Benjamin Button (the musical)
| Benjamin Button | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Music |
|
| Lyrics | Brett Boles |
| Premiere | Atlanta, GA |
Benjamin Button (Music by Natalie Tenenbaum and Book/Lyrics by Brett Boles) is the story of a man who ages backwards.[1] Set in Atlanta, GA and New York from 1925 through the early 2000s, the piece explores Benjamin's entire life, but focuses mainly on the relationships Benjamin has with his father, his wife, and his son. Benjamin Button stresses the importance of family, examines issues of love vs. protection, and urges all of us to consider how we spend the time we have.[2][3]
Benjamin Button has had several presentations, including two staged readings at the York Theatre Off-Broadway.[4] A showcase at the Southwark Playhouse in London was produced by Katy Lipson and Aria Entertainment (The Last 5 Years, West End) in 2018. Several of the songs have been orchestrated by Tony Award Winner Charlie Rosen, and the music has been performed and/or recorded by Tony Nominee Sean Allan Krill (Jagged Little Pill) and by Broadway’s Janine DiVita (Grease), Melissa van der Schyff (Bonnie and Clyde), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys), Sean McDermott (Miss Saigon), and Karen Elliott (Les Miserables).[5]
Writers
Natalie Tenenbaum (Music)
Natalie Tenenbaum is a critically-acclaimed composer, pianist, music producer/director and singer-songwriter. Graduate of the Juilliard School, Natalie has appeared as soloist and with orchestras in Israel, Europe, Asia and the US, performing in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Korea's National Theater, Jerusalem Music Center, Berlin's Konzerthaus, Madison Square Garden and Apollo theater; Natalie has premiered her original compositions at Carnegie Hall, Harvard University, Merkin Hall, The National Arts Gallery (NY), and Juilliard's Paul Hall.
On Broadway, Natalie has created arrangements and held the keyboard chair (2017-2020) for the hit Broadway musical MEAN GIRLS, written by Jeff Richmond & Tina Fey. As a member in the Lehman-Engle Advanced Workshop for Musical Theater, Natalie was the 2012 Harrington Award recipient for Outstanding Creative Achievement at the BMI Lehman-Engle Musical Theatre Workshop as well as the BMI Jean Banks Award (2013). Natalie has co-written the musicals BENJAMIN BUTTON (York Theater in NYC, "From Page To Stage" Festival- London, 2018), JULIET & JULIET (York Theater, NY), LITTLE BLACK DRESS (US & Canada Tour, 2018-2020), and has also written the score for John Guare's MORE STARS THAN THERE ARE IN HEAVEN (Tennessee Williams Festival, 2015).
Natalie has been featured in NBC's MAYA & MARTY as associate Music Director, performing with Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Emma Stone, Kenan Thompson, Nick Jonas and more. Natalie has contributed original music for Rockstar Games' (Take Two Interactive) award-winning release, RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2. Recently, Natalie has been contracted by Steinway & Sons to create and record original arrangements for their Spirio piano. Currently, Natalie is working on arrangements for Lang Lang's upcoming album (Universal Media Group/Deustche Grammophon) while also working on an upcoming solo project, to be released in late 2021. Other collaborations include a piano duo with Julian "J3PO" Pollack, music direction for Titus Burgess, The 8-Bit Big Band, Tori Kelly (2020 Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center) & more.
Brett Boles (Book/Lyrics)
Brett Boles is an award-winning musical theatre composer, lyricist, bookwriter and music director.[6] His original musical Foreverman premiered at NYMF where it garnered awards for Outstanding Orchestrations and the New World Stages Development Prize. He has also written original material for three of the four original Broadway Matildas, which they premiered at 54 Below. Brett’s work has been performed by Broadway greats including Tony Nominees Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde), Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar, Amazing Grace), Kate Baldwin (Finian’s Rainbow, Big Fish), and Sean Allan Krill (Jagged Little Pill). In 2013, he co-conceived From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook with Tony Award Winning producer and founder/president of Broadway Records Van Dean.[7] As a vocal arranger, Brett has worked with Seth Rudetsky, arranging work for Stephanie Mills and Orfeh for the Concerts for America series.[8] Recently, Brett started a TikTok series called The M Tea, which now has over 245,000 followers. Brett currently serves as the Director of Choirs at Hall High School in West Hartford, CT. He is a proud member of the Tony-honored BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and the Dramatists Guild of America. @brettboles on TikTok, @thebrettboles on Instagram.[9]
References
- ↑ "Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Melissa van der Schyff, & More Set for Benjamin Button Reading, 6/5". IMDb. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ "Benjamin Button the Musical Prepares for the Stage | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ "Hunter Ryan Herdlicka Melissa van der Schyff More Set for BENJAMIN BUTTON Reading". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ "Benjamin Button gets musical treatment in From Page to Stage festival". The Stage. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ Rosky, Nicole. "Matthew Hydzik Will Age Backwards in BENJAMIN BUTTON Musical Reading". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ Paskett, Zoe (29 August 2018). "From Page to Stage Festival is the place to see new musicals first". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ "Casting announced for exciting festival of brand new musicals". West End Wilma. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ "FPTS London". From Page to Stage. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ Gioia, Michael (2 December 2021). "Matthew Hydzik and Christina DeCicco Lead Cast of Benjamin Button Readings". Playbill. Retrieved 2 December 2021.