of Best Supporting Performance. Judi Dench ended up winning, but that's okay.
Recently, she starred as Mary in the award-winning and NY Times Recommended SAG-AFTRA Feature Film Testament by Tristan Bernays (CSC’s Frankenstein), which premiered at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and 59E59. As well as playing Jen in the Broadway World Award Winning production of The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s This Is Us). Yes, she did eat a slice of cake after each performance. Speaking of food again, Jessica had the honor of being a Resident Chef for playwrights and theatre companies at SPACE on Ryder Farm
Prior to the UK, Jessica performed and workshopped at The Williamstown Theatre Festival and was part of such productions as the 1st Revival of Michael John LaChiusa's musical Marie Christine in NYC. She received her B.F.A. in Performing Arts and Vocal Performance along with a minor in Art History from The Savannah College of Art and Design, having the opportunity to also study and perform at SCAD-Lacoste in France and RADA in London. She was awarded for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in Performing Arts.
Jessica studied and performs Improv, Musical Improv, and Characters at the Upright Citizens Brigade and Magnet Theater since 2010, so pie recipes aren't the only thing she can make up. Recently, she was performing in Magnet Theater’s Musical Megawatt & Circuit.
Jessica has been a Teaching Artist in the NYC area for over 10 years, making films and creating musicals with Kindergarteners in top-ranked after school programs to teaching acting and Shakespeare to university students. She is currently the Education Manager at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company and teaches with Disney Theatrical Group, Stages on the Sound including QSAC (Quality Services for the Autism Community), and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Sharing her love for the arts offstage when not onstage!