fbpx
Wikipedia

Michael Friedman (composer)

John Michael Friedman (September 24, 1975 – September 9, 2017) was an American composer and lyricist. He was a Founding Associate Artist of theater company The Civilians.

Michael Friedman
Birth nameJohn Michael Friedman
Born(1975-09-24)September 24, 1975
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 2017(2017-09-09) (aged 41)
New York City, U.S.
GenresMusical theatre
Occupations
  • Composer
  • Lyricist
Years active2002–2017

His musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson opened on Broadway in October 2010.

Friedman won a 2007 Obie Award for sustained excellence.[1] Additionally, he received a MacDowell Fellowship, a Princeton Hodder Fellowship, a Meet The Composer Fellowship, and was a Barron Visiting Professor at The Princeton Environmental Institute in 2009. At the time of his death, he was the Artist in Residence and Director of the Public Forum at the Public Theater and was also the Artistic Director of City Center Encores! Off-Center.[2]

Friedman died on September 9, 2017, aged 41, from complications related to HIV/AIDS.[3] In 2018, he received a star on the Playwrights’ Sidewalk at the Lucille Lortel Theater.[4]

Background Edit

Born in Boston, Friedman grew up in Philadelphia. He attended Germantown Friends School, after which he studied history and literature at Harvard College.[5] While at Harvard, he studied under Bernard Rands, Mario Davidovsky, and Elizabeth Swados.[6]

Career Edit

Friedman was most well known as the co-creator of the critically acclaimed musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson which premiered in New York at the Public Theater and subsequently transferred to Broadway. Other credits include the musical “Unknown Soldier,” which premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and had a critically acclaimed run at Playwright Horizons, “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” which premiered at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, Saved, In the Bubble, The Brand New Kid, God's Ear, The Blue Demon and This Beautiful City.

He worked with Itamar Moses on The Fortress of Solitude, an adaption based on the Jonathan Lethem book of the same name. It opened September 30, 2014 at The Public Theater.[7]

In the months leading up to the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, Michael traveled the country creating a series of songs based on interviews he conducted. Those songs became his “State of the Union Songbook,” which was presented by The New Yorker Radio Hour.[8]

Michael was a founding Associate Artist of The Civilians, the acclaimed investigative theater company. His work with The Civilians included “Gone Missing,” “In the Footprint,” “The Great Immensity,” “Paris Commune,” (co-written with Steve Cosson) “(I Am) Nobody’s Lunch,” and “This Beautiful City” as well as the score for Anne Washburn’s critically acclaimed “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play.” His last collaboration with Civilians’ Artistic Director Cosson, “The Abominables,” opened at Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis in September 2017.

His music has also been heard at the New York Shakespeare Festival, New York Theatre Workshop, Roundabout Theatre Company, Second Stage, Soho Repertory Theater, Signature Theatre, Theater for a New Audience, and The Acting Company. He wrote the music for Anne Washburn's Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play.

Regionally, his work has been featured at Hartford Stage, The Humana Festival of New American Plays, ART, Berkeley Rep, Dallas Theatre Center, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Portland Center Stage, and internationally at London's Soho and Gate Theatres and the Edinburgh Festival.

He was the dramaturg for the 2004 Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Kenny Leon.[9]

At the time of his death, he was writing a commissioned work on American history for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and a musical about the adult film industry with Bess Wohl and The Civilians titled Pretty Filthy.[10]

The Civilians Edit

With The Civilians, Friedman was the composer and lyricist for Canard, Canard, Goose?, Gone Missing, [I Am] Nobody's Lunch, This Beautiful City, The Great Immensity, and In the Footprint, and co-author of Paris Commune.[11] His work on Pretty Filthy can be seen in the theater company's premiere production of the new musical.[12]

In partnership with Ghostlight Records, the Civilians will be releasing cast recordings of nine shows that Friedman wrote or co-wrote. The first three, The Great Immensity, This Beautiful City, and The Abominables were released on October 18, 2019.[13] Recordings of Paris Commune and (I Am) Nobody's Lunch were released on August 14, 2020.[14][15]

