#TL;DR: Writer. Producer. Actor. Theatremaker. Singer. educator. And a few other things.*
I was born in Japan with thanks to my incredible Air Force veteran parents. Grew up in West Germany and Northern California (mostly), and spent a good chunk in Europe and the UK touring and gigging. Moved to the big apple to do all the things in all the songs. Brooklyn based. Internationally sourced.
I made my Broadway debut as a singer for Riverdance, toured as Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, and my performance career has spanned Broadway and off, to voiceover, television, and concert halls all over the world. I've also been involved in the development of dozens of new works for the stage as an award-winning writer, director, and producer.
I've been a storyteller with music my entire life. My style is eclectic - an Afro-Cuban hip hop musical inspired by the Orisha and Shakespeare, a 70's rock musical about wine, a Christmas tale about veterans written with a country music legend; all part of the palette. I strive for authenticity of experience, and to challenge folks to be better human beings to each other.
*this site is really geared for my performance and writing work. if you're looking for my producing or administrative credentials please visit here.
CURRENT performance
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
at the john w engeman
theater in northport, li
JAn 19 - mar 5, 2023
with James D Sasser as Lawrence Jameson, Danny Gardner as Freddy Benson,
and Emily Larger as Christine Colgate.
With music & lyrics by David Yazbeck and book by Jeffrey Lane
Direction by Drew Humphrey Choreography by Mandy Modic
Music Direction by James Olmstead
THE REVIEWS ARE IN!
"Lawrence Jameson [is] superbly portrayed by James D Sasser...
Mr. Sasser and Mr. Gardner make a brilliant team. Their wisecracks and sassy dialog leaves the audience in absolute stitches." - Melissa Giordano, Broadway World
"A memorable performance... Mr. Sasser, sophisticated and poised, commanded the stage and revealed his stellar vocals." - Cindi Sansone-Braff, Smithtown Matters
"Freddy (Gardner) and Lawrence (Sasser) have incredible chemistry as foils to each other. [Sasser is] An incredibly smooth provocateur dripping with sophistication... Sometimes sophisticated characters can fall flat, with their elevated body language and swanky accent, but Sasser’s performance was quite the opposite. His commitment to his character(s) didn’t waver for a moment. Additionally, his singing throughout the show was a delight and, might I say, a feat—some of the numbers had a word every eighth note and he sang them out with ease." - Alana Brooks, Theatre Guide
recent performance
SWEENEY TODD
at four corners musical theatre, NM
At last… my arm was complete… for the first time. 💈 🪒 🩸 🥧
A thrilling run playing Mr. Todd for Four Corners Musical Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd Oct 20-29, 2022 opposite the incomparable Anne Runolfsson!
upcoming productions & writing
BOTTLE SHOCK! THE MUSICAL
World premiere
JOIN US JULY 7-23, 2023
at CA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, ESCONDIDO
Directed by CCAE Artistic Director, J. Scott Lapp, and Music Direction by Vadim Feichtner.
Based on the 2008 cult hit movie starring Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, and Bill Pullman,
Bottle Shock! is the story of the early days of Napa Valley winemaking and the 1976
"Judgment of Paris" wine tasting, when for the first time California wines beat the French in a blind tasting upending the world of wine as the "experts" knew it.
An incredible true story of love, fermentation, and rock n' roll!
book, lyrics & additional music by James D Sasser
music & lyrics by Charles Vincent Burwell
story by Ross Schwartz & Lannette Pabon and Jody Savin & Randall Miller, screenplay by Jody Savin & Randall Miller and Ross Schwartz
BY GEORGES!
A Day in the Life of the Legendary Chevalier de Saint-Georges
A world premiere commission
by the lamplighters music theater
of San francisco
MAY 2023 -- stay tuned for dates!
book & lyrics by James D Sasser
music & lyrics by Charles Vincent Burwell
Music Direction by Mary Chun Stage Direction by Céline Ricci
Executive and Artistic Director Cheryl Blalock
Prolific Composer. Violin prodigy. Sword and Fencing master. Commander of the first all Black Legion. Seminal figure in the French and Haitian revolutions. Rumored lover to Marie Antoinette. Mentor to a young Thomas-Alexander Dumas, father of the famed writer. Inspiration to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Polymath. Genius. And so much more. Join us in a comic re-imagining of what a day in the life of this amazing figure almost lost to history would have been like!
RECENT REVIEWS
STARRing AS EMILE DE BECQUE in
meet the cast of TUTS' south pacific!
"...an impressively seductive James D Sasser."
Houston Press/Houston Times
"Played by James D Sasser as an ultra-suave Frenchman with a shady past... Sasser's hefty, alluring Baritone is plenty persuasive all by itself."
Houston Chronicle
"An impressively enamored James D Sasser [is] cunning... Musical Theater at its best, this one is for the ages. TUTS' superb production proves it." - Arkansas News
More recent rave reviews!
AT PLAZA THEATricals
in elmont, long islanD NY
