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Martin Charnin

MARTIN CHARNIN

  (1934 - )
Nationality:    USA
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    Robinson Brog Leinwand Greene Genovese & Gluck Pc  

Martin Charnin (born November 24, 1934) is an American lyricist, writer, and theatre director. Charnin's best-known work is as conceiver, director and lyricist of the musical Annie. Martin Charnin originated the role of Big Deal in the Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY in 1957-it was the only acting job he ever had, He began writing during West Side and his first collaborator was Mary Rodgers. His Tony award-winning Broadway production of Annie (the eleventh longest-running American musical in Broadway history) celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 1997 with a return to Broadway, and its national company has spent three years touring the United States. Another production closed in 2000 in the United Kingdom, having been nominated for the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Musical. A third production ended a two-year run in Amsterdam in 2001, and his 15th over-all production closed after a triumphant run in Australia in 2002.

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)

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below is a list of Martin Charnin's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         9/2 Quid Revue, The         Annie         Annie Warbucks         Ballad For A Firing Squad         Bless the Bride         First, The         Hot Spot         I Remember Mama         La Strada         Madwoman Of Central Park West, The         Mata Hari         Nash At Nine         Two By Two         Upstairs at O'Neal's

9/2 Quid Revue, The

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Revue Show

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Annie

Annie
11 year old annie is in an orphanage, presided over by Miss Hannigan, who keeps the little girl orphans in line by bullying and threatening them ("It's the Hard-Knock Life"). the girls are ever hopeful that they will find parents and happiness ("Maybe") while Miss Hannigan is unhappy with her situation. annie decides to escape to find her parents, running into a friendly dog (Sandy) ("Tomorrow") and the people made homeless because of the Great Depression ("We'd Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover"). However, she is returned to the orphanage. Grace Farrell, Warbucks' assistant, picks her to live in Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks' palatial home for the Christmas holidays ("I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here"). although initially uncomfortable with each other, annie and Daddy Warbucks soon come to love each other ("You Won't Be an Orphan For Long"). Warbucks wants to adopt her, but annie insists that her parents will come for her. Over the radio show of Bert Healy, and with the help of President and Mrs. Roosevelt, Warbucks offers a reward for the parents ("You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile"). Miss Hannigan and her brother, Rooster, and his slightly ditzy girlfriend, Lily St. Regis, scheme to pretend to be the parents and collect the reward ("easy Street"). When they are found out, it is revealed that annie's parents have died. Warbucks and annie become a family ("I Don't Need anything But You").

Notes:
music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by Martin Charnin; Book by Thomas Meehan; Based on "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray. Music theatre International hold the rights for the United States http://www.mtishows.com/

1st Produced:

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Music:
Original cast recording: Sony (SK-60723) 1977

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  large cast

Further Reference:
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Annie Warbucks

Annie Warbucks
Christmas Day 1933 Child Welfare Commissioner arrives at Daddy Warbucks' mansion and tells him that unless he marries in the next six days annie will be returned to the orphanage. the search is on for a wife. But Child Commissioner Doyle and her daughter are plotting to seize Daddy Warbucks' fortune

Notes:
by Thomas Meehan; Music Charles Strouse. Lyrics Martin Charnin

1st Produced:
Variety Arts Theater, New York    09 Aug 1993

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Original cast recording: angel (55040) 1993

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Ballad For A Firing Squad

Synopsis:
World War I. Captain Henri LaFarge is convinced that someone is giving war secrets to the Germans and that it is Mata Hari. He has her put under surveillance and a trap is set to get evidence against. the captain falls for Mata Hari. She takes the bait, is arrested and sentenced to death. Too late LaFarge discovers she has bee set up by the top brass.

