For 20 years, RICHARD GRAY has contributed to Seattle’s vibrant professional theatre scene as a composer, director and performer. His composing work is beginning to get some national attention as he was named in both 2005 and 2006 as a finalist for the Fred Ebb Foundation Award honoring up-and-coming new musical theatre writers. His new musical, COLD TURKEY (for which he wrote the book, music and lyrics), was part of the 2004 Village Theatre New Works Festival and received a workshop at the Village in 2006. His holiday revue, FORBIDDEN XMAS, was a fixture of the Seattle holiday scene from 1991 to 2005 (eleven holiday seasons at the Cabaret de Paris, three at Tacoma Actors’ Guild and one at the Empty Space Theatre).
Two of his full-length musical scores which were first heard at the Seattle Children’s Theatre, TIME AGAIN IN OZ and LITTLE ROCK, have been performed in theatres across the country. Richard also wrote and directed THE MOM & POP SHOW, NIGHTCLUB GENTLEMEN, BUMMER! SHOOT! and THE DONK SISTERS for the Cabaret de Paris. He has also written the scores for A DAY AT THE BEACH and KENNY’S WINDOW at Seattle Children’s Theater, IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD’S FAIR and NW BOOKSHELF for the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Adventure Musical Theatre program; (L)IMITATIONS OF LIFE at the Empty Space; and music for seven Shakespeare productions at Tacoma Actors Guild. Richard also co-authored the musical play HISTORY OF THE ROLLER COASTER with Scott Warrender for FringeACT in 2004, contributed songs for the original workshop of Jordan Harrison's DORIS TO DARLENE in 2006, and collaborated with Martin Charnin on the new musical LOVE IS LOVE which had its world premeire at the Village Theater in December, 2007. Recent recordings include "Hanukkah Gloves" (a Charnin/Gray original song, featured on CAROLS FOR A CURE, VOL. 10) and Susannah Mars' new CD from LML Music - CALL IT HOME: THE MUSIC OF RICHARD GRAY.
At TAG, Richard has worked on 26 productions including directing THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, DAS BARBECU;, FORBIDDEN XMAS 2002-2003, I DO! I DO! and CRIMES OF THE HEART. He has worked as a director at CLO (AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, NUNSENSE, CHILDREN OF EDEN, DAMN YANKEES), Cornish College (NINE), Eastside Musical Theater (TOMMY), Village Originals (LIKE YOU LIKE IT, STUNT GIRL, IRON CURTAIN, FIELD OF DREAMS, THE GYPSY KING) and the Actors’ Cabaret of Eugene (DIAMONDS, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, OLYMPUS ON MY MIND, A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE, MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS); and musical directed over 50 productions in the Seattle area including THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, BUDDY and PIPPIN at the Fifth Avenue.
As an actor, Richard’s favorite roles include “Albin/ZaZa” in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and “Bud Frump” in HOW TO SUCCEED… (both at the Village Theatre); “Chico Marx” in A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE at the 5th Avenue Theatre; and “L.M.” in PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES at TAG. His appearances at the Bathhouse Theater include the title role in THE HOSTAGE and “Lou Costello” in seven versions of THE BIG BROADCAST. (picture on R is an early headshot)
His numerous concert performances include TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, NUTS AND CREAMY NOUGAT with Cheyenne Jackson, NIGHTCLUB GENTLEMEN, David Austin’s AN UNEXPECTED EVENING and ACT Theatre's A MARVELOUS PARTY. His solo show, GRAY MATTER, has been performed at Seattle’s Town Hall, Portland’s Broadway Rose Theater, Tacoma Actor’s Guild and the Cabaret at the Crepe de Paris. Richard will be a featured vocalist in Martin Charnin's RODGERS AND... at the 92nd St. Y in NYC (January, 2009) alongside Hugh Panaro, Shelly Burch and Alton Fitzgerald White.
(click on the picture below to hear a duet with Richard Gray & Cheyenne Jackson)
