Craig Timberlake
Encyclopedia
Craig Timberlake was an American stage actor, singer, author, and educator. A talented bass
, Timberlake performed in opera
s and musical
s in theatres throughout North America
in addition to acting in plays from the 1940s through the 1980s.
, Timberlake was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and earned a BA from Southern Methodist University
and an MA and EdD from Columbia University
. He served as a Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force
during World War II
. He began his performance career after the end of the war. He made his Broadway debut as Go-To in Gilbert and Sullivan
's The Mikado
in October 1949, returning to Broadway three more through the summer of 1950 as Bob Beckett in H.M.S. Pinafore
, the Foreman of the Jury in Trial By Jury
, and Rowland in William Shakespear's As You Like It
. The latter production starred Katharine Hepburn
and toured throughout the United States.
In the early 1950s Timberlake joined Fred Waring
's "Pennsylvanians", performing and recording with the group for many years. In 1954 he won the American Theatre Wing
's singing competition which led to his New York City
recital debut in March of that year at Town Hall
. In 1957 he joined the roster of singers at the New York City Opera
, making his debut with the company in the world premiere of Nevit Kodallı
's Van Gogh. He sang several more roles with the NYCO during the late 1950s, including "The Accompanist" in the world premiere of Hugo Weisgall
's Six Characters in Search of an Author
.
Timberlake continued to perform in plays, operas, concerts, and musicals throughout North America up into the 1980s. He notably starred as Henry Higgins in the 1964 National tour of My Fair Lady
. He also taught for many years at Teachers College, Columbia University
where he was chairman of the department of music and music education. He also served as Chairman of the American Academy of Teachers of Singing and served for a time as the President of the New York Singing Teachers Association. He retired from teaching in 1991, relocating to Ogunquit, Maine
where he lived for the rest of his life. In his later years he worked as a producer and music consultant for the Community of Jesus
's touring choir, Gloriae Dei Cantores, for a total of 13 recordings. He died in 2006 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
while visiting his sister.
Timberlake was also a writer. His book The Bishop of Broadway: David Belasco, His Life and Work was published in 1954. He also contributed articles to Music Educators Journal, The Review of Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education
, and Teachers College Record.
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
, Timberlake performed in opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s and musical
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...
s in theatres throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in addition to acting in plays from the 1940s through the 1980s.
Biography
Born in Oil City, PennsylvaniaOil City, Pennsylvania
Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker...
, Timberlake was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and earned a BA from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and an MA and EdD from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He served as a Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He began his performance career after the end of the war. He made his Broadway debut as Go-To in Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
's The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
in October 1949, returning to Broadway three more through the summer of 1950 as Bob Beckett in H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical...
, the Foreman of the Jury in Trial By Jury
Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury is a comic opera in one act, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was first produced on 25 March 1875, at London's Royalty Theatre, where it initially ran for 131 performances and was considered a hit, receiving critical praise and outrunning its...
, and Rowland in William Shakespear's As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
. The latter production starred Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
and toured throughout the United States.
In the early 1950s Timberlake joined Fred Waring
Fred Waring
Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric...
's "Pennsylvanians", performing and recording with the group for many years. In 1954 he won the American Theatre Wing
American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
's singing competition which led to his New York City
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...
recital debut in March of that year at Town Hall
The Town Hall
The Town Hall is a performance space, located at 123 West 43rd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, in New York City. It seats approximately 1,500 people.-History:...
. In 1957 he joined the roster of singers at the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
, making his debut with the company in the world premiere of Nevit Kodallı
Nevit Kodalli
Nevit Kodallı is a Turkish composer of western-influenced classical music including operas and ballets. In 1948 he travelled to Paris where he studied with Arthur Honegger and Nadia Boulanger...
's Van Gogh. He sang several more roles with the NYCO during the late 1950s, including "The Accompanist" in the world premiere of Hugo Weisgall
Hugo Weisgall
Hugo David Weisgall was an American composer and conductor, known chiefly for his opera and vocal music compositions...
's Six Characters in Search of an Author
Six Characters in Search of an Author (opera)
Six Characters in Search of an Author is an opera in three acts by composer Hugo Weisgall. The work uses an English libretto by Denis Johnston that is based on the play of the same name by Luigi Pirandello. The opera was commissioned by the New York City Opera under the leadership Julius Rudel...
.
Timberlake continued to perform in plays, operas, concerts, and musicals throughout North America up into the 1980s. He notably starred as Henry Higgins in the 1964 National tour of My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
. He also taught for many years at Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University is a graduate school of education located in New York City, New York...
where he was chairman of the department of music and music education. He also served as Chairman of the American Academy of Teachers of Singing and served for a time as the President of the New York Singing Teachers Association. He retired from teaching in 1991, relocating to Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit is a town in York County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census its population was 1,226. The popularity of the town as a summer resort is epitomized by its motto, "Beautiful Place by the Sea."...
where he lived for the rest of his life. In his later years he worked as a producer and music consultant for the Community of Jesus
Community of Jesus
The Community of Jesus is a Christian community located near Rock Harbor, in Orleans, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.-History:It began with the meeting of two Episcopal women, Judy Sorensen and Cay Andersen, in 1958. The women, both heavily influenced by the Charismatic movement of the time, began...
's touring choir, Gloriae Dei Cantores, for a total of 13 recordings. He died in 2006 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
while visiting his sister.
Timberlake was also a writer. His book The Bishop of Broadway: David Belasco, His Life and Work was published in 1954. He also contributed articles to Music Educators Journal, The Review of Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education
Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education
The Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education is a quarterly academic journal covering music education.- History :The journal was established in 1963 by Charles Leonhard and Richard J...
, and Teachers College Record.