Chris Blisset
Actor-Musician/Director/
Music Director
Chris Blisset is an actor, musician, director, and music director working out of New York City. In the last 20 years, "Red" has done professional performances in 45 States and Canada, and on television.
His efforts as a director and actor include traditional musicals, Shakespeare, farces, and dramas - however the lion's share of his career consists of working in actor-musicianship, which brings him great joy.
SCHEDULE
June 20-29, 2024 - Ride the Cyclone
The Hangar Theatre, Ithaca, NY
Appearing as: Music Director/Actor (The Amazing Karnak).
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Friday, July 12, 2024, 7PM-11PM - Chris Blisset - Red-Headed Step Child
George Rank's, Springfield, IL
Appearing as: Musician (with Mike Jugan and Tony "Bone" Westen!)
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Tuesday, August 13, 1PM-5PM - Chris Blisset
SaugaTaco, 650 Water Street, Saugatuck, MI
Appearing as: Musician
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Sunday, August 18, 7:30PM-10:30 - Chris Blisset
Wally's Bar & Grill, 128 Hoffman St., Saugatuck, MI
Appearing as: Musician
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August 10-September 1, 2024 - Million Dollar Quartet
Saugatuck Center for the Arts/Mason Street Warehouse
Appearing as: Music Director and Actor-Musician (Brother Jay).
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Saturday, August 24, 2024, 12PM-4PM
Chris Blisset
SaugaTaco, 650 Water Street, Saugatuck, MI
Appearing as: Musician
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Sunday, August 25, 7:30PM-10:30 - Chris Blisset
Wally's Bar & Grill, 128 Hoffman St., Saugatuck, MI
Appearing as: Musician ​
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October 10-27, 2024 - Ring of Fire
Temple Theatre, Sanford, NC
Appearing as: Director/Musical Director/Actor-Musician (Jason).
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December 4-22, 2024 - Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
New Stage Theatre, Jackson, MS
Appearing as: Musical Director/Actor-Musician (Sam Phillips).
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Review Quotes
""Blisset, who takes on the reigns as Director and Musical Director, does an outstanding job - just as he did with the John Denver, Johnny Cash, and Woody Guthrie tributes at Shadowland before this. He is a gift to music tribute shows as both a director and a performer." - Carol Montana
(Regarding Million Dollar Quartet, Shadowland Stages, Chris Blisset - Director, Music Director, and Actor-Musician
""Chris Blisset, as Balaga... is the life force personified. I haven't seen bouncing joy like this onstage since Fiddler."
Barbara Adams - Ithaca Times
(Regarding Natasha Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, The Hangar Theatre, Chris Blisset - Actor, Music Supervisor)
"Blisset performed this song from the depths of his heart in a poignant and tender rendition, evoking a lump in the throat..."
Carol Montana - Sullivan County Democrat
(Regarding Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver, Shadowland Stages, Chris Blisset - Actor, Director, Musical Director)
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"Chris Blisset brings the house down.”
The Dominion Post
(Regarding Pump Boys and Dinettes, West Virginia Public Theatre, Chris Blisset – Actor, Musical Director)
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"Chris 'Red' Blisset is a man of a million faces and instruments.”
Sue Merrill - The Grand Rapids Press
(Regarding Honky-Tonk Highway, Mason Street Warehouse, Chris Blisset – Director, Choreographer, Actor, Associate Musical Director)
"Blisset, who directed the production, and music director Sevelovitz are agile musicians, who play a variety of instruments that give depth to Guthrie’s compositions… an auspicious opening to an ambitious season of theatre.”
Judy Harrison - The Bangor Daily News
(Regarding Woody Guthrie’s American Song, Chris Blisset – Director, Choreographer, Actor, Associate Musical Director)
"The best country music to hit Jacksonville this year.”
Dick Kerekes - entertaining u
(Regarding the first national tour of Stand by Your Man, Chris Blisset – Music Director, Actor)
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“Blisset leads the way, ambling across the stage with a casual ease. His performance is energetic while also being unforced.”
Allen Adams – The Main Edge
(Regarding Woody Guthrie’s American Song, Chris Blisset – Director, Choreographer, Actor, Associate Musical Director)
“The role of the fiery Scottish assassin seems written for red-headed Chris Blisset. In addition to the acting role, he is listed as ‘combat choreographer,’ which means he is probably responsible for sorting all the arms and legs in those bed-top boondoggles.”
Sue Merrill – EncoreMichigan.com
(Regarding Unneccesary Farce, Mason Street Warehouse, Chris Blisset – Actor, Combat Choreographer)
“Overall, director Chris Blisset delivers a tender, bittersweet, and ultimately triumphant production that opens Saint Michael's Playhouse's 71st season with aplomb.”
Stacy Raphael - BroadwayWorld.com
(Regarding Once, St. Michael’s Playhouse, Chris Blisset – Director, Musical Director)
“Chris Blisset portrays bar/music shop owner Billy with a fervor that resonates all the way to the back row.”
Carolan Trbovich - BroadwayWorld.com
(Regarding Once, Florida Studio Theatre, Chris Blisset – Actor)
“An incredible musician, Blisset is also a standout actor and singer.”
Katie Winkler - Times-News
(Regarding Cottonpatch Gospel, Flat Rock Playhouse, Chris Blisset – Actor, Musical Director)
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"Blisset is strong in stature and slides perfectly into his role. Playing the bass and harmonica simultaneously in certain songs, Blisset lends a strong and extraordinary bass to the show.”
Kris Byrne - The Express
(Regarding Honky-Tonk Highway, Mason Street Warehouse, Chris Blisset – Director, Choreographer, Actor, Associate Musical Director)
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"Blisset's deadpan character, half way between one of the Blues Brothers and a Muppet, convulses the crowd.”
Cathy Nelson Price - Portland Press Herald
(Regarding Pump Boys and Dinettes, Main State Music Theatre, Chris Blisset – Actor)
“Blisset, who’s also a comedian, is like a born-again Louis CK, with a resonant voice and a knack for nicely underplayed comedy and slapping the standup bass.”
Bruce C. Steele – Citizen Times
(Regarding Cottonpatch Gospel, Flat Rock Playhouse, Chris Blisset – Actor, Musical Director)
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"...superbly realized by music director Chris "Red" Blisset... as the wannabe rocker, Blisset is his delicious comic foil."
Ross Haarstard - IthacaStages.org
(Regarding Once at The Hangar Theatre, Chris Blisset - Actor, Musical Director)
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