Notable works Edit

Awards and nominations Edit

Year Award Category Work Result
2008 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Musical Saved Nominated
2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Music Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Nominated
Drama League Awards Distinguished Production of a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Won
Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Nominated
2014 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Love Labour's Lost Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Nominated
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play Nominated
2015 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Pretty Filthy Nominated
Outstanding Music The Fortress of Solitude Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Nominated

References Edit

  1. ^ . Village Voice. May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  2. ^ michaelfriedmanmusic.com
  3. ^ Paulson, Michael (September 10, 2017). "Michael Friedman, Co-Creator of 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,' Dies at 41". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  4. ^ michaelfriedmanmusic.com
  5. ^ Grathwohl, Casper (March 11, 2007). "Composing for Shakespeare While Listening to Timberlake". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Songs with "Open Eyes"". Harvardmagazine.com. October 15, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "2014–2015 Season". Publictheater.org. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  8. ^ michaelfriedmanmusic.com
  9. ^ The Broadway League. "A Raisin in the Sun | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". IBDB. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  10. ^ "Harvard Square - Composer/Lyricist MICHAEL FRIEDMAN at Farkas Hall". Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  11. ^ "The Civilians / Artist: Michael Friedman". Thecivilians-artist.blogspot.com. December 29, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  12. ^ . Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  13. ^ Paulson, Michael (October 16, 2019). "Michael Friedman Died in 2017. Now 9 Albums of His Work Are Coming". New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  14. ^ "Paris Commune (The Michael Friedman Collection) [World Premiere Recording]". Amazon. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "(I Am) Nobody's Lunch [The Michael Friedman Collection] [World Premiere Recording]". Amazon. Retrieved October 16, 2020.

