librettist
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...
and
lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment.
Royalties
A lyricist's incom ...
. Among his stage musicals are ''
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
''Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens'' is a musical with music by Janet Hood and lyrics and book by Bill Russell. The work features songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' ''Spoon River ...
'' and ''
Side Show
In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, traveling carnival, carnival, fair, or other such attraction.
Types
There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:
*The Ten-in-One offers ...
'', which was nominated for the
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
as Best Musical.
Career
Russell's first musical to be produced is ''Fortune'', which ran Off-Broadway at the Actors' Plahouse from April 27, 1980 to November 23, 1980. Ronald Melrose wrote the music, with Russell writing the book and lyrics. The musical director and arranger was Janet Hood; they have gone on to write several musicals together. The musical concerned four performers who were headed to be stars. According to ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' reviewer, John Corry, it "marked the maturity of the gay musical", and he commended the "literate" lyrics.
Russell wrote the book and lyrics for the song cycle ''
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
''Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens'' is a musical with music by Janet Hood and lyrics and book by Bill Russell. The work features songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' ''Spoon River ...
'', with music by Janet Hood, which originally ran
Off-Off-Broadway
Off-off-Broadway theaters are smaller New York City theaters than Broadway and off-Broadway theaters, and usually have fewer than 100 seats. The off-off-Broadway movement began in 1958 as part of a response to perceived commercialism of the pro ...
in 1990 and in the West End in 1993. It played a benefit concert in 2001.
He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical ''Pageant'' with Frank Kelly; the music is by Albert Evans, and conception by
Robert Longbottom
Robert Longbottom (born March 1957) is a New York City-based director, choreographer and director, primarily for theatre and opera.
Early life
Longbottom was born and raised in Portland, Maine. He made his professional theatrical debut at age ...
. The musical, which has an all-male cast that plays beauty queens premiered Off-Broadway at the Blue Angel in 1991, and subsequently ran Off-Broadway at New World Stages in 2013, as well as engagements in London (2000) and Australia.
He wrote the concert adaptation of the musical ''
Call Me Madam
''Call Me Madam'' is a musical written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.
The musical is a satire on politics and foreign policy that spoofs postwar America's penchant for lending billions of dollars to ...
'' for the New York City Center Encores! staged concert series, which was presented in February 1995 and starred
Tyne Daly
Ellen Tyne Daly (; born February 21, 1946) is an American actress. She has won six Emmy Awards for her television work, a Tony Award and is a 2011 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee.
Daly began her career on stage in summer stock in New York, ...
.
Russell write the book and lyrics for the musical ''
Side Show
In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, traveling carnival, carnival, fair, or other such attraction.
Types
There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:
*The Ten-in-One offers ...
'' (music by
Henry Krieger
Henry Krieger (born February 9, 1945 in New York City) is an American musical theatre composer. He most notably wrote the music for the Broadway shows ''Dreamgirls'' (1981, with lyrics and book by Tom Eyen), ''The Tap Dance Kid'' (1983), and ''Si ...
), which ran on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
in 1997.
He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical ''Up in The Air'', with music by Henry Krieger, conceived and directed by Amon Miyamoto. It premiered at the
Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...
in February 2008. The musical is suggested by a Japanese story, about Boonah, the tree-climbing frog.
He wrote the lyrics and book with
Jeffrey Hatcher
Jeffrey Hatcher is an American playwright and screenwriter. He wrote the stage play ''Compleat Female Stage Beauty'', which he later adapted into a screenplay, shortened to just ''Stage Beauty'' (2004). He also co-wrote the stage adaptation o ...
for the musical ''Lucky Duck'', with music by Henry Krieger. It premiered Off-Broadway at the New Victory Theater in March 2012. The musical starts where the fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling" ends, "showing what happens once one becomes beautiful." It premiered at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, California, in 2000, then called ''Everything's Ducky''.
He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical ''
The Last Smoker in America
''The Last Smoker in America'' is a four-character, one-act musical comedy featuring book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Peter Melnick.Peter Melnick. The musical opened Off-Broadway in August 2012.
Russell and Janet Hood have teamed again to write the musical ''Unexpected Joy'', which received private readings in March 2012. The musical is the story of four women and was directed by Sheryl Kaller.
Honors and awards
Russell received a 1998 Tony nomination for ''Side Show'' for Best Book and shared a nomination with composer Henry Krieger for Best Score. The show was nominated as Best Musical.
''Everything's Ducky'' received the Will Glickman Award for Best New Play (in the San Francisco Bay Area) in 2001 and Garland Awards (presented by "Backstage West") for Best Score, Set and Costumes. He has also received two Commendation Awards from the
Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation
''Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation'' give awards to new songwriters and book writers. The foundation was created by American Theatre Wing Board Member, Sondra Gilman, and Texas Art Commissioner, Celso Gonzalez-Falla. The Musical Theatre ...
(one in 2000). He received an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters from
Morningside College
Morningside University is a private university affiliated with the United Methodist Church and located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside University has 21 buildings on a campus in Sioux City (ar ...
in 2003 and from the
Boston Conservatory
Boston Conservatory at Berklee (formerly The Boston Conservatory) is a private performing arts conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, music, and theater.
Boston Conservatory was founded ...
in May 2007.
Personal
Russell was born in
Deadwood, South Dakota
Deadwood (Lakota: ''Owáyasuta''; "To approve or confirm things") is a city that serves as county seat of Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. It was named by early settlers after the dead trees found in its gulch. The city had it ...
and raised in
Spearfish, South Dakota
Spearfish ( Lakota: ''Hočhápȟe'') is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota. The population was 12,193 at the time of the 2020 census.
History
Before the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876, the area was used by Native Americans (primarily bands ...
. His grandparents were cattle ranchers. He attended Morningside College,
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County ...
for two years with a major in theater before transferring to the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. T ...
. He
came out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...