Peter Kellogg (writer)

Peter Kellogg is a Tony-nominated musical theater book writer and lyricist. He wrote the lyrics and the book for the 1992 production of the Broadway musical Anna Karenina, for which he received two 1993 Tony Award nominations. One for Best Book of a musical and one for the Best Original Score. He also wrote the lyrics and book for the musicals Chasing Nicolette (originally titled Nicolette and Aucassin), Desperate Measures, Lincoln In Love, Stunt Girl (aka Front Page Girl), Money Talks (originally titled Money The Musical), and The Rivals which have been read and produced regionally. Kellogg also received The New York Musical Theatre Festival 2006 award for Excellence in Musical Theatre Writing (Book) for Desperate Measures.^[1]

In addition, along with Albert C Todd, Kellogg wrote the English lyrics for Unruly Horses, which is a musical conceived by Moni and Mina Yakim and based on the Soviet Union song-writer and folk hero Vladimir Vysotsky. The play is derived from the French actress Marina Vlady's best-selling memoir of her marriage and life with Vysotsky. The show features 24 musical numbers with English lyrics by Peter Kellogg and Albert C Todd and musical adaptation by Larry Hochman.

Performances

On August 26, 1992, the Broadway production of Anna Karenina opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City. It ran for 46 performances.^[2]

The first production of Chasing Nicolette, then titled Nicolette and Aucassin, played at the Westport Country Playhouse from August 28, 2000 to September 9, 2000.^[3] The cast included Chuck Cooper (as King Mostansir), Bronson Pinchot, Bill Buell, Nancy K. Anderson, Jennifer Allen, Darlesia Cearcy (as Nicolette), James Judy, Jeremy Webb (as Aucassin), Richard White and Michael Wiggins. Seth Barrish directed.^[4]

In 2004, Desperate Measures had its limited engagement, world premiere at the Lyric Stage in Irving, Texas. The play ran from April 30-May 15, 2004.^[5]

From December 4, 2004 through January 5, 2005, The Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania performed Chasing Nicolette.^[6]

In 2008, the American Opera Projects in Brooklyn, New York performed five excerpts from the musical Unruly Horses as a workshop. In 2002, the musical had a one-month engagement at the King's Head Theatre, London, England under the title "Let Us Fly."^[7]

From March 18, 2009 to May 24, 2009, Stunt Girl played at The Village Theatre, Seattle, Washington.^[8]

Jan. 17, 2010, Goodspeed Opera House held a reading of the musical Lincoln In Love as part of The Fifth Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Artists produced by Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater.^[9]

Mara Davi, Louis Hobson and John Patrick Lowrie headlined the June 7, 2010 reading of Stunt Girl, directed by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Yorkey for the Manhattan Theatre Club's "7@7" reading series at New York City Center.^[10]

In 2012, a rhyming verse version of Desperate Measures was performed at The Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, Ct. The show ran from June 27 to July 29. It was directed by Brett Bernardini, with choreography by Christine Snitken-Bouley, lighting design by Greg Solomon, scenic design by Mike Billings, sound design by Steven Hinchey, and musical direction by Dan Brandl.^[11]

On February 4, 2013, Theater Resources Unlimited, as part of its 2012/13 Tru Voices New Musicals Reading Series, held a reading at the Soho Playhouse of Chasing Nicolette under the direction of Gordon Greenberg. The cast included John Bolton, Alex Wyse, Allison Semmes, Nick Wyman, Dennis Parlato, Nathaniel Stampley, Alan Mingo, Jr., Megan Lawrence, Dale Radunz and Kate Reinders.^[12][13]

From November 6, 2013 to December 8, 2013, The Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, Connecticut performed Front Page Girl (previously known and performed as Stunt Girl).^[14][15] Brett Bernadini directed with Shauna Nicole Goodgold as the Front Page Girl Elizabeth Cochran and John Wilkening as Arthur Brisbane.^[16]

On July 9, 2014, The Summer Theatre of New Canaan held the first reading of Money The Musical, book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg and music by David Friedman, as part of the theater's UNDER THE STARS - NEW SUMMER THEATRE WORKS program.^[17] The actors were Lennie Watts, Shauna Goodgold, Kristoffer Lowe, Jamison Stern. Jodi Stevens Bryce narrated and Allegra Libonati directed.

At Theatre Three, 311 43rd St, NYC, a first reading of The Rivals occurred on July 18, 2014. The musical, based on the Richard Brinsley Sheridan play of the same name, has book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg and music by Stephen Weiner.^[18] The cast included Sierra Boggess as Lydia Languish, Jessie Mueller as Julia Melville, Marla Mindelle as Lucy, Beth Leavel as Mrs. Malaprop, Greg Mills as Captain Jack Absolute, Jim Weitzer as Faulkland, Brian Sills as Thomas, Ed Dixon as Sir Anthony Absolute, Jeff Brooks as Squire Bob Acres and Brooks Ashmanskas as Sir Lucius McTrigger.

On Friday, July 14, 2017, previews will begin for Money Talks with book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg, music by David Friedman, direction/choreography by Michael Chase Gosselin and musical direction by David Hancock Turner. ^[19] The show is scheduled to open on July 23, 2017, at The Davenport Theatre (354 W 45 Street, NYC). The cast includes: Ralph Byers (Broadway: The Music Man, Big River) as Ben Franklin with Brennan Caldwell (Off: Broadway: Baghdaddy. Web series: "Off"); Sandra DeNise (Broadway: Bright Star, Kinky Boots) and George Merrick (Broadway: Honeymoon in Vegas, South Pacific). The creative team includes Ann Beyersdorfer (Scenic Design), Vanessa Leuck (Costume Design), Catherine Clark (Lighting Design), Patrick LaChance (Sound Designer), Jason Styres, CSA (Casting), Carol A. Sullivan (Production Stage Manager), Gabby Cogan (Associate Choreographer) and Evan Bernardin (General Manager).^[20][21]

References