Corey Brunish

Corey in Tuxedo.
Corey Brunish 2012.

Corey Brunish is a singer, actor, director, and producer who divides his time between Portland, Oregon and New York City.

Background

Corey was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended Beverly Hills High School, where he first discovered his love of music listening to the soundtracks of Broadway shows. He received a BA in Theatre Arts from Occidental College cum laude.[1]

He moved to Oregon in 1981 and worked as a property developer while appearing in numerous shows, indie movies, TV and feature films. He also recorded over 500 songs.[1] He has released 9 Cd's featuring mostly covers of standards and show tunes. CD's featuring his voice include Broadway Records' studio concept recording of "Jekyll and Hyde," which was released in September 2012.[2]

Under the name C. Frederick Brunish he authored the photo-essay book "Handbook for the New Millennium"

In February of 2015, he appeared on the NBC series GRIMM as Lazslo the fortune telling Fuchsbau.

Directorial Debut

Corey made his debut as director with "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." [3] He directed Stephen Sondheim's "Company" in 2009.[4]

Teaming up with Brisa Trinchero, with whom he had worked at Portland's Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Corey ventured into producing in 2011.[1] He came to New York as assistant director and producer of the Broadway show "Bonnie and Clyde".[5] After the show closed, he largely funded the recording the show's cast album.[6]

Amid his other projects, Corey directed Sherlock Holmes & the Case of The Jersey Lily and "Dracula" at the Temple Theatre in Sanford, NC.

Tony Awards

In 2012, he was a producer for "Peter and the Starcatcher" [7] and "Porgy and Bess". Of the 16 Broadway shows Brunish and partner Trinchero were involved in over 3 seasons, they garnered over 100 Tony nominations, winning a total of 33 awards. He received a Tony as producer when "Porgy and Bess" won for Best Musical Revival in 2012.[8]

In 2013 Brunish received a second Tony Award as a producer of the revival of Pippin. He also was the recipient of the 2013 Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award and the Outer Critic's Circle Award for the same show.

Corey helped to produce the soundtrack for "Nice Work If you Can Get It. The CD was nominated for a Grammy Award."[1]

Brunish has also been a co-producer on cast recordings of "Pippin" "LIZZIE" and the Jason Robert Brown recording The Trumpet of the Swan.

In the 2013-2014 Broadway season, Brunish and Trinchero were producers on two new musicals. A musical bio of Carole King called "Beautiful" (winner of the 2015 Grammy Award for Broadway Cast CD) and a bio of Janis Joplin titled "One Night With Janis Joplin"

Upcoming CD's include the cast recording of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and others.

Brunish and Trinchero are also producers on the new Terrence McNally play "Mothers and Sons" starring Tyne Daly.

For the 2014-2015 Broadway season. Brunish/Trinchero were producers on the revival of On The Town at the Lyric Theatre. He is also a co-producer on the new double CD of the cast recording of On The Town.

PHILANTHROPY Brunish funded the completion of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts in 2000 (naming one of the theatres for his mother, Virginia Brunish) He produced a CD entitled "Portland Sings for Haiti" which raised thousands of dollars for the aid of the Haiti earthquake survivors. He volunteered his time as a singer for the concert "From Broadway with Love" a benefit for the Sandy Hook School shooting survivors and helped to promote the subsequent DVD and CD. He has funded theatre projects in Scotland and Cambodia. He is a regular supporter of BCEFA (Broadway Cares, Equity Fights Aids)

References