Notes:
Music by edward Thomas; lyrics by Martin Charnin; book by Jerome Coopersmith

1st Produced:
-    1968

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  10            Female:  7            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Bless the Bride

Synopsis:
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Notes:
Vivian ellis/a P Herbert

1st Produced:
Adelphi, London    1947

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
Original cast recording: aeI (015)

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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First, The

Synopsis:
the story of Jackie Robinson the first black major league baseball player

Notes:
Music by Bob Brush; lyrics by Martin Charnin; book by Martin Charnin; Joel Siegel

1st Produced:
Martin Beck Theatre, New York    17 Nov 1981

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Hot Spot

Synopsis:
a member of the Peace Corps working in an African village called D'hum devises a plan to get American Government aid by pretending that the Russians are about to invade

Notes:
Music by Mary Rodgers; lyrics by Martin Charnin; book by Jack Weinstock; book by Willie Gilbert

1st Produced:
Majestic Theater, New York    19 Apr 1963

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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  large cast

Further Reference:
-

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I Remember Mama

I Remember Mama
Setting: San Francisco. Summer and Fall of 1910

Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Martin Charnin; Book by Thomas Meehan; Additional lyrics by Raymond Jessel; Based on the play "I Remember Mama" by John Van Druten; Based on stories by Kathryn Forbes

1st Produced:
Majestic Theatre, New York    31 May 1979

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
Original cast recording: TeR (1102) 1985

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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La Strada

La Strada
Gelsomina is sold by her mother to Zampano a circus strongman. Despite his brutish ways she falls in love with him. She shows great aptitude for being a clown and is soon the star of the circus. Zampano becomes jealous of her friendship with another clown Mario and he murders him

Notes:
Book by Charles K Peck Jr; Music And lyrics by Lionel Bart. Additional lyrics by Martin Charnin. Based on the film by Federico fellini

1st Produced:
Lunt-Fontanne Theater, New York    25551

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
Studio cast recording: Bayview (RNBW 028) 1967

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Madwoman Of Central Park West, The

Madwoman Of Central Park West, The
a woman tries to tidy up her bedroom whilst writing lists of things to do, having fights with her teenage daughter and reminiscing

Notes:
written with Phyllis Newman, music by Peter Allen, Leonard Bernstein And others, from play My Mother Was A Fortune Teller by Newman. Featuring songs with lyrics by Martin Charnin, Betty Comden, Fred Ebb, Adolph Green, Sheldon Harnick and Ed Kleban; Featuring songs with music and/or lyrics by Peter Allen, John Clifton, Jack Feldman, Barry Manilow, Phyllis Newman, Joe Raposo, Mary Rodgers, Carole Bayer Sager, Stephen Sondheim and Bruce Sussman

1st Produced:
Buffalo    1979

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
Original cast recording: DRG (5212) 1979

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Mata Hari

Mata Hari
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Notes:
Music by edward Thomas; lyrics by Martin Charnin; book by Jerome Coopersmith

1st Produced:
National Theatre, Washinton Dc    1967

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
Revival cast recording: Original Cast Records (OC-8600) 1995

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Nash At Nine

Synopsis:
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Notes:
conceived by Martin Charnin. Music by Milton Rosenstock; Book by Ogden Nash; Lyrics by Ogden Nash

1st Produced:
Helen Hayes Theatre, Ny    17 May 1973

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1st Published:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
musical review

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Two By Two

Two By Two
uses Noah and his ark to suggest that the corrupt world would find redemption in the strong family unit.

Notes:
from play the Flowering Peach by Clifford Odets, Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Martin Charmin; book by Peter Stone

1st Produced:
Imperial Theatre, New York    10 Nov 1970

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
Original cast recording: Sony (30338) 1970

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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Upstairs at O'Neal's

Upstairs at O'Neal's
For the revue, a variety of lyricists and composers have concocted, among other things, a Gilbert and Sullivan treatment of a soap opera, a feminist version of an Irish folk song in which the alternative gender references become increasingly complex, an inside view of teen-age models and the plaint of an old-fashioned crying doll that ''I am nothing next to Jenny Genitalia.''

Notes:
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1st Produced:
O'Neal's 43D Street Restaurant, Ny    29 Oct 1982

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
Painted Smiles Records PS-1344

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
musical review

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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