Keith Dale Gordon

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Keith Dale Gordon
Keith Dale Gordon, July 2018
Born
Keith Dale Gordon

(1966-07-14) July 14, 1966 (age 57)
Alma materUniversity of Colorado
OccupationComposer
Known forMusical theatre

Keith Dale Gordon (born July 14, 1966), is an American lyricist and composer of musical theater, commercial jingles, and award shows. He is known primarily for his 2006 musical Saint Heaven which Gordon co-wrote with Martin Casella.[1][2] Also for his musical adaptation of Camille DeAngelis' 2007 novel Mary Modern and lyrical setting of Karel Jaromir Erben's poem The Wedding Night.[1][3]

Early life and education[edit]

Gordon was born in Denver, Colorado on July 14, 1966, to Grace and Donald Gordon and began studying piano at the age of seven. Gordon graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1984. He studied piano and developed under the direction of numerous notable teachers and performers such as Lucia Clarke, Jane Tirey, and Helen Walker-Hill. In interviews, Gordon emphasizes the significance of his time at the University of Colorado College of Music with Argentine composer Luis Jorge Gonzalez as being a key period for his formative compositional direction.[4] He earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition during this time. Gordon is an alum of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, where he further developed under the direction of Maury Yeston, Skip Kennon, and Richard Engquist.[5]

Career[edit]

Gordon's professional career began in 1989 writing jingles at Lotas Minard Patton McIver in New York City. A number of his jingles underscored national ad campaigns for Nutrisystem, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Max Factor, Tinkerbell Cosmetics, Redbook, Fitness, Cosmopolitan, and CosmoGirl.[6][7][8] During this time Gordon was also composing songs and choral work for recording artists JoJo David, Adam Birnbaum, and Anne Marie David among others. While his professional accomplishments gained momentum commercially, he was also developing musical theater work during this time.

Gordon began attracting critical interest around 2006, when Saint Heaven premiered at the Stamford Center for the Performing Arts Rich Forum. The musical was directed by Matt Lenz. Notable actors who had previously won, or would go on to be nominated for, Tony Awards such as Chuck Cooper and Montego Glover starred in the production. Saint Heaven's sets were designed by Hamilton's David Korins.[9] In 2011, Gordon's The Shadow Sparrow was performed at the O'Neill National Musical Theater Conference.[10] According to a recent interview with Gordon, his current collaboration with Martin Casella, a musical adaptation of Camille DeAngelis' novel Mary Modern, is in development and will likely be produced soon.[3]

Selected theater works[edit]

Year Title Music Lyrics Book Ref.
2021 Mary Modern Keith Gordon Martin Casella [11]
2017 The Wedding Night Stephen Coleman Keith Gordon Jana Hejduková [11]
2015 Sadako & Floyd Keith Gordon [11]
2014 Girl Powers Keith Gordon Michele Aldin-Kushner [12]
2011 The Shadow Sparrow Keith Gordon Charlie Sohne Anton Dudley [11]
2006 Saint Heaven Keith Gordon Martin Casella [1]

Songs and choral works[edit]

Year Song Title Artist Publisher Ref.
Year Colors JoJo David & Adam Birnbaum Arrhae Press [13]
Year Think of Me First Bayie Atlantic [14]
Year Born to Lead The Valli Girls Sony/BMG [14]
Year Fill My Mouth with Your Words Anne Marie David Arrhae Press [15]
Year Mass for Saint Timothy's Unknown Unknown [14]
Year It Must Have Been Unknown Unknown [14]

Awards[edit]

  • 2017 Pick of the Fringe, The Hollywood Fringe Festival - The Wedding Night[16]
  • 2014 The Santa Fe Musical Theatre Festival - Girl Powers[17]
  • 2012 City Theater of Pittsburg Momentum Festival - The Shadow Sparrow[18]
  • 2011 The O’Neill National Musical Theater Conference - The Shadow Sparrow[19]
  • 2008 Dixon Place Festival - Girl Powers[17]
  • 2006 NYMF Director’s Choice Award - Saint Heaven
  • 2005 TRU Best of Festival Award - Saint Heaven[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Rizzo, Frank (2006-06-05). "Saint Heaven". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  2. ^ Kennedy, Marina. "BWW Interview: Playwright Martin Casella and BLACK TOM ISLAND at Premiere Stages". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  3. ^ a b "Keith Gordon Music". Keith Gordon Music • Composer Lyricist. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  4. ^ "::Price Rubin & Partners". pricerubin.com. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  5. ^ Grimes, William (2010-03-25). "Richard Engquist, 'Kuni-Leml' Lyricist, Is Dead at 76". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  6. ^ Dougherty, Philip H. (1988-06-28). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Lotus Minard to Get S. C. Johnson Billings". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  7. ^ "A Beautiful New Home for Music" (PDF). Colorado Music Magazine: 9. 2019.
  8. ^ "Keith Gordon Music Jingles". Keith Gordon Music • Composer Lyricist. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  9. ^ "TRU SITE". truonline.org. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  10. ^ Cox, Gordon (2011-06-23). "Actors set for O'Neill". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  11. ^ a b c d e Josepher (2017-01-02). "Keith Dale Gordon". contemporarymusicaltheatre.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  12. ^ "Michele Aldin Kushner Playwright Screenwriter". Michele Aldin Kushner Playwright Screenwriter. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  13. ^ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  14. ^ a b c d "Keith Gordon Music Songs". Keith Gordon Music • Composer Lyricist. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  15. ^ "Recordings". www.arrhaepress.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  16. ^ "Hollywood Fringe - pick of the fringe awarded to new musicals inc". www.hollywoodfringe.org. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  17. ^ a b "Michele Aldin Kushner | New Play Exchange". newplayexchange.org. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  18. ^ "City Theatre's Momentum 2012 festival opens". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  19. ^ "National Music Theater Conference | Eugene O'Neill Theater Center". theoneill. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
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