Denise Marsa’s development as a musician, artist, and individual is told in this original music project featuring anecdotes and vignettes recounted against a background of her original compositions.
Image Stephanie Colorado: “THE PASS” The Playground Theatre, London, World Premiere – 4/18/2018
About the show
Travel with Denise as she starts her career towards the end of the 70s through the highly volatile and emotional 80’s continuing on through the start of the tech-driven 90s into the 21st century. From her start in her West Village studio apartment dating from 1810 to London to West Hollywood and back again, Denise shares her stories.
Meet Denise the explorer, innovator, a woman drenched in tenacity; unwilling to play the game by anyone else’s rules but her own. Experience some of the key situations that have shaped her as an artist, woman, and entrepreneur and hear the songs that have been created in the process. From pop star, to record label owner, artist manager, producer, lover, and partner, to publicist and marketer, her life and music are expressed through laughter, joy, disappointment, passion, and power. In defying the stereotypes of the often challenging, ageist, and complicated music industry, Denise has proven that a true voice will triumph. She hopes to inspire the audience to always be true to their own voices and to have the courage to sing out loud. It all started with Denise sneaking into the New York University Department of Music and Music Education practice rooms.
4/18/24–Day of the premiere of ‘The Pass’ @ThePlaygroundtheatre
Denise on London Live Morning Show, discussing “The Pass” with a TV presenter.
Sample Press + Reviews
“Denise Marsa is one of a kind. She’s a force of nature, a life-affirming singer, an overwhelmingly positive presence. The songs are the real soul of the show, although tunes are at times reminiscent of Disney movies and the lyrics sound like simplified versions of Rent’s. The storytelling is simple, but effective. Songs simply flow out of Marsa’s life, as much as her life can be traced back and pinned down in songs – they are one and the same thing. One just feels sorry not to know the lyrics, as the temptation to sing along is quite strong.” – A Younger Theatre, Anna Zanetti
Lesflicks is proud to be releasing “The Pass”, a live theatrical event written and performed by Denise Marsa, in association with BMG Management Rights and Denise Marsa Productions.
The Pass is a compelling musical incorporating songs and stories penned and performed by Denise Marsa, featuring Tracy Stark on piano and supporting vocals.
“a raw biographical performance comprised of life-defining moments, humour, heartbreak, and self-discovery accompanied by beautiful music…” – Ping, Lesflicks, VOD
“A nuanced and fascinating show. It all fits like a glove. The songs featured in the show are all Marsa’s, and they are more evocative than provocative. The evening proved educational as well as inspirational for this reviewer.” – Chris Omaweng, London Theatre 1
A few thoughts about my music & career…
People ask me often why I created my one-woman show THE PASS, which I first started writing in 2016 and then premiered the show in London in 2018. The funny thing is, it was a question that started me on the road to writing THE PASS. The question was, “Why aren’t you a household name?” One man, after a public show at a library in Springfield, New Jersey, came over to me and asked me. My answer was, “Do you have 2 hours?” Then the idea came, write it, perform it, and feature your original songs as you cover the decades.
When the reviews came in from London, I remember thinking, I don’t even care what they say. I was so exhausted with the task of putting a show up in London, mind you, the very first show, that I had no expectations. I was beyond surprised and elated when I read the reviews.
Denise recounts her career from the late ’70s, through the highly volatile and emotional ’80s, continuing on through the start of the tech-driven ’90s and on into the 21st century. Discover Denise the artist, explorer, innovator, raconteur, and entrepreneur, unwilling to play the game in the music industry by any rules but her own. She lays her soul bare as she takes us through her struggles and accomplishments, with the courage to be authentically raw and vulnerable, tackling difficult subjects such as sexuality and sexual harassment.
Lesflicks live-streams ‘The Pass’ for Lesbian Visibility Week – Queer Forty – read article
Denise Marsa, a singer-songwriter, has lived in her tidy studio around the corner, in the building Ms. Martin once owned at 18 Christopher Street. She, too, has rendered her home in song, as Comden and Green once did, in a number featured in “The Pass,” her one-woman show about making it in the big city, which she performed at United Solo, a theater festival in Manhattan, in the fall of 2021. read full story
DENISE MARSA 