MICHAEL FRIEDMAN was an Obie Award-winning composer/lyricist. He was most well-known as the co-creator of the critically-acclaimed musical “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” which premiered in New York at the Public Theater and subsequently transferred to Broadway. Other credits include the musical: “Fortress of Solitude” based on the book of the same name by Jonathan Lethem; “Unknown Soldier” which premiered at The Williamstown Theatre Festival; and “Love’s Labour’s Lost” which premiered at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Michael was a founding Associate Artist of The Civilians, the acclaimed investigative theater company. His work with The Civilians included “Gone Missing”, “In the Footprint”, “The Great Immensity”, “Paris Commune” (co-written with Steve Cosson), “(I Am) Nobody’s Lunch” and “This Beautiful City” as well as the score for Anne Washburn’s critically-acclaimed “Mr. Burns.” His latest collaboration with Civilians’ Artistic Director Cosson, “The Abominables,” opened at Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis in September.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Presidential Election, Michael traveled the country creating a series of songs based on interviews he conducted. Those songs became his “State of the Union Songbook,” which was presented by The New Yorker Radio Hour.
Michael received a MacDowell Fellowship, a Princeton Hodder Fellowship, a Meet The Composer Fellowship and was a Barron Visiting Professor at The Princeton Environmental Institute in 2009. At the time of his death, he was the Artist in Residence and Director of the Public Forum at the Public Theater and was also the Artistic Director of City Center Encores! Off-Center.
THE MICHAEL FRIEDMAN COLLECTION
Ghostlight Records and The Civilians have joined together to release The Michael Friedman Collection, a long-term project which will comprise the premiere recordings of nine musicals from the beloved late Obie Award-winning songwriter Michael Friedman.
Digital albums available from Ghostlight Records:
The Michael Friedman Collection: This Beautiful City
The Michael Friedman Collection: The Abominables
The Michael Friedman Collection: The Great Immensity
