Gary William Friedman
Gary William Friedman is an American
Biography
Early life and education
Born and raised in
Musical performance and composition
Friedman performed as a
During this period, Friedman's theatrical career began as the composer of scores for plays by
In 1975 Friedman served as music director for
Friedman has co-produced and composed original material for several internationally acclaimed jazz recordings with his wife, vocalist and lyricist,
Teaching
After completing his post-graduate studies in 1960, Friedman worked as a licensed teacher in New York City public school system. He taught an advanced course in music for film at Carnegie Mellon University in 1985 and writing for theater at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1993.
Personal life
Friedman married singer-lyricist Stevie Holland in 1999. He has two children from his first marriage to Barbara Ellen Miller, who died in 1997.
List of works
Broadway productions
- The Me Nobody Knows (1971)
- Platinum (1978)
Off-Broadway productions
- The Me Nobody Knows (1969)
- Taking My Turn (1982)
- Sunset (1983)
- Bring In The Morning (1991)
- Sheba (1995)
- Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter (co-author and arrangements) (2009)
Other theater productions
- 2008 ½ (lyrics by Tom Eyen), Truck and Warehouse Theatre, New York City (1972)
- Walking Papers (lyrics by Sandra Hochman), Circle in the Square Theatre, New York City (1975)
- Laugh A Little, Cry A Little (lyrics by Arnold Horwitt), National Tour, starring Jan Peerce (1976)
- Merton of The Movies (lyrics by Robert Lorick), Carnegie Mellon University (1985)
- Ghetto (additional lyrics by Sheldon Harnick), Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles (1986)
- Sheba (book and lyrics by Sharleen Cooper Cohen), ATA, New York City (1994)
- The Last Supper, A Musical Enactment (lyrics by Thomas Mitz), Saint Luke's Theatre, New York City (2001)
- Magpie (lyrics by Edward Gallardo), New York Musical Theatre Festival, The Player's Theatre, New York City (2007)
- Treasure Island (book by Sherman Yellen, lyrics by Will Holt), Theatre Three, Port Jefferson, New York (2012)
Symphonic works
- Mordecai (opera; libretto by Robert Reinhold), premiered at the Kosciushko Foundation, New York City (1979)
- Haskalah, premiered with the Columbus Symphony, Columbus, Ohio (1984)
- Waning Powers (opera; libretto by Gerald Walker), premiered at the Vineyard Theatre, New York City (1986)
- The Pied Piper (ballet), commissioned and performed by Tales and Scales, choreographed by Mercedes Ellington, premiered at the Lancaster Music Festival (1994), subsequently performed with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra (1995)
- Puss N' Boots (ballet), commissioned and performed by Maestro Gary Sheldon for the Lancaster Music Festival, choreographed by Melinda Baker (1998)
- Teddy (operatic fable; libretto by Herb Schapiro), performed in concert with Encompass New Opera Theatre (Nancy Rhodes, director), New York City (2002)
- Accordion Samba, commissioned by American Accordionists' Association, premiered at Elebash Recital Hall, New York City (2005)
- Ligeia (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by Joshua Rosenblum for the Pit Stop Players, DiMenna Center for The Arts, New York City (2011)
- Butterfly (cantata for orchestra and soloists), premiered by Cantor Jack Chomsky at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Bexley, Ohio (2014)
- The Raven (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by Joshua Rosenblum for the Pit Stop Players, Saint Stephens Church, New York City (2015)
- Reflections (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by The Palisades Virtuosi, at the George Frey Center For The Arts, New Jersey (2015), Recorded on Albany Records (2017)
- A Dream Within A Dream (chamber work), commissioned and premiered by Joshua Rosenblum for the Pit Stop Players, Good Sheperd-Faith Presbyterian Church, New York City (2016)
- Anthem (chamber work; poem by Ross Yockey), premiered by the Essex Chamber Music Players at the David Hartleb Tech Center, Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill, Massachusetts (2017)
Liturgical works
- Celebration, a contemporary setting of the traditional Friday night service, commissioned by Roger L. Stevens for John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (1971), premiered at Temple Israel of the City of New York (1973)
- An American S'Lichot, commissioned and premiered by Cantor Jack Chomsky at Congregation Tifereth Israel, Columbus, Ohio (1983)
- Song Of Songs, for Cantor, Choir and Orchestra, commissioned and performed by Cantor Nate Lam at Stephen Wise Synagogue, Los Angeles (1988)
Film scores
- Fore Play (1975)
- Spree (1979)
- Full Moon High (1981)
- The Creation (video short) (1988)
- The Goodbye Bird (1993)
- Private Debts (short) (1993)
Television
- "Alexander", an ABC Afterschool Special (1973)
- The Electric Company (music director and composer) (1974–1975)
- Showtimespecial) (1979)
- Taking My Turn (PBS Great Performances series) (1983)
- My Two Loves(1986)
- Night of Courage (ABC) (1987)
- Who Gets the Friends? (1988)
- Liberace (1988)
- Bump in the Night (1991)
- Susan B. Anthony Slept Here (1995)
Awards and nominations
Year | Work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | The Me Nobody Knows | Drama Desk Award for Best Original Score | Won |
Obie Award for Best Original Score | Won | ||
1971 | Tony Award for Best Original Score | Nominated | |
1983 | Taking My Turn | Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical
|
Won |
2012 | Treasure Island | Broadway World Long Island Award for Best Musical | Won |
References
- ^ "Gary William Friedman". Gary William Friedman. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ Derek, Taylor (February 1, 2000). "Greene/Silva/Friedman/Winter/Walker: Free Form Improvisation Ensemble". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ Strongin, Theodore (September 29, 1964). "ENSEMBLE HEARD IN IMPROVISATIONS; Morrow-Friedman Works Played at Town Hall" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ "Shows with music composed by Gary W. Friedman". La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ Barnes, Clive (May 19, 1970). "Stage: Vivid and Honest; 'Me Nobody Knows,' a Musical, Bows" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ "Search Past Winners". IBM Corp., Tony Award Productions. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ Schulslaper, Robert (2009). "Soul to Soul: A Conversation with Gary William Friedman". Fanfare. 32 (3): 64. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ Crutchfield, Will (January 14, 1986). "MUSIC NOTED IN BRIEF; Works by Friedman At Vineyard Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (July 18, 1986). "TV WEEKEND; MUSICAL ON THE ELDERLY 'TAKING MY TURN,' ON 13". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ Barnes, Ken; Gardner, Elysa; Gundersen, Edna; Jones, Steve; Mansfield, Brian (December 18, 2008). "Our critics' picks of 2008". USA Today. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ "Gary William Friedman: Colloquy". ConcertoNet.com. September 11, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2013.