Mel Atkey
Encyclopedia
Mel Atkey is a Canadian born, English emigrated musical theatre composer and lyricist. He began to write musicals while still in high school. After college, he was a theatre critic in Canada, continued to write musicals and songs and served as director of Cabaret and Musical Theater Alliance until 1991, when he moved to London. He is a member of the Writers' Union of Canada and Mercury Musical Developments. He was a finalist for the Musical of the Year competition in Aarhus, Denmark, and his work has been short-listed for the Vivian Ellis Prize, the Quest for New Musicals, the Ken Hill Prize and Musical Stairs.
, where he attended Delta Secondary School. Atkey began writing musicals ever since he was in high school in Vancouver
. He later attended Langara College
in Vancouver.
In 1977, Atkey co-produced a jazz concert with Vancouver impressario Willi Germann and a telethon featuring folk singer Tom Northcott
. Atkey's first musical, Shikara, was produced on the radio in Canada. A single was released by singer Janice Jaud of one of the songs, "Far Away", and received airplay across Canada and the U.S. Atkey spent two years as a theatre critic in Vancouver before moving to Toronto
to pursue musical theatre writing. He was commissioned to write songs for CBC Radio, and was a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop
. He was a director of the Cabaret and Musical Theatre Alliance until he moved to London in 1991.
He made his New York debut in April 2001 with an Off-off-Broadway
showcase of O Pioneers! with a book by Robert Sickinger. This show was then a finalist for “Stages 2002” at the New Tuners theatre in Chicago. Their second musical, A Little Princess was presented at Wings Theatre in New York in 2003, and his two character musical, Perfect Timing, for which he wrote the book as well as music and lyrics, was recently showcased as part of Greenwich Theatre
’s Musical Futures series in London. He wrote the opening number for Janie Dee’s recent critically acclaimed one-woman show. His book When We Both Got to Heaven tells the story of his ancestor James Atkey, who came to Georgian Bay from the Isle of Wight
in 1854 as a teacher to the Ojibwa. It was published by Natural Heritage Books, Toronto, in October 2002. A second book, Broadway North: The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theatre was published by Natural Heritage in 2006.
His other musicals include Shikara, broadcast on the radio, and Perfect Timing (showcased at Greenwich Theatre, London, 2005). He has written songs for CBC Radio
and for Janie Dee
.
Life and career
Atkey was born to Ken and Marion Atkey (née Holmes), respectively a painter and a teacher, and grew up in Ladner, British ColumbiaLadner, British Columbia
Ladner was created as a fishing village on the banks of the Fraser River. It is a part of the Municipality of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and a suburb of Vancouver....
, where he attended Delta Secondary School. Atkey began writing musicals ever since he was in high school in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. He later attended Langara College
Langara College
Langara College is a public degree-granting college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada which serves approximately 20,000 students annually through its university, career, and continuing studies programs...
in Vancouver.
In 1977, Atkey co-produced a jazz concert with Vancouver impressario Willi Germann and a telethon featuring folk singer Tom Northcott
Tom Northcott
Tom Northcott is a Canadian folk-rock singer with hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was nominated as best male vocalist for a Juno Award in 1971. Later he co-founded Mushroom Studios in Vancouver and produced records...
. Atkey's first musical, Shikara, was produced on the radio in Canada. A single was released by singer Janice Jaud of one of the songs, "Far Away", and received airplay across Canada and the U.S. Atkey spent two years as a theatre critic in Vancouver before moving to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to pursue musical theatre writing. He was commissioned to write songs for CBC Radio, and was a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop
BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop
The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop is a workshop in New York for musical theatre composers, lyricists and librettists.-History:The BMI Workshop was founded in 1961 by Lehman Engel and the performing rights organization BMI ....
. He was a director of the Cabaret and Musical Theatre Alliance until he moved to London in 1991.
He made his New York debut in April 2001 with an Off-off-Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway theatrical productions in New York City are those in theatres that are smaller than Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres. Off-Off-Broadway theaters are often defined as theaters that have fewer than 100 seats, though the term can be used for any show in the New York City area that...
showcase of O Pioneers! with a book by Robert Sickinger. This show was then a finalist for “Stages 2002” at the New Tuners theatre in Chicago. Their second musical, A Little Princess was presented at Wings Theatre in New York in 2003, and his two character musical, Perfect Timing, for which he wrote the book as well as music and lyrics, was recently showcased as part of Greenwich Theatre
Greenwich Theatre
The Greenwich Theatre is a local theatre located in Croom's Hill close to the centre of Greenwich in south-east London.-Building history:The building was originally a music hall created in 1855 as part of the neighbouring Rose and Crown public house, but the Rose and Crown Music Hall was...
’s Musical Futures series in London. He wrote the opening number for Janie Dee’s recent critically acclaimed one-woman show. His book When We Both Got to Heaven tells the story of his ancestor James Atkey, who came to Georgian Bay from the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in 1854 as a teacher to the Ojibwa. It was published by Natural Heritage Books, Toronto, in October 2002. A second book, Broadway North: The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theatre was published by Natural Heritage in 2006.
Works
- O Pioneers! (2001), musical with music and lyrics by Atkey and a book by Robert Sickinger
- When We Both Got to Heaven: James Atkey among the Anishnabek at Colpoy's Bay (2002) Natural Heritage Books, Toronto
- A Little PrincessA Little PrincessA Little Princess is a 1905 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is a revised and expanded version of Burnett's 1888 serialized novel entitled Sara Crewe: or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's Boarding School, which was published in St. Nicholas Magazine.According to Burnett, she...
(2003), musical with music and lyrics by Atkey and a book by Robert Sickinger - Broadway North: The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theater (2006) Natural Heritage Books, Toronto
His other musicals include Shikara, broadcast on the radio, and Perfect Timing (showcased at Greenwich Theatre, London, 2005). He has written songs for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
and for Janie Dee
Janie Dee
Janie Dee is an English actress and singer.She is married to the actor Rupert Wickham.-Theatre:Dee is presently part of the Globe Theatre 2011 season playing The Countess of Roussillion in Shakespeare's "All's Well that Ends Well" and in October she goes to Nottingham Playhouse to play Amanda in ...
.