Annie - West End Creative Team

... 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 Nikolai is Artistic Director at Curve, Leicester, one of the UK’s leading regional theatres and described as “world class” by The Daily Telegraph. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Nikolai grew up in North Yorkshire and trained at Drama Centre London and at the Crucible, Sheffield. He has created work for many of the UK’s major producing theatres, touring houses and international venues. Nikolai has been director on attachment at the Sheffield Crucible, the Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre Studio and served as an Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse. Most recently at Curve, Nikolai directed A CHORUS LINE (also at Sadler’s Wells & ... 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 Trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, gaining first class honours, and is a 2003 Linbury Prize Finalist. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts Companion. Recent engagements include: Grease (UK Tour); Pressure (Edinburgh Lyceum/Chichester/West End); Sunshine on Leith, The Crucible, Sweeney Todd, The Wind in the Willows, Annie, Billy Liar, When We Are Married, Animal Farm (West Yorkshire Playhouse); The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich, Wendy and Peter Pan, Titus Andronicus, The Taming of the Shrew (RSC); Pinocchio (Texas Ballet Theater, National Ballet of Canada); Annie (West End/South Africa, Toronto, UK Tour); Sweeney Todd (Royal Exchange); Come on Home, ... read more Charles Strouse is a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist whose contributions to the world of musical theater have left an indelible mark. Born in New York City in 1928, Strouse began playing piano at an early age and went on to study composition at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. Strouse's first Broadway credit came in 1960 with the musical "Bye Bye Birdie," which he co-wrote with lyricist Lee Adams. The show was a smash hit, running for over 600 performances and earning Strouse his first Tony Award for Best Musical. "Bye Bye Birdie" tells the story of ... read more