Michael Starobin (born January 25, 1956) is an orchestrator, conductor, composer, arranger, and musical director, primarily for the stage, film and television. He won

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 ...

s for the orchestrations of '' Assassins'' (2004) and ''

Next to Normal ''Next to Normal'' (stylized in all lowercase) is a 2008 American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing ...

'' (2009 with Tom Kitt).

Career

The first

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 ...

musical that Starobin provided the orchestrations for was '' Sunday in the Park with George'' in 1984, for which he won the 1984 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestration. He has provided the orchestrations for 21 Broadway musicals, 2 special concerts, including the benefit concert of ''Sunday in the Park with George'', and was the musical director for ''

The Mystery of Edwin Drood ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' is the final novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in 1870. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, it focuses more on Drood's uncle, John Jasper, a precentor, choirmaster and opium ...

'' (1985). He has also provided orchestrations, or been the musical director, for many Off-Broadway musicals. He wrote the orchestrations for several works by

Lynn Ahrens Lynn Ahrens (born October 1, 1948) is an American writer and lyricist for the musical theatre, television and film. She has collaborated with Stephen Flaherty for many years. She won the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle ...

and Stephen Flaherty, such as ''

Once on This Island ''Once on This Island'' is a coming-of-age one-act stage musical with a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. It is based on the 1985 novel ''My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl'' by Rosa Guy, a Caribbean-set retelling ...

'' (1990), as well as

William Finn William Alan Finn (born February 28, 1952) is an American composer and lyricist. He is best known for his musicals, which include '' Falsettos'', for which he won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, ''A New B ...

, including ''

In Trousers ''In Trousers'' is a musical theatre, musical, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1979, with book, music and lyrics by William Finn. It is the first in a trilogy of musicals, followed by ''March of the Falsettos'' and then ''Falsettoland''. Concept ...

'' (1985), ''

Falsettoland ''Falsettoland'' is a musical with a book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by William Finn. Following '' In Trousers'' and '' March of the Falsettos'', it is the third in a trio of one-act musicals centering on Marvin, his wife Trina, his p ...

'' (1990) (musical director), and ''

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn, based on a book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss. The show centers on a fictional spe ...

'' (2005)."Michael Starobin Off-Broadway"
lortel.org, retrieved October 26, 2017 He did the orchestrations for ''

'' (2009), for which he won the

Tony Award for Best Orchestrations The Tony Award for Best Orchestrations is awarded to acknowledge the contributions of musical orchestrators in both musicals and plays. The award has been given since 1997. Winners and nominees 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Award records Mult ...

(with Tom Kitt). Starobin provided orchestrations for the television movie musicals ''

Once Upon a Mattress ''Once Upon a Mattress'' is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. It opened off-Broadway in May 1959, and then moved to Broadway. The play was writte ...

'' (2005) and '' A Christmas Carol'' (2004), among others. He has been collaborating with

Mary Testa Mary Testa (born June 4, 1955) is an American stage and film actress. She is a three-time Tony Award nominee, for performances in revivals of Leonard Bernstein's '' On the Town'' (1998), '' 42nd Street'' (2001) and'' Oklahoma'' (2019). Early life ...

as her musical director, in performances and recordings. He plays piano and a little tuba.

Work (selected)

Sources: Playbill;"Michael Starobin Broadway"
Playbill, retrieved October 26, 2017 Lortel.org ;Stage *'' Sunday In The Park with George'' (1984) - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (winner), Pulitzer Prize *''La Boheme'', Public Theatre, (1984) - 1985 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestration (nominee) *''3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down'' (1985) - 1985 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestration (nominee) *''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' (1985, music director) (Tony Award: Best Musical) *''

Rags Rag, rags, RAG or The Rag may refer to: Common uses * Rag, a piece of old cloth * Rags, tattered clothes * Rag (newspaper), a publication engaging in tabloid journalism * Rag paper, or cotton paper Arts and entertainment Film * ''Rags'' (1915 ...

'' (1986) - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestration (nominee) *''

Birds of Paradise The birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. The majority of species are found in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia. The family has 44 species in 17 genera. The members of ...

'' (1987) - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestration (nominee) *''The Knife'' (1987, Music Direction) *''Romance, Romance'' (1988) *''Annie 2'' (Wash.D.C., 1988) *''Legs Diamond'' (1988) *''Carrie'' (1988) *''Once On This Island'' (1990) *''Guys & Dolls'' (1992) (Tony Award: Best Musical) *''

Falsettos ''Falsettos'' is a sung-through musical with a book by William Finn and James Lapine, and music and lyrics by Finn. The musical consists of '' March of the Falsettos'' (1981) and '' Falsettoland'' (1990), the last two installments in a trio o ...

