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Biography
Frank Wildhorn's works span the worlds of popular, theatrical and classical music.
In 1999, Frank became the first American composer in twenty-two years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: JEKYLL & HYDE (written with Leslie Bricusse), which received two Tony nominations; THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (written with Nan Knighton), which received four Tony nominations; and THE CIVIL WAR (written with Jack Murphy & Gregory Boyd), which received two Tony nominations. These shows continue to be seen in productions around the country and throughout the world. Frank also wrote additional songs for Broadway's VICTOR/VICTORIA (written with Leslie Bricusse) and was recently represented on Broadway by DRACULA: THE MUSICAL (written with Don Black & Christopher Hampton). He was also a Producer and Co-Creator for HARLEM SONG, the first open-ended theatrical run at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY.
JEKYLL & HYDE holds the distinction of being the first new American musical to have two internationally released concept recordings of the score: Highlights from JEKYLL & HYDE and JEKYLL & HYDE: The Complete Work. Songs from the show such as "Someone Like You," "A New Life," and "This Is The Moment" have been performed worldwide and have been featured at the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the World Series, the WNBA Championship, Miss America Pageants, the 1996 Democratic National Convention, and the Inauguration of President Clinton (sung by Jennifer Holliday). The Broadway cast recording was released in July of 1997 and received a Grammy nomination that year. The Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE was the longest running show in the history of the Plymouth Theater. The show has seen three major tours and hundreds of regional productions in the United States and Canada. Over 35 international productions have also been seen in such countries as Germany, Austria, Spain, Hungary, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Australia. There have now been ten international recordings of JEKYLL & HYDE in six different languages.
The SCARLET PIMPERNEL played at both the Minskoff Theatre and the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway. The show has been seen on two tours of the United States and Canada, and in such countries as Finland, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Malta. The show's score has yielded its own Top 40 Adult Contemporary Hit with the song "You Are My Home," a duet recorded by Peabo Bryson & Linda Eder. The Broadway cast recording was released in February of 1998, and a new album entitled ENCORE! was released in November 1999. A German-language recording was released in 2003.
Frank has produced two star-studded concept albums of The Civil War: THE NASHVILLE SESSIONS and THE COMPLETE WORK (a two-disc album). These feature such artists as Hootie & The Blowfish, Blues Traveler, Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Dr. John, and Betty Buckley, among others. Following its Broadway production, the show was seen on a two-year national tour that featured John Schneider, Larry Gatlin, and BeBe Winans.
Current projects include: Camille Claudel (written with Nan Knighton) which played at Goodspeed Opera's Norma Terris Theatre in 2003 and yielded the song "Gold," heard at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, UT; WAITING FOR THE MOON (written with Jack Murphy), based on the lives of F. Scott and Zelda
Fitzgerald, due to have its world premiere at the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center in Marlton, NJ in July 2005; CYRANO (written with Leslie Bricusse) will have its opening in London in 2006; VIENNA (written with Jack Murphy & Nan Knighton) will have its opening in Budapest, Hungary in the Spring of 2006; and Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN (written with Gregory Boyd & Jack Murphy) opens in Houston, TX in Spring 2006. Other titles include: EXCALIBUR (written with Jim Steinman & Gregory Boyd); a modern adaptation of CARMEN; a rock-n-roll adaptation of ALICE IN WONDERLAND; and BONNIE & CLYDE (written with Don Black). A concert version of JEKYLL & HYDE begins a national tour in October 2005, and FRANK WILDHORN & FRIENDS will make its premiere in September 2005.
Frank, who wrote all the music and served as Music Director for Opening Ceremonies for the Goodwill Games in 1998, has recently been commissioned to write the new official theme song for New York City.
Frank has written original material for Linda Eder's concerts at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway, her two Carnegie Hall solo concerts, and her recent holiday concert at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. He also Co-Produced and wrote original material for Eder's albums: Linda Eder, And So Much More, It's Time, It's No Secret Anymore, Christmas Stays The Same, Gold, Broadway My Way, and Storybook. Frank has also produced Linda Eder's Christmas concert special for Bravo TV, as well as BROADWYAY'S BEST ON BRAVO, for which he also served as Creative Director. Artists who have recorded and performed Frank's music include Whitney Houston (with the international number one hit "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?"), Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Freddie Jackson, Deana Carter, Tracy Lawrence, John Berry, Trace Adkins, Patti LaBelle, Bryan White, Amy Grant, Ben Vereen, Regina Belle, The Moody Blues, Jeffrey Osborne, Stacy Lattisaw, Dennis DeYoung, Molly Hatchet, Brenda Russell, John Raitt, Anthony Warlow, Stanley Turrentine, Johnny Mathis, and Colm Wilkinson, to name a few.
Frank is an Associate Artist in Musical Theatre with an endowed chair at the Alley Theatre in Houston, TX, where he launched JEKYLL & HYDE, SVENGALI, and THE CIVIL WAR. He also wrote music for Arthur Kopit's play THE ROAD TO NIRVANA and scored the play CYRANO DE BERGERAC. His current venture, with associate Jeremy Roberts, is Global Vision Records, whose first release will be the concept recording of DRACULA: THE MUSICAL.
Productions
Click company name to view productions details.
| COMPANY | TITLE | DATES | Opera Modesto | Jekyll & Hyde | 11/9/2001 - 11/11/2001 |
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Artist Information
All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below. Title Information Form Artist Information Form
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