Tessa Kosta

Tessa Kay Kosta (December 12, 1890[1] – August 23, 1981) was an American actress who starred in Broadway musicals and operettas during the early decades of the twentieth century.

Tessa Kosta
Kosta in The Theatre Magazine, 1922
Born
Tessa Kay Kosta

(1890-12-12)December 12, 1890
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
DiedAugust 23, 1981(1981-08-23) (aged 90)
New York City, U.S.A.
OccupationMusical Actress
SpouseRichard J. Madden

Early life and career

Kosta was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Edward and Emma Kosta. Her parents came to America from Hungary the year of her birth, settling first in Chicago and then San Francisco where her father worked as a confectioner.[2] Sometime after the turn of the twentieth century Kosta’s family moved to Ely, Nevada, where she graduated from Ely High School in 1907. Prior to entering college at Salt Lake City, she studied music at the Holy Rosary Academy in San Bernardino, California.[3][4][5]

Kosta’s break came in February 1911 when producer George W. Lederer plucked her from the chorus to play the title role Yvonne Sherry in road productions of his hit Broadway musical, Madame Sherry.[4][6] She stayed with Madame Sherry for over a year to positive reviews before touring in late 1912 as Claudine with the musical comedy The Pink Lady opposite Olga De Baugh and Harry Depp.[7][8][9][10]

Broadway and later years

Her adult Broadway debut[11] came on April 13, 1914, at the Astor Theatre as Anna Budd in the musical comedy The Beauty Shop.[12] Kosta’s Broadway career would span at least fifteen years,[13] with Chu Chin Chow (1917/18),[14] Lassie (1920),[15] The Chocolate Soldier (1921/22),[16] Caroline (1923)[17] and Song of the Flame (1926)[18] among her more memorable productions. She last appeared on Broadway in 1929 at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre playing the multiple roles Musette, Irma and Lieutenant Fedor in The Fortune Teller.[19]

Tessa Kosta, August 1920

Kosta was married to Richard J. Madden, a theatrical agent, and was a member of the board of directors of the Episcopal Actors Guild, the Ziegfeld Girl’s Club and the Twelfth Night Club. She made numerous trips abroad over the decades following her retirement from the stage. Kosta died in Manhattan of a heart attack in 1981 at the age of 90. Her husband had died some years earlier.[20]

References and Notes
  1. The birth year is derived from Kosta’s age at the time of the 1900 census, birthday from various travel documents that reflect a wide range of birth years.
  2. 1900 US Census; Tessa Kosta; Age 9; San Francisco; b. Illinois, Dec. 1890; parents, Edward, Emma Kosta
  3. Passenger Manifest; Tessa Madden; b. Dec. 12; Chicago; SS Homeric; August 13, 1930
  4. "Ely Girl is now with Madame Sherry", Reno Evening Gazette (Reno, Nevada); Tuesday, February 28, 1911; p. 7b
  5. "Miss Brunner’s Recital", Woodland Daily Democrat (Woodland, California), Friday, June 14, 1907; p. 4
  6. Madame Sherry, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  7. "Madame Sherry is Most Charming", Olean Times (Olean, New York: Monday, March 25, 1912; P. 4
  8. "The Pink Lady", Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia); Friday, November 15, 1912; p. 2
  9. The Pink Lady, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  10. "K. & E.’s Pink Lady Proved Pleasing", Hamilton Evening Journal (Hamilton, Ohio); Monday, January 20, 1913; p. 3
  11. Kosta's New York Times obituary states that she debuted on Broadway at the age of 13 under the direction of George M. Cohen. This has proven difficult to verify with contemporary sources.
  12. The Beauty Shop, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  13. Tessa Kosta, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  14. Chu Chin Chow, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  15. Lassie, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  16. The Chocolate Soldier, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  17. Caroline, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  18. Song of the Flame, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  19. The Fortune Teller, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 19, 2012
  20. "Tessa Kosta, a Star of the Musical Stage Early in the Century", The New York Times, August 26, 1981; p. D23
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