David Friedman (composer) explained

David Friedman
Birth Name:David Allen Friedman
Birth Date:1950
Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

David Allen Friedman (born 1950) is a film and theatre composer, songwriter, author, lyricist and conductor based in New York City. He received a 1997 Backstage Bistro Award for Composer of the Year and a 1997 Johnny Mercer Award for Songwriter of the Year,[1] [2] and a Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th Annual MAC Awards.[3] His oratorio, King Island Christmas, won a Frederick Loewe Award and Dramatists Guild Award.[4] David's musical Desperate Measures won the 2018 Drama Desk Award for Best Music and Best Lyrics (Peter Kellogg) as well as the Outer Critic's Circle Award for Best Off Broadway Musical and the Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical.

Career

Original songs

Friedman's original songs include "Listen to My Heart",[5] "Help is on the Way", "We Can Be Kind", "We Live on Borrowed Time", "I'll Be Here With You", "Just in Time for Christmas" (with David Zippel), and "My Simple Christmas Wish". In January 2003, Friedman published the music book Listen To My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman through his publishing firm Midder Music. The book features 63 Friedman songs, including "Listen to My Heart", "We Live On Borrowed Time", "We Can Be Kind", "Help is on the Way", "Your Love", "Trust the Wind", "My Simple Christmas Wish", and "I'll Be Here With You".[6] Following upon the book, Friedman in October 2003 debuted his musical review by the same name.[7] [8]

Disney

Friedman was conductor of the music scores for Disney's animated features, including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame,[9] and was vocal contractor for Mulan.[10] Songs written by Friedman have been featured in the Disney film Aladdin and the King of Thieves,[11] The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Bambi 2,[12] [13] in the movie Salsa and in three animated television series; Happy Ness, Sky Dancers, and Dragon Flyz.[14]

Television

Friedman is a regular on the Today Show "Everyone Has a Story" series, and partners with Kathie Lee Gifford to write a new song each month,[15] which he performs with a current Broadway star on the first Thursday of each month.[16] [17] [18] [19]

Theater

Friedman has also worked in theatre, on several Broadway musicals, serving as musical director for such original Broadway productions such as Saravà, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Song & Dance and Beauty and the Beast.[9] [20]

Friedman is the composer of 4 musicals with Tony Award Nominated book writer/lyricist Peter Kellogg.[21] Nicolette & Aucassin, based upon the 13th Century romance Aucassin et Nicolette,[22] has been produced at locations such as the Little Shubert Theatre in New York City,[23] the Westport Country Playhouse, and the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia.[24]

A Christmas oratorio called King Island Christmas, written with librettist Deborah Brevoort,[25] has had over 40 productions worldwide. Friedman was also co-composer, with David Pomeranz and Kathie Lee Gifford, of the musical about the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, which debuted in 2005 as Saving Aimee and reached Broadway in 2012.[26]

In 2009, he released a musical play Stunt Girl, (now titled "Front Page Girl") in association with author/lyricist Peter S. Kellogg,[9] and developed in association with the Village Theatre in Seattle, based on the life of Nellie Bly.[27] [28] [29] This was a project worked on together by Kellogg and Friedman for 10 years.[30]

Friedman and Kellogg's Desperate Measures, and all-verse Western musical comedy loosely based on William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure premiered Off-Broadway at the York Theatre in 2017.[31] The show was extended three times[32] and currently holds a 91% rating at Show-Score.[33]

David is currently working on Temple, a musical about the life of Temple Grandin, in collaboration with Elizabeth Dewberry.

David's Web series, "Koga and Family," in collaboration with Philip Kholos, is designed to help young children deal with everyday challenges through martial arts, meditation and kindness.

Other

Friedman also wrote two songs for Barney's Great Adventure, the 1998 film, based the PBS Kids television series Barney & Friends.

In 2006, Friedman worked in the music department for World Trade Center, a biopic film based on the September 11, 2001 attacks starring Nicolas Cage.

The Thought Exchange

Friedman is the creator of a metaphysical method called "The Thought Exchange", and in 2011 published a book by the same name.[34] Friedman appeared in the 2012 documentary film The Thought Exchange, based on the book. The film was directed by Usher Morgan and starred Lucie Arnaz, Arje Shaw and others.[35] In his book, Friedman admits to being diagnosed with severe agoraphobia at age 20. His being hospitalized for treatment was an experience which motivated him to create the Thought Exchange concept at a later age.[36]

