Static

A Morse Code Musical

Book/Music/Lyrics by Tess Rowan

"The hot-selling ticket of the summer."

BroadwayWorld

About

Static is an original morse code musical about a teen trying to find her dad who's lost in the woods on the Appalachian Trail. The McAfees have lived in the Pennsylvania forest ever since their father went missing while hiking. Daughter Maine teams up with local teen Charlie on a detective mission to find Maine’s father, working through new friendships and hidden family history along the way. Yet, the true secrets may silence waves of sound.

Static is the first musical to utilize morse code as a method of dramatic storytelling, including cryptic morse mode clues and secret messages embedded in the music, creating an immersive and mystery-filled audience experience.

Imagine an acoustic campfire sing-along mixed with a true-crime podcast. Static is an original adventure musical with a radio blend of musical theater, folk-rock music, and morse code.

Meet the Writer

Tess Rowan

Tess Rowan is a 20-year-old performer, composer, playwright, director, and musician from the Washington, D.C. Area. She currently attends New York University where she studies Drama and Musical Theater at the Tisch School of the Arts in the New Studio on Broadway.

Her work has been seen at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Stagedoor Manor, and the Capital Fringe Festival. Featured writing and directing projects include Break My Bones (The O’Neill YPF), Mr. Stranger and Pie from the Pattersons (Stagedoor Manor Dramafest), Your Carving Footprint and Gravediggers (Saxon Stage After Hours), and Static (Capital Fringe Festival, Flying V Theatre, The Raue.)

Tess's Website Home

Show History & Awards

Spring 2019
An Early Start

September 2020
Radio Waves

November 2020
New Musical November

November 2020 -January 2022
Music & Social Media

June 2022 - July 2022
World Premiere

September 2022 -August 2023
Workshops

May 2024 -July 2024
Further Development

At age 14, Tess Rowan teaches herself to play guitar and piano while researching morse code and The Appalachian Trail as she begins to write an early draft of the Static script and score.

Tess wins the first-ever WTOP Top Kid Award for her work on Static during the COVID-19 Pandemic and begins fundraising for Static.

Static is a featured original musical in Thornhill Theatre Space's New Musical November.

Music from Static is shared in multiple international charity benefit fundraisers and performances, including Save the Arts and Lockdown Live. Tess creates the viral #staticsingers and #staticsingersreprise on TikTok. Static singles, "Whatta World" and "Tell Me How," are produced and released on all streaming platforms.

Static makes its world premiere at the 2022 Capital Fringe Festival in a production starring and directed by 17-year-old Tess Rowan. After a sold-out run in the nation's capital, Static wins Best Musical and Best Ensemble at Fringe.

Tess Rowan continues developing Static with Flying V Theatre, culminating in a regional workshop performance in August 2023.

In collaboration with the Raue Center School for the Arts, Static received a five-week workshop, and performances at The Raue Center in the greater Chicago Area.