Larry Grossman (composer)
Encyclopedia
Larry Grossman is a composer
of Broadway
musicals
, as well as scores for film and television, notably the The Muppet Show
.
, graduated from Northwestern University
, School of Speech (now Communication) in 1960.
He started working in New York City as a vocal coach and accompaniest. One of his songs was used in the revue No Shoestrings (1962). He began working with lyricist Hal Hackaday in 1968, and their first work together was the title song for the play Play It Again, Sam
(1969). Their collaboration led to Grossman's Broadway debut in 1970 with Minnie's Boys
. He went on to write the scores for four musicals including Goodtime Charley
(1975) and Grind
. He has worked with a number of lyricists, and often in collaboration with theatre director Harold Prince.
He composed the musical Paper Moon in 1993, based on the 1971 novel Addie Pray and the 1973 film, with the book by Martin Casella and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and Carol Hall. It ran at the
Paper Mill Playhouse
, Millburn, New Jersey
in 1993, the Walnut Street Theatre
, Philadelphia in 1996, and Ford's Theatre
, Washington, DC in 1997.
He is also credited with songwriting on Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
with New York
lyricist Marty Panzer.
Grossman co-wrote the Michael Jackson
song Gone Too Soon
with Buz Kohan.
He has also written incidental music for several shows including End of the World and Play Memory.
He was music arranger for "A Capitol Fourth". He worked as a musical consultant on the television series The Muppet Show
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musicals
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, as well as scores for film and television, notably the The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
.
Career
Grossman, a native of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, graduated from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, School of Speech (now Communication) in 1960.
He started working in New York City as a vocal coach and accompaniest. One of his songs was used in the revue No Shoestrings (1962). He began working with lyricist Hal Hackaday in 1968, and their first work together was the title song for the play Play It Again, Sam
Play It Again, Sam
Play It Again, Sam is a 1972 film written by and starring Woody Allen, originally entitled Aspirins for Three. The film was directed by Herbert Ross, which is unusual, as Allen usually directs all his own written work....
(1969). Their collaboration led to Grossman's Broadway debut in 1970 with Minnie's Boys
Minnie's Boys
Minnie's Boys is a musical with a book by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Hal Hackady.It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of the Marx Brothers and their relationship with their mother, the driving force behind their ultimate success.After an...
. He went on to write the scores for four musicals including Goodtime Charley
Goodtime Charley
Goodtime Charley is a musical with a book by Sidney Michaels, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Hal Hackady.A humorous take on actual historical events, it focuses on the Dauphin of France, who evolves from a hedonistic young man enamored of women in general into a regal king while Joan...
(1975) and Grind
Grind (musical)
Grind is a musical with a book by Fay Kanin, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh. Grind is a portrait of a largely African-American burlesque house in Chicago in the Thirties.The reviews were mixed at best...
. He has worked with a number of lyricists, and often in collaboration with theatre director Harold Prince.
He composed the musical Paper Moon in 1993, based on the 1971 novel Addie Pray and the 1973 film, with the book by Martin Casella and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and Carol Hall. It ran at the
Paper Mill Playhouse
Paper Mill Playhouse
Paper Mill Playhouse is a regional theatre with approximately 1200 seats, located in Millburn, New Jersey, less than 25 miles from Manhattan. Due to its location, it can draw from the pool of actors who live in New York City. Its location, as well as its focus on producing large-scale shows, makes...
, Millburn, New Jersey
Millburn, New Jersey
Millburn is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,149.Millburn Township was created as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1857, from portions of Springfield Township.Millburn also...
in 1993, the Walnut Street Theatre
Walnut Street Theatre
The Walnut Street Theatre , located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 825 Walnut Street, is the oldest continuously operating theatre in the English-speaking world and the oldest in the United States...
, Philadelphia in 1996, and Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre is a historic theater in Washington, D.C., used for various stage performances beginning in the 1860s. It is also the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865...
, Washington, DC in 1997.
He is also credited with songwriting on Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World is a 1998 straight-to-video sequel to the 1995 Disney film Pocahontas. The film is inspired by true events in the life of Pocahontas which took place several years after her encounter with John Smith and the founders of Jamestown...
with New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
lyricist Marty Panzer.
Grossman co-wrote the Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
song Gone Too Soon
Gone Too Soon
"Gone Too Soon" is a ballad recorded by American musician Michael Jackson. It was written and composed by Larry Grossman and Buz Kohan, produced by Jackson, and co-produced by Bruce Swedien for the singer's eighth studio album, Dangerous...
with Buz Kohan.
He has also written incidental music for several shows including End of the World and Play Memory.
He was music arranger for "A Capitol Fourth". He worked as a musical consultant on the television series The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
.
Musical scores
- Minnie's BoysMinnie's BoysMinnie's Boys is a musical with a book by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Hal Hackady.It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of the Marx Brothers and their relationship with their mother, the driving force behind their ultimate success.After an...
(1970) - Goodtime CharleyGoodtime CharleyGoodtime Charley is a musical with a book by Sidney Michaels, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Hal Hackady.A humorous take on actual historical events, it focuses on the Dauphin of France, who evolves from a hedonistic young man enamored of women in general into a regal king while Joan...
(1975) - Snoopy!!! The MusicalSnoopy!!! The MusicalSnoopy: The Musical is a musical comedy by Larry Grossman and Hal Hackady, with a book by Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw, and Michael Grace. The characters are from the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts. This sequel to the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown focuses more on the life of...
(1975) - A Doll's LifeA Doll's LifeA Doll's Life is a musical with a book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Larry Grossman. It is among the most notorious flops in Broadway theatre history.The musical is set at a rehearsal of Ibsen's A Doll's House in 1982....
(1982) - Ann Reinking...Music Loves Me (1984)
- Diamonds (1984)
- GrindGrind (musical)Grind is a musical with a book by Fay Kanin, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh. Grind is a portrait of a largely African-American burlesque house in Chicago in the Thirties.The reviews were mixed at best...
(1985) - Paper Moon (1993)
- The Gay Century Songbook (2000)
- Tom Jones (2001)
Awards and nominations
- 1985 Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
and Drama Desk AwardDrama Desk AwardThe Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
, Best Original Score for Grind (nomination) - 1983 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award, Best Original Score for A Doll's Life (nomination)
External links
- Larry Grossman at the Internet Off Broadway DatabaseLortel ArchivesThe Lortel Archives, or the Internet Off-Broadway Database is an online database that catalogues theatre productions shown off-Broadway.The archives are named in honor of actress and theatrical producer Lucille Lortel.-See also:...
- Grossman at muppet.wikia.com