robertMITCHELL
I PLAYWRIGHT/COMPOSER I
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Award winning playwright, composer and lyricist Robert Mitchell has written a variety of works ranging from musicals to one-act operas to musical reviews, as well as music scores for full length feature films, documentaries, radio dramas, ballet and concert stage.
Also active as a conductor, he was music director for several European tours of The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber. He conducted recordings of the Carmen Ballet for the Chicago Ballet Co., and in London, his own orchestral version of the musical Hello Dolly with members of the BBC Orchestra. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with The Queens Symphony, the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and others.
He is a member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild.
PROLOGUE
Robert Mitchell's latest project is a new one man musical, CAPONE, to star DANNY AIELLO. Plans are currently set for a Broadway Opening later this year. The story deals not with the notorious crime boss that everyone knows, but rather, the CAPONE of his "retirement years". Released early from Alcatraz, due to an advanced case of syphilis, rendering him incapable of harm to society, he is a man largely oblivious to his former life whose mental state has been reduced to that of a ten year old. He is given to hallucinations, epileptic fits, long talks with God, perhaps even seeking atonement for his many sins...
DiMaggio, The Man Behind the Myth, the most recent production, a splashy, song-and-dance musical that features the energetic Jazz and Latin rhythms of the 40s, 50s and early 60s, was produced in New York City at Wings Theatre in December of 2007. Regarding the work, Mario Fratti (author-translator of "Nine") wrote: There is something extraordinary taking place at Wings Theatre: "DiMaggio" the new musical by the very active playwright and composer, Robert Mitchell...
Rappaccini's Daughter, an opera musical fantasy based on a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was most recently produced in Las Vegas, in September 2007; and at the former Whole Theatre Co. in Montclair, NJ, Olympia Dukakis, artistic director, also at Theatre Music Theatreworks in Palo Alto, CA.
Vincent, based on the life and letters of van Gogh, won the OOBR AWARD for BEST MUSICAL of the 2003/2004 season in New York City. After critical acclaim by New York Times, Backstage and Variety, among others, it was revived the following season.
Frankenstein, a retelling of the Mary Shelley novel from the monsters point of view, featured Brian Charles Rooney (Roundabout Theatres Three Penny Opera) as Victor Frankenstein, produced at Wings Theatre in 2006.
They All Knew, a musical about family ties, secrets and lies, produced at Wings Theatre, received critical acclaim from The New York Times, The New Yorker, and others.
This is Your Life, Joe Mazzarella, a one act jazz-rock opera performed at the Free Theatre in Chicago was praised by the Chicago Sun Times.
Children and Art, a ten minute musical for two characters was performed at the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Festival of One Act Plays.
Bags, produced Off-Broadway by actress/producer Lee Grant, enjoyed high praise from the New York Daily News.
Lone Star, an outdoor music drama, commissioned by the Mary Moody Foundation and performed at the Moody State Theatre in Galveston, Texas, was recorded by members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra with John DeMain, former music director of the Houston Grand Opera, conducting.
One Man, Two Minds, commissioned by a grant from Meet The Composer and broadcast live on WQXR radio In The Listening Room, was originally performed by Golden Fleece Ltd. - The Composers Chamber Theatre, and later, Soho Rep to acclaim from the New York Times, Backstage, and The Daily News.