'' (1992) (Tony Award: Best Score) *''

My Favorite Year ''My Favorite Year'' is a 1982 American comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Richard Benjamin and written by Norman Steinberg and Dennis Palumbo from a story written by Palumbo. The film tells the story of a young comedy writ ...

'' (1992) - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (nominee) *'' Hello Again'' (1994) *''A Christmas Carol'' (1994-2001, Madison Square Garden) *'' A New Brain'' (1999) - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (nominee) *'' Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus'' (1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, Composer) - original score and songs with Glenn Slater *''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (2001) - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (nominee) *'' Assassins'' - Tony Award Best Orchestrations (winner); Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (nominee) *''25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' (2005) *''How The Grinch Stole Christmas'' (2006- ) *''The House of Bernarda Alba'' (LCT, 2006) *''The Glorious Ones'' (2007) - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (nominee) *''Next to Normal'' (2009) - Tony Award Best Orchestrations (winner), Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestrations (winner), Pulitzer Prize *''

Sondheim on Sondheim ''Sondheim on Sondheim'' is a musical revue consisting of music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim for his many shows. It is conceived and directed by James Lapine. The revue had a limited run on Broadway in 2010. Background The revue is b ...

'' (2010) *''

Queen of the Mist ''Queen of the Mist'' is a musical with music, lyrics and book by Michael John LaChiusa. ''Queen'' tells the story of Annie Edson Taylor. Produced by Transport Group Theatre Company, the musical first opened Off-Broadway in 2011. Production The ...

'' ( Transport Group, 2011), Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestration (nominee) *'' The People in the Picture'' (2011) *''

Leap of Faith A leap of faith, in its most commonly used meaning, is the act of believing in or accepting something outside the boundaries of reason. Overview The phrase is commonly attributed to Søren Kierkegaard; however, he never used the term, as he ...

'' (2012) *''

Dogfight A dogfight, or dog fight, is an aerial battle between fighter aircraft conducted at close range. Dogfighting first occurred in Mexico in 1913, shortly after the invention of the airplane. Until at least 1992, it was a component in every majo ...

'' (Second Stage, 2012) *''Annie'' (2012) * ''

If/Then ''If/Then'' is a musical with a libretto by Brian Yorkey and a theatrical score by Tom Kitt, directed by Michael Greif. It tells the story of a 38-year-old woman named Elizabeth who moves back to New York City for a fresh start. ''If/Then'' ...

'' (2014) * '' First Daughter Suite'' (2015) ;Television *''

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

'' (1997), song arranger *'' Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas'' (1997), additional orchestrator *'' South Pacific'' (2001) song orchestrator *'' Smash'' (2013) orchestrator for the song "A Letter from Cecile" *''

Galavant ''Galavant'' is an American Musical film, musical fantasy comedy television series, created and written by Dan Fogelman, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. Fogelman, Menken and Slater also serve as executive producers alongs ...

'' (2015-2016) orchestrator''Galavant''
abc.go.com, January 3, 2016 ;Film *''

The Little Mermaid "The Little Mermaid" ( da, Den lille havfrue) is a literary fairy tale written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The story follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid to gain a ...

'' (1989), additional orchestrator *''

Beauty and the Beast ''Beauty and the Beast'' (french: La Belle et la Bête) is a fairy tale written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in ''La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins'' (''The Young American and Marine ...

'' (1991), additional orchestrator *'' Aladdin'' (1992), additional orchestrator *''

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, known as Matoaka, 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman, belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of ...

'' (1995), additional orchestrator *''

The Hunchback of Notre Dame ''The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'' (french: Notre-Dame de Paris, translation=''Our Lady of Paris'', originally titled ''Notre-Dame de Paris. 1482'') is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. It focuses on the unfortunate story ...

'' (1996), score and songs orchestrator, conductor *''

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the ...

'' (1997), additional orchestrator *''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

'' (2002), additional orchestrator *''

Home on the Range "Home on the Range" is a classic cowboy song, sometimes called the "unofficial anthem" of the American West. Dr. Brewster M. Higley (also spelled Highley) of Smith County, Kansas, wrote the lyrics as the poem "My Western Home" in 1872 or 1873 ...

'' (2004), score and songs orchestrator *''

Tangled ''Tangled'' is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated musical adventure fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Loosely based on the German fairy tale ''Rapunzel'' in the collection of ...

'' (2010), songs orchestrator

References

External links

* *
Internet Off-Broadway Database listingOfficial Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starobin, Michael 1956 births American male composers American music arrangers Living people Tony Award winners