Hometown: Sheridan, Wyoming
Education: Interlochen, Juilliard, Juilliard, CUNY
Select Credits: Composing & producing, albums for Alan Cumming, Amanda Palmer, TV (Emmy), events for Sydney Opera House, command performance for President Obama, the First Lady, and the Queen with Kristin Chenoweth, operas, and musicals. Little Women (Broadway) vocal arrangements. Uncredited: Signpost in The Wizard of Oz with Roseanne
Why theater?: It makes the most sense to me as a form and a temple.
Tell us about Live from Gramercy at the Players with Lance Horne: The length of the title is in direct proportion to the amount of brilliance in store. The legendary Daphne Rubin-Vega and I will join forces at the opening, Alexandra Silber and I are going to do our best Noel Coward-Gertrude Lawrence banter and rock out some of my Neil Gaiman opera in development as well as some Animaniacs, there's a knife juggler, two-time Tony-nominee Robin De Jesus is going to raise the dead with his pipes, including a reprise from the “24 Hour Musical” we just did together. Juilliard jazz maverick Samora Pinderhughes and his mates will storm the stage and blow your minds with their set. Thomas March will deliver world premieres of his poetry, and Justin Sayre (The Meeting*) and Valerie Geffner (Antenna) are sure to make you think about life differently than when you came in. Party starts at 8pm throughout the legendary Players Club, entertainment beings at 9pm. And there are STILL surprises in store. One night only-- don't kick yourself later!
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Progressive, engaging, risk-taking people and their work. I had a great conversation about corporations and people with the border patrol heading into the UK for this tour with the von Trapps. We are here to shake things up. I'm inspired when I'm surprised.
What’s your favorite showtune?: My adolescent go-to would be "Someone in a Tree" from Pacific Overtures. Written in my lifetime, without a doubt, "Another Day" from Rent-- the lyrics are written on my wall. I know, Daphne is performing at night on Wednesday, and I am in heaven.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Tommy Tune. George Wolfe. Graciela Danniele. Chita.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Alexandra Silber would play me in boy drag and Stephanie D'Abruzzo & Lea DeLaria would play all the other characters. Meow Meow would make a cameo. It would be a movie musical, and according to the von Trapps, whom I polled, three out of four think it would be called "Snacks."
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Dina Martina. Do not miss her, people. I plan work around her appearances.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I make a mean homemade black truffle-cayenne-lemon popcorn. That and this mustard we all smuggle in from Paris for each other. And I watch "The Fosters" on ABC Family. All three together, and I'm sunk.
What’s the most played song on your iPod?: Right now, it's Judy Kuhn singing Joni Mitchell's "Night Ride Home." Thank goodness it has surpassed "What Does the Fox Say?"
What’s up next?: I'm playing with Meow Meow for Pina Bausch Company, then we're settling in for runs in London and opening next season at Berkeley Rep. Composing the Gaiman opera is moving along, and I'm working on new work with LA Opera, Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, and Jake Shears and I are working up a cabaret of sorts. That plus scoring an animated film and dates music directing Mx. Justin Vivian Bond, Alan Cumming & Liza, and Courtney Act from “RuPaul's Drag Race,” and my summer dance card is full! No wonder I'm so happy to get to work each day.