JESSE J. SANCHEZ is a composer-lyricist, writer, and music director, as well as a two-time recipient of the National Alliance For Musical Theatre’s Frank Young Grant and a recipient of the Milagro Latino Artist Fund Grant. He is currently the Associate Producer (Music) at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Current projects include SUEÑOS: Our American Musical (2024 Musical Theatre West New Works Festival winner, The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove, The Orchard Project, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Black Swan Lab, two-time NAMT finalist, O’Neill semifinalist, Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor finalist, Live & In Color finalist); Zapata: A Superhero Folklorico Musical (Zach Theatre/BIPOC Superhero Project commission, 2025-2026 world premiere at Zach Theatre, 2024 Austin Latinx New Play Festival, 2024 NAMT Songwriters Showcase, The Orchard Project); We Three Queens (Oregon Cabaret commission, book by Valerie Rachelle); Untitled opera (Portland Opera commission); Sarah! (book by Joslyn Housley McLaughlin).
Jesse is an alumnus of Musical Theatre West New Works Festival, The Orchard Project, The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Austin Latinx New Play Festival, Prospect Theatre’s Musical Theatre Lab, OSF Black Swan Lab, and New York Theatre Barn Core Programs, including the Barn On Fire Festival of New Musicals (mentored by Jerry Mitchell).
Other complete works include Exhaustion Arroyo: Dancin’ Trees In The Ravine (2022 world premiere at Cutting Ball Theater, book by W. Fran Astorga); desert in (Boston Lyric Opera commission, 2021 world premiere co-production at Boston Lyric Opera and Long Beach Opera, Opera America Grant, 2022 Opera America's Digital Excellence in Opera Award finalist, co-librettist); Spotlight on Trio (Camelot Theatre Company commission, 2023 world premiere at Camelot Theatre Company); Black Friday! (Prospect Theatre Company’s Musical Theater Lab); Clopening (Prop Thtr Small Hours Festival); The Fezziwig Promise (The 24 Hour Plays, book by Sean Daniels).
His work has been showcased at major regional theaters, off-Broadway, opera houses, and other prestigious venues, including a sold-out concert of his music at The Green Room 42 in NYC, Broadway League’s The Jimmy Awards (2023 & 2024), the Broadway Housing Committee Gala hosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show, and First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York. His songs have been performed across the country at various educational institutions. Jesse’s music is available for streaming on all major platforms and is featured on Sirius XM Broadway.
As a music director, he has worked with theaters and organizations nationwide, including The Old Globe, Je'Caryous Entertainment, South Coast Repertory, Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, Denver Center, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, American Conservatory Theater, Theatreworks Silicon Valley, Arizona Theatre Company, Alley Theatre, Round House Theatre, O'Neill Music Theatre Conference, New World Stages, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and more.
Early in Jesse’s career, he served as music assistant on the first national tour of Hamilton and the world premiere of The Prince of Egypt (Theatreworks SV). In these and other positions, he has worked with Stephen Schwartz, Alex Lacamoire, Greg Anthony Rassen, Paul Scott Goodman, AnnMarie Milazzo, Michael Starobin, Dominick Ammendum, and countless other Broadway veterans.
Jesse has served on selection panels for the Oregon Arts Commission, Opera America, and the National Alliance for Musical Theater Festival. He has also served as a mentor and selection committee member for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) Songwriting Challenge, in partnership with National Alliance for Musical Theatre and in collaboration with Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and NMPA SONGS Foundation. Jesse is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild of America and National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures. He is represented by Katie Gamelli and Paladin Artists.
Current projects include SUEÑOS: Our American Musical (2024 Musical Theatre West New Works Festival winner, The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove, The Orchard Project, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Black Swan Lab, two-time NAMT finalist, O’Neill semifinalist, Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor finalist, Live & In Color finalist); Zapata: A Superhero Folklorico Musical (Zach Theatre/BIPOC Superhero Project commission, 2025-2026 world premiere at Zach Theatre, 2024 Austin Latinx New Play Festival, 2024 NAMT Songwriters Showcase, The Orchard Project); We Three Queens (Oregon Cabaret commission, book by Valerie Rachelle); Untitled opera (Portland Opera commission); Sarah! (book by Joslyn Housley McLaughlin).
Jesse is an alumnus of Musical Theatre West New Works Festival, The Orchard Project, The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Austin Latinx New Play Festival, Prospect Theatre’s Musical Theatre Lab, OSF Black Swan Lab, and New York Theatre Barn Core Programs, including the Barn On Fire Festival of New Musicals (mentored by Jerry Mitchell).
Other complete works include Exhaustion Arroyo: Dancin’ Trees In The Ravine (2022 world premiere at Cutting Ball Theater, book by W. Fran Astorga); desert in (Boston Lyric Opera commission, 2021 world premiere co-production at Boston Lyric Opera and Long Beach Opera, Opera America Grant, 2022 Opera America's Digital Excellence in Opera Award finalist, co-librettist); Spotlight on Trio (Camelot Theatre Company commission, 2023 world premiere at Camelot Theatre Company); Black Friday! (Prospect Theatre Company’s Musical Theater Lab); Clopening (Prop Thtr Small Hours Festival); The Fezziwig Promise (The 24 Hour Plays, book by Sean Daniels).
His work has been showcased at major regional theaters, off-Broadway, opera houses, and other prestigious venues, including a sold-out concert of his music at The Green Room 42 in NYC, Broadway League’s The Jimmy Awards (2023 & 2024), the Broadway Housing Committee Gala hosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show, and First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York. His songs have been performed across the country at various educational institutions. Jesse’s music is available for streaming on all major platforms and is featured on Sirius XM Broadway.
As a music director, he has worked with theaters and organizations nationwide, including The Old Globe, Je'Caryous Entertainment, South Coast Repertory, Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, Denver Center, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, American Conservatory Theater, Theatreworks Silicon Valley, Arizona Theatre Company, Alley Theatre, Round House Theatre, O'Neill Music Theatre Conference, New World Stages, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and more.
Early in Jesse’s career, he served as music assistant on the first national tour of Hamilton and the world premiere of The Prince of Egypt (Theatreworks SV). In these and other positions, he has worked with Stephen Schwartz, Alex Lacamoire, Greg Anthony Rassen, Paul Scott Goodman, AnnMarie Milazzo, Michael Starobin, Dominick Ammendum, and countless other Broadway veterans.
Jesse has served on selection panels for the Oregon Arts Commission, Opera America, and the National Alliance for Musical Theater Festival. He has also served as a mentor and selection committee member for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) Songwriting Challenge, in partnership with National Alliance for Musical Theatre and in collaboration with Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and NMPA SONGS Foundation. Jesse is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild of America and National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures. He is represented by Katie Gamelli and Paladin Artists.
