Craig Carnelia
Encyclopedia
Craig Carnelia is an American
musical theater composer
and singer, known for his collaboration on the musicals Working
and Sweet Smell of Success.
. He was exposed to Broadway at the age of fourteen when he was inspired by the Richard Rodgers
musical No Strings
. He played guitar, was in a folksinging group and taught himself to play the piano. While attending Hofstra University
he won the role of The Boy in off-Broadway
's The Fantasticks
, and dropped out of school as a sophomore. After a short stint in the production, Carnelia pursued songwriting and, later, musical theatre composition.
Carnelia's songs were heard with the work of other writers in the Stephen Schwartz
conceptual revue
Working (1978).
From there he wrote full scores, both lyrics and music, for the short-lived Broadway musical Is there life after high school?
(1982), which is still performed in stock, amateur, and regional theatre
s. He composed lyrics and music for Three Postcards, with a book by Craig Lucas
, which was staged off-Broadway by Playwrights Horizons
in 1987 and revived by Circle in the Square Downtown in 1994.
For the musical Sweet Smell of Success (2002), he teamed with composer Marvin Hamlisch
, with whom he also composed songs for the 2002 Nora Ephron
play Imaginary Friends
.
Carnelia also performs in concert or cabaret, at venues such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
in 2004.
His partner is American theatre actress Lisa Brescia
.
He has received the Johnny Mercer Award, "Emerging American Songwriter", the first annual Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Award, and the Kleban Award. He also is a mentor to young writers through the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, the Dramatists Guild Musical Theatre Fellowship and the Eugene O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical theater composer
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...
and singer, known for his collaboration on the musicals Working
Working (musical)
Working is a musical with a book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, music by Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, and James Taylor, and lyrics by Schwartz, Carnelia, Grant, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead....
and Sweet Smell of Success.
Biography
Carnelia grew up in Floral Park, New YorkFloral Park, New York
Floral Park is an incorporated village in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island. The population as of the US Census of 2010 is 15,863. The village is at the western border of Nassau County, and is located in both the Town of Hempstead and the Town of North Hempstead...
. He was exposed to Broadway at the age of fourteen when he was inspired by the Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
musical No Strings
No Strings
No Strings is a musical drama with a book by Samuel A. Taylor and words and music by Richard Rodgers, his only Broadway score written without a collaborator. The musical opened on Broadway in 1962 and ran for 580 performances...
. He played guitar, was in a folksinging group and taught himself to play the piano. While attending Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
he won the role of The Boy in off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
's The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones. It was produced by Lore Noto. It tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the play "The Romancers" by Edmond Rostand, concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into...
, and dropped out of school as a sophomore. After a short stint in the production, Carnelia pursued songwriting and, later, musical theatre composition.
Carnelia's songs were heard with the work of other writers in the Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz may refer to:*Stephen Schwartz , American musical theater and film lyricist and composer*Stephen Suleyman Schwartz , journalist, political author, and historian...
conceptual revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
Working (1978).
From there he wrote full scores, both lyrics and music, for the short-lived Broadway musical Is there life after high school?
Is there life after high school?
Is there life after high school? is a musical with a book by Jeffrey Kindley and music and lyrics by Craig Carnelia. It is loosely inspired by Ralph Keyes' best-selling book of the same name....
(1982), which is still performed in stock, amateur, and regional theatre
Regional theatre in the United States
Regional theaters, or resident theaters, in the United States are professional or semi-professional, theater companies that produce their own seasons. The term regional theatre most often refers to professional theatres outside of New York City...
s. He composed lyrics and music for Three Postcards, with a book by Craig Lucas
Craig Lucas
Craig Lucas is an American playwright, screenwriter, theatre director, musical actor, and film director.-Biography:...
, which was staged off-Broadway by Playwrights Horizons
Playwrights Horizons
Playwrights Horizons is a not-for-profit Off-Broadway theater located in New York City dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers, and lyricists, and to the production of their new work....
in 1987 and revived by Circle in the Square Downtown in 1994.
For the musical Sweet Smell of Success (2002), he teamed with composer Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Frederick Hamlisch is an American composer. He is one of only thirteen people to have been awarded Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony . He is also one of only two people to EGOT and also win a Pulitzer Prize...
, with whom he also composed songs for the 2002 Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger.She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in...
play Imaginary Friends
Imaginary Friends (play)
Imaginary Friends is a play by Nora Ephron. It includes songs with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Craig Carnelia.-Plot:The play focuses on writers Lillian Hellman and Mary McCarthy, who reunite in hell and reflect on their decades-long antagonistic relationship...
.
Carnelia also performs in concert or cabaret, at venues such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center , in downtown Newark, New Jersey, United States, is the sixth largest performing arts center in the United States...
in 2004.
His partner is American theatre actress Lisa Brescia
Lisa Brescia
Lisa Brescia, born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is an American musical theatre actress who has performed as lead and understudy in several Broadway shows. Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lisa went on to pursue acting and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts...
.
He has received the Johnny Mercer Award, "Emerging American Songwriter", the first annual Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Award, and the Kleban Award. He also is a mentor to young writers through the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, the Dramatists Guild Musical Theatre Fellowship and the Eugene O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference.
Awards and nominations
- 1978 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...
Best Original Score Working - Music (nominee) - 1978 Tony Award Best Original Score Working - Lyrics (nominee)
- 2002 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...
Outstanding Lyrics Sweet Smell of Success (nominee) - 2002 Tony Award Best Original Musical Score - Lyrics Sweet Smell of Success (nominee)
- 2003 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lyrics Imaginary Friends (nominee)