Annie - US Tour Creative Team

Martin Charnin is perhaps best known for conceiving, directing, and writing the lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Annie. Charnin began his career as an actor, playing the role of "Big Deal" in the original production of West Side Story, both on Broadway and on tour. He then began writing music and lyrics for Off-Broadway and cabaret revues, as well as nightclub performances for the likes of Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Leslie Uggams, and more. His first time writing lyrics for a Broadway musical was Hot Spot in 1963, which starred Judy Holliday. In the 1970s, Charnin worked in television where he conceived, produced, ... read more ... read more Thomas Meehan won the 2003 Tony for co-writing the book for Hairspray, the 2001 Tony for the book of The Producers and the 1977 Tony for the book of Annie, which was his first Broadway show. He has since written the books for Young Frankenstein, I Remember Mama, Ain't Broadway Grand, Annie Warbucks and Bombay Dreams. He is a long-time contributor of humor, including "Yma Dream," to The New Yorker; an Emmy-winning television writer; and a collaborator on screenplays, including Mel Brooks' Spaceballs, To Be or Not to Be and The Producers. He is a member of the Council of ... read more ... read more Ken Billington is a highly acclaimed lighting designer with over 50 years of experience in the theatre industry. Born in 1944 in Long Island, New York, Billington attended Hofstra University where he studied theatre and lighting design. After graduating, he began his career as a lighting designer in the Off-Broadway scene in the 1960s, eventually making his way to Broadway. Billington has designed the lighting for over 100 Broadway productions, including the original productions of Sweeney Todd, Chicago, and The Drowsy Chaperone. He has been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design 21 times, winning three times for his ... read more Martin Charnin is perhaps best known for conceiving, directing, and writing the lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Annie. Charnin began his career as an actor, playing the role of "Big Deal" in the original production of West Side Story, both on Broadway and on tour. He then began writing music and lyrics for Off-Broadway and cabaret revues, as well as nightclub performances for the likes of Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Leslie Uggams, and more. His first time writing lyrics for a Broadway musical was Hot Spot in 1963, which starred Judy Holliday. In the 1970s, Charnin worked in television where he conceived, produced, ... read more Additional producing credits include: Erotic Broadway Off-Broadway, 2009 Carmen (La Cuadra de Sevilla) London, UK tour Producer Swing! [US tour, 2000] Producer The BFG [London, 2002] Producer Annie [US tour, 1999] Producer A Christmas Carol [Los Angeles 1993] [London 1996] Producer James Mapes (hypnotist) [Westport Country Playhouse, 1993] Producer Jeffrey [Los Angeles, 1993] Producer The Flying Karamazov Brothers Do the Impossible! [Broadway, 1994] [West End, 1994] Producer ... read more Additional producing credits include: Erotic Broadway [Off-Broadway, 2009] Carmen (La Cuadra de Sevilla) [London, UK tour, Producer Swing! [US tour, 2000] Producer The BFG [London, 2002] Producer Annie [US tour, 1999] Producer A Christmas Carol [Los Angeles 1993] [London 1996] Producer James Mapes (hypnotist) [Westport Country Playhouse, 1993] Producer Jeffrey [Los Angeles, 1993] Producer The Flying Karamazov Brothers Do the Impossible! [Broadway, 1994] [West End, 1994] Producer Directorial Credits include: To Kill a Mockingbird [Ford's Theatre, D.C.; 2001] Director One Touch of Venus [King's Head Theatre, London; 2001] Director Inherit the Wind [Ford's Theatre, D.C.; 2001] Director American Song [Coeur D'Alene Summer Theatre, 2000] Director Inherit the Wind [King's Head Theatre, London, 1999] Director Six Characters in Search of an Author [Off-Broadway, 1995] Director Scotland Road [American Place Theater, NYC Paint Your Wagon [Coeur D'Alene Summer Theatre, 1998] Director Let's Play Two [American Actors' Theatre, NY; ] Director South Pacific [Coeur D'Alene Summer ... read more Peter Hylenski received a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award Honour for his work on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. A Grammy, Olivier, and seven-time Tony nominee, his selected design credits include Frozen, Anastasia, Beetlejuice, Once on This Island, Something Rotten, King Kong, Rock of Ages, After Midnight, Motown, The Scottsboro Boys, Side Show, Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Shrek the Musical, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Lend Me a Tenor, Elf, Wonderland, Cry-Baby, The Times They Are a-Changin’, The Wedding Singer, Sweet Charity, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. ... read more