actors
actor
MUSICALS
CAPONE (Latest work in development)DIMAGGIO - THE MAN BEHIND THE MYTHVINCENT *THEY ALL KNEWFRANKENSTEINRAPPACCINI'S DAUGHTERLIFESONGSTHIS IS YOUR LIFE JOE MAZZARELLACHILDREN AND ART
CAPONE (Latest work in development)
DIMAGGIO - THE MAN BEHIND THE MYTH
VINCENT *
THEY ALL KNEW
FRANKENSTEIN
RAPPACCINI'S DAUGHTER
LIFESONGS
THIS IS YOUR LIFE JOE MAZZARELLA
CHILDREN AND ART
*OOBR AWARD for 'BEST MUSICAL' - NYC in 2003
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
OTHER WORKS
LA TRISTEZZA - One act Opera/song cycle (two versions)MONAHAN IN OCTOBER - Dramatic poem with dance performed by members of the Nikolais Dance Co.TWICE DEAD - Dramatic song cycleBUT ONLY FOR A DAY - PBS documentary film scoreSOUTHERN HEART - Full length feature film score-premiered at Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Film FestivalIN SOUTH AFRICA - Documentary film scoreTHE WISE MAN - Music score for Public Radio BroadcastCARMEN BALLET - Commissioned and performed by the Chicago Ballet Co.
LA TRISTEZZA - One act Opera/song cycle (two versions)
MONAHAN IN OCTOBER - Dramatic poem with dance performed by members of the Nikolais Dance Co.
TWICE DEAD - Dramatic song cycle
BUT ONLY FOR A DAY - PBS documentary film score
SOUTHERN HEART - Full length feature film score-premiered at Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Film Festival
IN SOUTH AFRICA - Documentary film score
THE WISE MAN - Music score for Public Radio Broadcast
CARMEN BALLET - Commissioned and performed by the Chicago Ballet Co.
MUSIC
To listen to these selections, please pause background music using the controls on the lower left corner.
REVIEWS
"Mitchell, who won awards for last years theatrical production, Vincent, created everything: book, music and lyrics. They are all first rate. His music has a wide range, varying in styles, tones and rhythms. His lyrics are clever and witty. They All Knew is not the usual feel good musical; this is serious and complex material for a musical and further complicated by the episodic way in which it is presented. But because Mr. Mitchell draws his characters so completely and so well, he is able to pull it off."
-Gene Kilik, President of the Outer Circle Critics Awards Town & Country
"A highly pleasing musical with frothy melodies and complex harmonies, written by Robert Mitchell (creator of the 2003 hit "Vincent"). After the death of his reproving father (David Tillistrand), a young composer (Adam MacDonald) looks backward, searching for a bilogical basis for the lifelong tension between father and son."
-The New Yorker review of They All Knew
"The music ranges from pop to rock to ballad and tarantella, with an occasional nod to Kurt Weill..."
-The New York Times review of They All Knew
"They All Knew is ambitious. Mitchell challenges himself to be the new Sondheim..."
-Martin Denton of NY Theatre
"As a composer, Mitchell appears to have no problem in turning out pretty tunes and catchy pastiches, often fitted nicely with straightforward, expressive lyrics."
-Backstage review of They All Knew
"The music only improves as the show progresses. Bravo to the show's two main characters, Joe and Marilyn. Bravo to the entire cast and all involved."
-Martin Denton of NY Theatre of DiMaggio-The Man Behind the Myth
"There is something noteworthy going on in New York - "DiMaggio - the Man Behind the Myth" - a new musical by the very active playwright and composer, Robert Mitchell. Some of his past works include: "Vincent", "Rappaccini's Daughter", "Frankenstein", and "They All Knew" - for which he has written book, music and lyrics."
-OGGI (Italian newspaper) reviewed by Mario Fratti - co-author of the musical 'Nine'
"Mitchell's play is worth catching; the story is unforced, the lyrics are good and sometimes funny, and the whole thing is of a piece - not a patched-together effort but an organic unity, with as much to sing as to say."
-The New Yorker review of Vincent
"The severed ear. The suicidal gunshot. The sunflowers. All are present in "Vincent" an operatic new musical retracing the tortured life of Vincent van Gogh. In the end this soul and this heart infuse "Vincent," like the artist himself, with a stubborn nobility."
-Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times
"Thus "Frankenstein" The Musical, where a packed house at last Sunday's matinee - not one empty seat - applauded each of those 40 numbers as if nobody had ever seen James Whales' semi-immortal 1931 movie, particularly in the absence of a musical score. Well, now there is one, thanks to Robert Mitchell, composer, lyricist, and book writer."
