Join Vienna Teng and members of the cast of “The Fourth Messenger” as they celebrate the release of the new album “Songs from The Fourth Messenger,” featuring Vienna in the role of Mama Sid, the spiritual teacher with a hidden past. Come along for this unforgettable musical journey with songs that are “funny and touching in all the right places” (KQED), and “profound and profane, combative and compassionate…Teng’s complex harmonies and inspired melodies stick with you long after the curtain goes down.” (Art Animal)
Vienna Teng and award-winning Bay Area playwright Tanya Shaffer premiered their new musical “The Fourth Messenger,” in 2013, a contemporary re-telling of the Buddha legend, featuring a flawed female Buddha figure. Helmed by Broadway director Matt August, the production sold out its entire run, and critics hailed “The Fourth Messenger” as “an absolute delight” (SF Chronicle), “hugely ambitious and refreshingly original” (the Huffington Post), and “masterful and compelling…both timeless and contemporary” (Stage and Cinema).
Vienna Teng sings beautifully, plays the piano impeccably, and performs her own original songs with a style and grace that just may leave you breathless. She also flat out entertains – engaging her audience and turning her performance into an intimate conversation. Yes, she does most of the talking and most of the singing, but she’s also listening – there’s a back and forth element to a Vienna Teng performance that makes the audience feel involved and connected. Oh, she plays an occasional cover that often improves on the original, and she uses technology effectively, recording snippets of her own playing and singing as she goes along to provide backup harmony and percussion – but the main thing is the beautiful voice, the accomplished playing, and the enchanting songs.
Vienna grew up on the peninsula, majored in Computer Science at Stanford, worked as a software engineer at Cisco Systems, and somehow managed to study classical piano and begin performing at clubs. Along with earning dual graduate degrees at the University of Michigan, one from the School of Business and one from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, she has found time to perform on Late Night with David Letterman and NPR’s Weekend Edition, co-write a musical, open concerts for Joan Baez, Shawn Colvin, and India.Arie, and release seven albums, including her latest, Aims, which won four Independent Music Awards, including Best Adult Contemporary Album, and Best A Cappella Song, Best Pop Song, and Best Social Action Song. She has attracted an adoring audience, and her shows sell out – get your tickets early!