Personal life

Friedman's romantic partner since 2003 is Shawn Moninger, a four time MAC Award-winning technical director, Unity minister, and emerging cabaret performer.[37] They live in Connecticut.[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Berry. Heather. Cabaret Legend Margaret Whiting Hosts a Tribute to Johnny Mercer. May 23, 1997. UCLA. April 29, 2012.
  2. Web site: Bistro Awards Hall of Fame. Bistro Awards. April 29, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120504203203/http://www.bistroawards.com/hall-of-fame.html. May 4, 2012.
  3. Web site: MAC gets a shout out on the Today Show!. MAC Awards. April 29, 2012. May 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130514002752/http://www.macnyc.com/about-mac.html. dead.
  4. Web site: Frank. Jonathan. Cabaret: Interview with David Friedman. Talkin' Broadway. talkinbroadway.com. April 29, 2012.
  5. News: THEATER IN REVIEW; 'Listen to My Heart' – 'The Songs of David Friedman' – New York Times . . October 31, 2003 . January 6, 2012 . Bruce . Weber.
  6. Web site: Murray. Matthew. Listen to His Heart: David Friedman Song Book Now Available. January 16, 2003. January 16, 2003 . Theater Mania. April 29, 2012.
  7. News: Bessman. Jim. Friedman Relies on Singers to Channel Tunes. April 29, 2012. Billboard. November 29, 2003.
  8. News: Gans. Andrew. Listen to My Heart Revue Celebrates Composer David Friedman Upstairs at Studio 54 . April 29, 2012. Playbill. July 25, 2003.
  9. News: Gans. Andrew. Casting Complete for David Friedman Revue, Listen to My Heart. April 29, 2012. Playbill. September 11, 2003.
  10. Web site: Mulan Cast & Crew List. https://archive.today/20130117180457/http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon_characters/7255-Mulan.html. dead. January 17, 2013. Big Cartoon Database. April 29, 2012.
  11. Web site: Aladdin And The King Of Thieves Soundtrack – Scott Barnes, Don Bradford, Merwin Foard, David Friedman, Gilbert Gottfried, Paul Kandel, Peter Samuel, Gordon Lyrics . Allthelyrics.com . January 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324124449/http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/aladdin_and_the_king_of_thieves_soundtrack/scott_barnes_don_bradford_merwin_foard_david_friedman_gilbert_gottfried_paul_kandel_peter_samuel_gordon-lyrics-63896.html . March 24, 2012 . dead .
  12. News: Szatmary, Peter. subscription . Songwriter looks for links to audience. https://archive.today/20120718000728/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/access/1794123431.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+14,+2005&author=PETER+SZATMARY&pub=Indianapolis+Star&desc=Songwriter+looks+for+links+to+audience&pqatl=google. dead. July 18, 2012. April 29, 2012. Indianapolis Star. January 14, 2005.
  13. News: staff. subscription . Lucie Arnaz, Disney musician perform for Summer Theatre. April 29, 2012. New Canaan Advertiser. January 3, 2008.
  14. Web site: Happy-ness . Agebrands.com . January 6, 2012.
  15. Web site: allDAY – Kathie Lee on her new book 'The Legend of Messy M'Cheany' . Allday.today.com . January 6, 2012.
  16. News: Fleming. John. A heart worth a listen at Stageworks. April 29, 2012. Tampa Bay Times. August 17, 2011. September 14, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110914042354/http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/a-heart-worth-a-listen-at-stageworks/1186358. dead.
  17. News: Gans. Andrew. Karen Mason Will Debut New David Friedman/Kathie Lee Gifford Song on TV. April 29, 2012. Playbill. August 29, 2011.
  18. News: Lauer-Williams. Kathy. Bethlehem Township boy appears on Today Show's "Everyone Has a Story". April 29, 2012. The Morning Call. May 5, 2011.
  19. Web site: Vocals . Allegro Music . January 6, 2012.
  20. Friedman, David. Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman. New York: Midder Music, 2002. p. vi
  21. Web site: New Musicals by Brown, Spencer, Spangler, Friedman, Kellogg, Warrender Heard in Seattle-Area Festival Aug. 4–7 . Playbill.com . January 6, 2012.
  22. News: Gans. Andrew. Listen to His Heart: David Friedman Revue Begins Previews Oct. 9. April 29, 2012. Playbill. October 9, 2003.
  23. News: Joy. Cara. Medieval Musical Chasing Nicolette to Play Off-B'way's Little Shubert. April 29, 2012. broadway.com. June 28, 2005.
  24. News: Jones. Kenneth. Chasing Nicolette, Friedman & Kellogg's Romantic Musical Adventure, To Land at Little Shubert in Fall. April 29, 2012. Playbill. June 29, 2005.
  25. Web site: David Friedman . King Island Christmas . January 6, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120115101142/http://www.kingislandchristmas.com/davidfriedman.htm . January 15, 2012 . dead .
  26. Web site: Kathie Lee Gifford Musical Saving Aimee to Be Resurrected at 5th Avenue Theatre; Season Announced . Playbill.com . January 6, 2012.
  27. News: Hart . John . Musical "Stunt Girl" remembers the momentous life of pioneering reporter Nellie Bly . Seattle Times. March 18, 2009 . January 6, 2012.
  28. Web site: Hughes. David Edward. Village Theatre premieres a Snappy Stunt Girl. March 28, 2009. Talkin' Broadway. April 29, 2012.
  29. News: Truzzi. Gianni. New Village Theatre musical celebrates the original 'Stunt Girl' journalist, Nellie Bly. April 29, 2012. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. March 12, 2009.
  30. News: staff. 'Stunt Girl' comes to life on Issaquah stage. April 29, 2012. Issaquah Reporter. March 19, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120306031014/http://www.issaquahreporter.com/entertainment/41499027.html. March 6, 2012. dead.
  31. Web site: Desperate Measures Off-Broadway @ York Theatre @ Saint Peter's - Tickets and Discounts | Playbill . March 6, 2018 . March 6, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180306202422/http://www.playbill.com/production/desperate-measures-york-theatre-saint-peters-2017-2018 . dead .
  32. Web site: Desperate Measures Musical Extends for Third Time Off-Broadway. November 20, 2017.
  33. Web site: Desperate Measures.
  34. The Thought Exchange, Paperback,
  35. Web site: New Teaser Trailer for THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE film was released . Library Tales Publishing . January 6, 2012.
  36. Book: Friedman, David. The Thought Exchange. 2011. Library Tales Publishing. 978-0-578-07790-1. 31–33.
  37. Victoria Ordin. "BWW Review: Because He Can, Shawn Moninger Presents Cabaret Filled with Humor, Heart and Spirituality at the Metropolitan Room." Broadway World March 4, 2016. https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/BWW-Review-Because-He-Can-Shawn-Moninger-Presents-Cabaret-Filled-with-Humor-Heart-and-Spirituality-at-the-Metropolitan-Room-20160304
  38. Web site: My View: Rev. Shawn Moninger Has a New Residence and David Friedman is a Visitor – Times Square Chronicles. December 31, 2015 .

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