American lyricist, writer, and theater director. Mr. Charnin wrote and directed the musical "Annie".
Born in New York City, he graduated from The High School of Music & Art, then from The Copper Union, where he earned a BFA. He began his theater career performing as "Big Deal", one of the Jets in "West Side Story". He played the role for over 1,000 performances on Broadway and on tour.
The first Broadway musical for which he wrote lyrics was the 1963 musical "Hot Spot", with music by Mary Rodgers. Mr. Charnin was also the lyricist for "Mata Hari" (1967), "Two by Two" (1971), "I Remember Mama" (1979), "The First" (1981), and countless other productions on and off Broadway. He was also a lyricist for "Feathertop" on ABC in 1961 and "The Jackie Gleason Show" on CBS the same year. He directed "The National Lampoon Show" (1975) and its road company. The New York version starred John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and other "Saturday Night Live" performers.
In 1977, Martin Charnin created, wrote the lyrics for, and directed "Annie" for the Godspeed Opera House. "Annie" moved to Broadway and ran for 2,327 performances, becoming the one of the 25 longest running musicals in Broadway history. He went on to direct the five U.S. national companies and three productions in the West End in London. For "Annie", he won a Tony award for Best Original Score in 1977. Mr. Charnin was also involved with the major motion picture in 1982 starring Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and Aileen Quinn in the lead role. There was a television version from Disney in 1999 and another feature film version in 2014.
He is survived by his wife Shelly Burch, two children, and three grandchildren.
Born in New York City, he graduated from The High School of Music & Art, then from The Copper Union, where he earned a BFA. He began his theater career performing as "Big Deal", one of the Jets in "West Side Story". He played the role for over 1,000 performances on Broadway and on tour.
The first Broadway musical for which he wrote lyrics was the 1963 musical "Hot Spot", with music by Mary Rodgers. Mr. Charnin was also the lyricist for "Mata Hari" (1967), "Two by Two" (1971), "I Remember Mama" (1979), "The First" (1981), and countless other productions on and off Broadway. He was also a lyricist for "Feathertop" on ABC in 1961 and "The Jackie Gleason Show" on CBS the same year. He directed "The National Lampoon Show" (1975) and its road company. The New York version starred John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and other "Saturday Night Live" performers.
In 1977, Martin Charnin created, wrote the lyrics for, and directed "Annie" for the Godspeed Opera House. "Annie" moved to Broadway and ran for 2,327 performances, becoming the one of the 25 longest running musicals in Broadway history. He went on to direct the five U.S. national companies and three productions in the West End in London. For "Annie", he won a Tony award for Best Original Score in 1977. Mr. Charnin was also involved with the major motion picture in 1982 starring Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and Aileen Quinn in the lead role. There was a television version from Disney in 1999 and another feature film version in 2014.
He is survived by his wife Shelly Burch, two children, and three grandchildren.
American lyricist, writer, and theater director. Mr. Charnin wrote and directed the musical "Annie".
Born in New York City, he graduated from The High School of Music & Art, then from The Copper Union, where he earned a BFA. He began his theater career performing as "Big Deal", one of the Jets in "West Side Story". He played the role for over 1,000 performances on Broadway and on tour.
The first Broadway musical for which he wrote lyrics was the 1963 musical "Hot Spot", with music by Mary Rodgers. Mr. Charnin was also the lyricist for "Mata Hari" (1967), "Two by Two" (1971), "I Remember Mama" (1979), "The First" (1981), and countless other productions on and off Broadway. He was also a lyricist for "Feathertop" on ABC in 1961 and "The Jackie Gleason Show" on CBS the same year. He directed "The National Lampoon Show" (1975) and its road company. The New York version starred John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and other "Saturday Night Live" performers.
In 1977, Martin Charnin created, wrote the lyrics for, and directed "Annie" for the Godspeed Opera House. "Annie" moved to Broadway and ran for 2,327 performances, becoming the one of the 25 longest running musicals in Broadway history. He went on to direct the five U.S. national companies and three productions in the West End in London. For "Annie", he won a Tony award for Best Original Score in 1977. Mr. Charnin was also involved with the major motion picture in 1982 starring Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and Aileen Quinn in the lead role. There was a television version from Disney in 1999 and another feature film version in 2014.
He is survived by his wife Shelly Burch, two children, and three grandchildren.
Born in New York City, he graduated from The High School of Music & Art, then from The Copper Union, where he earned a BFA. He began his theater career performing as "Big Deal", one of the Jets in "West Side Story". He played the role for over 1,000 performances on Broadway and on tour.
The first Broadway musical for which he wrote lyrics was the 1963 musical "Hot Spot", with music by Mary Rodgers. Mr. Charnin was also the lyricist for "Mata Hari" (1967), "Two by Two" (1971), "I Remember Mama" (1979), "The First" (1981), and countless other productions on and off Broadway. He was also a lyricist for "Feathertop" on ABC in 1961 and "The Jackie Gleason Show" on CBS the same year. He directed "The National Lampoon Show" (1975) and its road company. The New York version starred John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and other "Saturday Night Live" performers.
In 1977, Martin Charnin created, wrote the lyrics for, and directed "Annie" for the Godspeed Opera House. "Annie" moved to Broadway and ran for 2,327 performances, becoming the one of the 25 longest running musicals in Broadway history. He went on to direct the five U.S. national companies and three productions in the West End in London. For "Annie", he won a Tony award for Best Original Score in 1977. Mr. Charnin was also involved with the major motion picture in 1982 starring Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and Aileen Quinn in the lead role. There was a television version from Disney in 1999 and another feature film version in 2014.
He is survived by his wife Shelly Burch, two children, and three grandchildren.
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