Reviews
Jenna in Waitress at The John W. Engeman Theater
“Charismatic Broadway actor Chessa Metz was perfectly cast as Jenna, an unhappily married, hardworking waitress with an extraordinary culinary gift for baking heavenly pies. This demanding role requires a powerhouse singer to do justice to Bareilles’ show-stopping score. Metz fits the bill. Because Jenna appears in most scenes, the part calls for a high-voltage performer, and Metz is all that and more. After Jenna's abusive husband, Earl, takes the money she was hoping to use to win her freedom, Metz's heartrending delivery of the sentimental ballad, "She Used to Be Mine," was the high point of the show. It's no wonder the audience leaped to their feet when she walked onto the stage during the curtain call.”
“Metz and Cahill-Lemme's electrifying onstage chemistry enhanced their duets, "It Only Takes a Taste" and "You Matter to Me."
—Cindi Sansone-Braff, Patch.com
“Chessa Metz (Jenna), who recently appeared in Broadway’s Suffs, grasps hold of our hearts from the start and doesn’t let go until curtain call. Metz’s natural take on Jenna, combined with her stunning soprano, is irresistible.”
“Metz and Cahill-Lemme have obvious chemistry which makes their relationship and duets on songs like “It Only Takes a Taste” and “You Matter to Me” come alive.”
—Barbara Anne Kirshner, Long Island Press
“Metz shines bright as Jenna, with an amazing voice that literally wowed the audience as she held extended notes.”
But what was most fun to watch, though, was the fun Metz and Cahill-Lemme had together on stage. As Jenna and Dr. Pomatter, they were a perfect match.
Ado Annie in Oklahoma! at the Ogunquit Playhouse
"Chessa Metz, who plays the unstoppably flirtatious Ado Annie, is given some of the more comedic highlights, offering levity to a musical that takes a swift, dark turn in the second act. Her introduction number “I Can’t Say No” is delightfully tongue and cheek and Metz is so earnest in her depiction that it’s difficult not to root for her to obtain all that her heart desires, no matter the rules-oriented farmer’s life she’s found herself in."
Ally Johnson, Seacoast Online
"Love is definitely in the air, with Colby Dezelick and Chessa Metz engaging in an amusing flirtation as Will Parker and Ado Annie Carnes. Dezelick is as quick with his hands as he is nimble on his feet, wowing the audience with lasso rope tricks and high-stepping acrobatics on “Kansas City,” while Metz is the consummate tease on “I Can’t Say No,” as her character frivolously tries to decide between her winsome cowboy and her newest infatuation, peddler Ali Hakim (Martin Sola)."
April Boyle, Press Herald
"As (Dezelick's) love interest, Metz provides nonstop enthusiasm in I Cain't Say No and All er Nothin."
Dan Marois, Broadway World
Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with the North Carolina Symphony
"The appearance of Mabel, the female lead and Frederic's love interest played by Chessa Metz, occurred after the daughters' first entrance from the aisles ("Climbing over rocky mountain"). Mabel's famous aria, "Poor Wandering One" was filled with surprising and well-executed cadenzas that were supported by Metz's bright tone."
Chelsea Huber, CVNC
Violet Hilton in Side Show at UNCSA
"As the sisters, Metz and Vallery play the very human hopes and dreams nicely, along with the personality and vocal differences. But given the often soaring, magnificent songs they present from this beautiful score, if there were ever two “different” voices that were meant to sing together, they belong to Metz and Vallery."
Bill Cissna, Journal Now