-Jerry Tallmer of New York Post
"I would say this piece walks the line between modern opera and musical theatre. The score is full of lush music with some difficult tight harmonies, which the cast executes with ease and polish. All of the performers handle their roles admirably. The delicately handsome Brian Charles Rooney finely portrays a tormented yet sensitive Victor Frankenstein. Timothy Warmen brings an intense sexuality and presence to the role of the Creature. Under music director Paul Staroba's direction, the music is both haunting and beautiful..."
-Judith Jarosz of NY Theatre.com review of Frankenstein
"Though myriad versions of Nathaniel Hawthornes's spooky little gothic horror fable have been seen in film, television and stage, and no less than three operas have been inspired by it, Mitchell's "Rappaccini" seems the most successful of the three..."
-Bill Zakariasen of New York Post review of Rappaccini's Daughter
"Mr. Mitchell's voice is distinctly his own, capable of illuminating and underscoring the text of Hawthorne's original story and the additions of the new stage book in a powerfully moving way..."
-Daphne Kraft of The New Jersey Herald & News review of Rappaccini's Daughter
CONTACT
Robert Mitchell
RAM Theatricals, LLC
165 West End Ave. Suite 22H
New York, NY 10023
Phone/Fax: (212) 799-3257
Cell: (917) 499-2946
Email: arobertmitchell_yahoo.com
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Robert Mitchells most recent production, DiMaggio, The Man Behind the Myth, a splashy, song-and-dance musical that features the energetic Jazz and Latin rhythms of the 40s, 50s and early 60s, was produced in New York City at Wings Theatre in December of 2007. Regarding the work, Mario Fratti (author-translator of Nine") wrote: There is something extraordinary taking place at Wings Theatre: DiMaggio" the new musical by the very active playwright and composer, Robert Mitchell... Rappaccinis Daughter, an opera musical fantasy based on a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was most recently produced in Las Vegas, in September 2007; and at the former Whole Theatre Co. in Montclair, NJ, Olympia Dukakis, artistic director, also at Theatre Music Theatreworks in Palo Alto, CA. One of its songs, Since First I Saw You, can be found on the CD The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber and More. Vincent, based on the life and letters of van Gogh, won the OOBR AWARD for BEST MUSICAL of the 2003/2004 season in New York City. After critical acclaim by New York Times, Backstage and Variety, among others, it was revived the following season. Frankenstein, a retelling of the Mary Shelley novel from the monsters point of view, featured Brian Charles Rooney (Roundabout Theatres Three Penny Opera) as Victor Frankenstein, produced at Wings Theatre in 2006. They All Knew, a musical about family ties, secrets and lies, produced at Wings Theatre, received critical acclaim from The New York Times, The New Yorker, and others. This is Your Life, Joe Mazzarella, a one act jazz-rock opera performed at the Free Theatre in Chicago was praised by the Chicago Sun Times. Children and Art, a ten minute musical for two characters was performed at the Actors Theatre of Louisvilles Festival of One Act Plays. Bags, produced Off-Broadway by actress/producer Lee Grant, enjoyed high praise from the New York Daily News. Lone Star, an outdoor music drama, commissioned by the Mary Moody Foundation and performed at the Moody State Theatre in Galveston, Texas, was recorded by members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra with John DeMain, former music director of the Houston Grand Opera, conducting. The dramatic song cycle One Man, Two Minds, commissioned by a grant from Meet The Composer and broadcast live on WQXR radios In The Listening Room, was originally performed by Golden Fleece Ltd. - The Composers Chamber Theatre, and later, Soho Rep to acclaim from the New York Times, Backstage, and The Daily News.
LICENSING INFORMATION: If you are interested in producing or licensing please contact
RAM Theatricals, LLC. at 212-799-3257.
