By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske
She started writing the script before she could drive a car. Now, at 19 Tess Rowan is a few days away from acting in the full production of her musical, “Static” as it debuts on stage at the Raue Center in Crystal Lake.
Presented by Raue Center School For The Arts, Director Rob Scharlow, said, “This presents such a valuable opportunity to contribute to the ongoing growth and development of Static. I am excited to collaborate with Tess and help bring her show to life in a fully realized production. I previously worked with Tess at Stagedoor Manor in New York on several short 10-minute plays she authored. I have been following the evolution of Static since she first started promoting it on social media.
“It’s been so exciting,” Rowan said. “I started writing it at 14 and there have been so many changes throughout the show.”
Rowan said she and the musical have grown up these past five years as she developed the script, wrote the music and lyrics. Within the first year of creating the draft Rowan won awards for the show, providing encouragement and funding for her to continue the pursuit.
The show made its world premiere at the Capital Fringe Festival in 2022 where it won Best Musical and Best Ensemble in a production that Rowan performed and directed.
Performing comes naturally to Rowan who has been acting in theater shows since the age of 5. She’s participated in children’s productions of Disney musicals such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast” as well as a production of “Annie.”
At 14 she started working on the first drafts of the musical’s script. She also began to teach herself guitar and piano.
“I grew up around the theater and love musicals and I decided I wanted to write a musical and I quickly learned it would help if I can play instruments,” Rowan said. She’s recently been working on playing the banjo too.
“Static” is a musical about a teen, Maine, who is trying to find her father who’s lost in the woods of the Appalachian Trial. Maine teams up with another teen in effort to find her dad and the story of their friendship and a hidden family history unfold.
Rowan described the musical sound as folk rock. She’s created an interactive aspect to the musical. Embedded within the music is morse code, and the audience travels on a journey to decode messages within the show.
The musical includes themes about family and connections and how individuals can connect with each other in their connections to nature, Rowan said.
Nature and the setting in the musical also serves as an important character in the show. Away from the stage lights, Rowan said she loves being outdoors.
“The No. 1 item on my bucket list is to hike the Appalachian Trail,” she said, explaining the hike takes anywhere from three to six months.
She’s taken smaller hiking trips including at age 17 she experienced a weekend trip of hiking alone.
“Nature is where I feel most inspired to write,” she said.
Rowan grew up in the suburbs of Washington D.C.
For the production she’s taken up residence in Crystal Lake for the summer, enjoying walks through the downtown to explore shops, restaurants and outdoor spaces in the community.
“I’ve tried a bunch of restaurants,” she added.
She’s enjoyed learning about the community, including attending the Field Day, a 24-hour event in June hosted by the 415 Amateur Radio Club in Crystal Lake.
Scharlow added, “RCSA continues to offer opportunities to the community that educates all participants. It is truly inspiring to share this process with our ensemble of 7 actors. They not only get the chance to perform, but also to engage in the overall creative development. For the cast, witnessing the script modifications, the creation of new and original characters, and observing the resident music director of Raue Center assemble a complete piano conductor and more, is truly remarkable. We are thrilled to introduce something new and unique to Crystal Lake.”
In addition to working on “Static” Rowan is assisting with the Raue Center’s children’s production of “Moana Jr” as a choreographer and said she loves being around the young cast members. At the conclusion of the shows Rowan will return to the east coast for her sophomore year at New York University.
“Static” performances at the Raue Center in downtown Crystal Lake start July 12 through July 21 and tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. See rauecenter.org to order tickets and for showtimes.
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