Omri and I wrote the score for this world premiere at Westchester Broadway Theater.
Book by Tom Polum and Jean Cheever.
Running until September 29!
Headed back to Sacramento for GUYS AND DOLLS.
Director Charles Repole. Choreo by Michael Lichtefeld.
With a smart book by Jon Hartmere, this musical is going to be a HIT.
Electronic music design by Strange Cranium.
Cirque Musica presents Wonderland gave me the opportunity to not only conduct 45-piece orchestras, but to orchestrate, arrange, curate, compose, and music direct a show from start to finish, while also supervising a Canadian version of the same tour.
I am the conductor and music coordinator of 4U: The Music of Prince with Symphony.
Questlove is a genius. Orchestrators are Brent Fischer, D.D. Jackson, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.
The show reenvisions Prince’s catalogue for orchestra; including hits (Kiss, 1999, Purple Rain), cult hits (Computer Blue, Under the Cherry Moon) to flat-out unreleased songs (It Ain’t Over Til the Fat Lady Sings, Venus de Milo).
My uncle Dr. John Knight is a professional conductor and he told me before my first 45-piece orchestra rehearsal as conductor to “Know the music.”
I’ll add 2 more bullet points to this advice: Know the music, know the instruments, and use the time wisely.
I have conducted 50+ professional and pickup orchestras in the past few years including material from a symphonic reinvention of Prince, to Foreigner hits with Lou Gramm, to the Nutcracker Suite.
The Atlanta Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and Omaha Symphony remain my favorite experiences.
Music director for 20+ equity productions, even more labs, readings, cabarets, new works, industrials, and educational theater. Highlights include Sacramento Music Circus, the John W. Engeman, 4U: Prince with Symphony, Cirque Musica Holiday, and the Broadway Swinger series with my friend and collaborator Ben Eakeley.
Honestly, this is just an interesting photo from Carnegie Hall, and a reminder that once upon a time I only wanted to a be a professional pianist.
Currently I get to sub as Keyboard 1 at Mean Girls, Keyboard 2 at Waitress, and Keyboard 3 at Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Keyboard programming is a hobby of mine, and I’ve used MainStage on all of my own shows plus assisted on several Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Some highlights include A Chorus Line at City Center, Mamma Mia at the Engeman, and Fun Home at The Public.
Favorite keyboard is the Yamaha S90ES even though it’s 15 years old.
Nord Stage and the Kawaii MP series are the best new options.
Preferred DAW is Logic.
Ableton 10.
Highlight recommend the electronic music designers at Strange Cranium.
My first experience as a Broadway copyist was with ON YOUR FEET! with my mentor, Russ Bartmus.
I equally love Finale and Sibelius.
Recently the copyist for MY VERY OWN BRITISH INVASION.
With my writing partner, Omri Schein, we have written several musicals that you’ve never heard of, so let me clue you in:
Gary Goldfarb: Master Escapist is the rave-NY-Times-review, Steele Spring award-winning 2013 NYMF production.
Mambo Italiano: The Musical will have it’s first equity production at Westchester Broadway Theatre later this year.
Withering Heights, a comedic play with music, achieved success in California in 2017.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, the 2010 Newbery Honor Award winner, is in the works.
Our original song, “Wonderland,” was the hit feature of the 2018 tour of Cirque Musica presents Wonderland (news spot here).
And other projects that I’m not allowed to discuss.
Not everything fits into a category.