External links Edit

michael, friedman, composer, john, michael, friedman, september, 1975, september, 2017, american, composer, lyricist, founding, associate, artist, theater, company, civilians, michael, friedmanbirth, namejohn, michael, friedmanborn, 1975, september, 1975boston. John Michael Friedman September 24 1975 September 9 2017 was an American composer and lyricist He was a Founding Associate Artist of theater company The Civilians Michael FriedmanBirth nameJohn Michael FriedmanBorn 1975 09 24 September 24 1975Boston Massachusetts U S DiedSeptember 9 2017 2017 09 09 aged 41 New York City U S GenresMusical theatreOccupationsComposer LyricistYears active2002 2017 His musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson opened on Broadway in October 2010 Friedman won a 2007 Obie Award for sustained excellence 1 Additionally he received a MacDowell Fellowship a Princeton Hodder Fellowship a Meet The Composer Fellowship and was a Barron Visiting Professor at The Princeton Environmental Institute in 2009 At the time of his death he was the Artist in Residence and Director of the Public Forum at the Public Theater and was also the Artistic Director of City Center Encores Off Center 2 Friedman died on September 9 2017 aged 41 from complications related to HIV AIDS 3 In 2018 he received a star on the Playwrights Sidewalk at the Lucille Lortel Theater 4 Contents 1 Background 2 Career 3 The Civilians 4 Notable works 5 Awards and nominations 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditBorn in Boston Friedman grew up in Philadelphia He attended Germantown Friends School after which he studied history and literature at Harvard College 5 While at Harvard he studied under Bernard Rands Mario Davidovsky and Elizabeth Swados 6 Career EditFriedman was most well known as the co creator of the critically acclaimed musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson which premiered in New York at the Public Theater and subsequently transferred to Broadway Other credits include the musical Unknown Soldier which premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and had a critically acclaimed run at Playwright Horizons Love s Labour s Lost which premiered at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Musical Saved In the Bubble The Brand New Kid God s Ear The Blue Demon and This Beautiful City He worked with Itamar Moses on The Fortress of Solitude an adaption based on the Jonathan Lethem book of the same name It opened September 30 2014 at The Public Theater 7 In the months leading up to the 2016 U S Presidential Election Michael traveled the country creating a series of songs based on interviews he conducted Those songs became his State of the Union Songbook which was presented by The New Yorker Radio Hour 8 Michael was a founding Associate Artist of The Civilians the acclaimed investigative theater company His work with The Civilians included Gone Missing In the Footprint The Great Immensity Paris Commune co written with Steve Cosson I Am Nobody s Lunch and This Beautiful City as well as the score for Anne Washburn s critically acclaimed Mr Burns a Post Electric Play His last collaboration with Civilians Artistic Director Cosson The Abominables opened at Children s Theater Company in Minneapolis in September 2017 His music has also been heard at the New York Shakespeare Festival New York Theatre Workshop Roundabout Theatre Company Second Stage Soho Repertory Theater Signature Theatre Theater for a New Audience and The Acting Company He wrote the music for Anne Washburn s Mr Burns a Post Electric Play Regionally his work has been featured at Hartford Stage The Humana Festival of New American Plays ART Berkeley Rep Dallas Theatre Center Williamstown Theatre Festival Portland Center Stage and internationally at London s Soho and Gate Theatres and the Edinburgh Festival He was the dramaturg for the 2004 Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun directed by Kenny Leon 9 At the time of his death he was writing a commissioned work on American history for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and a musical about the adult film industry with Bess Wohl and The Civilians titled Pretty Filthy 10 The Civilians EditWith The Civilians Friedman was the composer and lyricist for Canard Canard Goose Gone Missing I Am Nobody s Lunch This Beautiful City The Great Immensity and In the Footprint and co author of Paris Commune 11 His work on Pretty Filthy can be seen in the theater company s premiere production of the new musical 12 In partnership with Ghostlight Records the Civilians will be releasing cast recordings of nine shows that Friedman wrote or co wrote The first three The Great Immensity This Beautiful City and The Abominables were released on October 18 2019 13 Recordings of Paris Commune and I Am Nobody s Lunch were released on August 14 2020 14 15 Notable works EditCanard Canard Goose 2002 Paris Commune 2004 I Am Nobody s Lunch 2006 Gone Missing 2007 This Beautiful City 2008 Saved 2008 Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson 2008 In the Footprint 2010 Mr Burns a Post Electric Play 2012 Incidental music The Fortress of Solitude 2012 Love s Labour s Lost 2013 Pretty Filthy 2015 Rimbauld in New York 2016 with many others The Abominables 2017 Awards and nominations EditYear Award Category Work Result2008 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Musical Saved Nominated2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Music Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson NominatedDrama League Awards Distinguished Production of a Musical NominatedOuter Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Off Broadway Musical WonOutstanding New Score Broadway or Off Broadway Nominated2014 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Love Labour s Lost NominatedOutstanding Lyrics NominatedDrama League Award Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off Broadway Play Mr Burns a Post Electric Play Nominated2015 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Pretty Filthy NominatedOutstanding Music The Fortress of Solitude NominatedOutstanding Lyrics NominatedOuter Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Off Broadway Musical NominatedReferences Edit 2006 2007 Obie Award Winners Page 1 Theater New York Village Voice May 15 2007 Archived from the original on December 2 2013 Retrieved January 6 2012 michaelfriedmanmusic com Paulson Michael September 10 2017 Michael Friedman Co Creator of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Dies at 41 The New York Times Retrieved September 10 2017 michaelfriedmanmusic com Grathwohl Casper March 11 2007 Composing for Shakespeare While Listening to Timberlake The New York Times Songs with Open Eyes Harvardmagazine com October 15 2013 Retrieved September 10 2017 2014 2015 Season Publictheater org Retrieved September 10 2017 michaelfriedmanmusic com The Broadway League A Raisin in the Sun IBDB The official source for Broadway Information IBDB Retrieved January 6 2012 Harvard Square Composer Lyricist MICHAEL FRIEDMAN at Farkas Hall Archived from the original on February 8 2013 Retrieved November 9 2012 The Civilians Artist Michael Friedman Thecivilians artist blogspot com December 29 2009 Retrieved January 6 2012 The Civilians Pretty Filthy Archived from the original on November 3 2012 Retrieved November 21 2012 Paulson Michael October 16 2019 Michael Friedman Died in 2017 Now 9 Albums of His Work Are Coming New York Times Retrieved November 20 2019 Paris Commune The Michael Friedman Collection World Premiere Recording Amazon Retrieved October 16 2020 I Am Nobody s Lunch The Michael Friedman Collection World Premiere Recording Amazon Retrieved October 16 2020 External links EditMichael Friedman at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp A Composer Finds Ideas All Over by Stephen Holden The New York Times January 31 2010 TimeOut Michael Friedman papers 1980 2018 Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Friedman composer amp oldid 1174643582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.