PRESS REVIEWS
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My Way - A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra - The Phoenix Theatre Company
"Jessie Jo Aka brings a powerful voice to her role as a risqué and sultry figure of the nightclub scene. She makes for a perfect counter to her partner James Gish's cool-cat countenance. When she joins the ensemble in taking turns on the sections of It Was a Very Good Year, her expressive phrasing and passion explode." - Herbert Paine, Broadway World 
West Side Story - Hale Centre Theatre
"Drake Sherman and Jessie Jo Aka are stunning as Tony and Maria. They immediately form a realistic couple and the joy and excitement they bring to the roles, and the intense affection these characters have for each other, are excellently represented... Aka's voice clear and pure, hitting higher and higher notes as it goes. You will instantly fall in love with both of them and feel the heartbreak their characters encounter." - Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway "Pauley caressed her upper register notes of "Tonight," so softly kissing the final stratospheric pitch that it was more sensation than sound...Aka's genuine enthusiasm and generous heart carried her opening scene...As for acting prowess, Anita and Maria of last night's cast were the glue that held fast an authentic, redemptive story." - Jennifer Haaland, The Examiner |
Jane Eyre A Musical Drama - MCC Performing Arts Center
"Jessie Jo Aka and Austin Stuart are simply glorious as Jane and Rochester. Both have rich, refined singing voices that soar on their many songs in the show. Pauley manages to deliver a sophisticated yet subtle portrayal of this beloved character while also allowing us to understand the pain this young woman has faced and the joy she feels once she begins to fall in love with Rochester." - Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway 
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The Wizard of Oz - Hale Centre Theatre
"Jessie Jo artfully, with great respect to tradition, tiptoed outside the lines of Garland-crazed expectations. To Hale’s great benefit, young Aka revived the wide-eyed and wholesome innocence America falls in love with, almost demands, of Dorothy. In addition, she made her somehow more feisty and hopeful.” - The Examiner "Hale Centre Theatre's production, that just opened, is bright, bold and colorful and grounded with a seamless performance from Jessie Jo Aka as Dorothy... Jessie Jo Aka is stunning as Dorothy. She exhibits a wide range of emotions with ease, from pensive to headstrong, passionate, fearful and optimistic…. Jessie Jo not only brings the right combination of sweet sincerity and teenage angst to the role, but also has a warm, bright singing voice that, when combined with her dedicated portrayal, allows Dorothy's songs to have an emotional connection. It is a superb performance." - Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway |