Martin Charnin
Latest News on Martin Charnin
Date of Birth:
November 24, 1934
Date of Death:
July 06, 2019 (84)
Birth Place: New York, NY, USA
Bio:
Martin Charnin is perhaps best known for conceiving, directing, and writing the lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Annie.
Charnin began his career as an actor, playing the role of "Big Deal" in the original production of West Side Story, both on Broadway and on tour.
He then began writing ...
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Latest News on Martin Charnin
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Martin Charnin during a preview of 'Something Funny's Going On!' at 54 Below on October 23, 2013 in New York City.

Vivian Reed, Lee Roy Reems, Robin DeJesus, Martin Charnin, Jarrod Spector, Jennifer Apple and Tiffin Borelli attend attend a Special Press Preview at 54 Below on October 23, 2013 in New York City.

Martin Charnin, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse & the cast from Broadway's iconic musical ANNIE celebrate creator Charles Strouse's 85th Birthday at The Palace Theatre in New York City on June 06, 2013.
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Martin Charnin Biography
Martin Charnin is perhaps best known for conceiving, directing, and writing the lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Annie.Charnin began his career as an actor, playing the role of "Big Deal" in the original production of West Side Story, both on Broadway and on tour.
He then began writing music and lyrics for Off-Broadway and cabaret revues, as well as nightclub performances for the likes of Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Leslie Uggams, and more.
His first time writing lyrics for a Broadway musical was Hot Spot in 1963, which starred Judy Holliday.
In the 1970s, Charnin worked in television where he conceived, produced, wrote, and directed, six variety specials. He won an Emmy in 1971 for his work on "Annie, The Woman in the Life of a Man." He won two primetime Emmy Awards the following year for "S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin."
Charnin's Broadway directing debut was in 1973, when he conceived and directed the revue Nash at Nine.
Annie premiered at the Goodspeed Opera House in 1976. Charnin is credited as creator, lyricist, and director of the show, which then transferred to Broadway for 2,327 performances. He won the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Lyrics, as well as the Tony Award for Best Original Score.
Charnin went on to direct many U.S. companies of Annie, as well as West End productions, and productions in Australia and Amsterdam. He also directed the 20th anniversary production on Broadway, the 30th anniversary production which toured the U.S. in 2004, and the 2014 national tour.
Following the success of Annie, Charnin wrote lyrics for, and directed, a wide variety of shows and revues on Broadway. For a full list of Charnin's credits, view his page on BroadwayWorld here.
Charnin was artistic director of Showtunes!, a theatre company in Seattle, Washington, that resurrects lesser-known musicals, and celebrates the work of composers such as Richard Rodgers and Irving Berlin.
Martin Charnin Awards and Nominations
Tony Awards - 1982 - Best Book of a Musical | ||
Martin Charnin, The First | ||
Tony Awards - 1982 - Best Direction of a Musical | ||
Martin Charnin , The First | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 1977 - Outstanding Director - Musical ![]() |
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Martin Charnin, Annie | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 1977 - Outstanding Lyrics ![]() |
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Martin Charnin, Annie | ||
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1977 - Best Musical ![]() |
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Martin Charnin, Annie | ||
Tony Awards - 1977 - Best Direction of a Musical | ||
Martin Charnin, Annie |
Martin Charnin News

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 20, 2022
Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth has announced a highly-anticipated season lineup of shows including previously announced HADESTOWN along with new musicals TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, TOOTSIE, and the Tony Award Winning Best Musical MOULIN ROUGE.

by Stephi Wild - Apr 12, 2022
ASU Gammage is gearing up for a new Broadway lineup as it announces the 2022–2023 Desert Financial Broadway Across America-Arizona season. Season ticket holders can now renew their subscriptions for an extraordinary list of shows. It’s a season filled with hot, fresh from Broadway shows, powerful plays and some all-time Tony Award®-winning favorites.

by A.A. Cristi - Apr 5, 2022
The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts has announced its highly anticipated 2022-2023 Broadway Series. Come get lost in the magic of adventure, award-winning hits and toe-tapping fun, and see why these shows have amassed over 60 awards!

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 31, 2022
Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its 28th season that includes the 2022 – 2023 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway series. Mainstage and Porchlight Revisits performances take place at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 29, 2022
PPAC’s 45th Broadway season featuring the Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series opens with TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL (September 11 – 18, 2022), followed by the hilarious hit musical MEAN GIRLS (October 4 – 9, 2022) and the laugh-out-love letter to the theatre, TOOTSIE (October 25 – 30, 2022).

by Stephi Wild - Mar 22, 2022
Broadway In Hollywood has announced their new 2022-23 season entitled, 'Simply the Best' - the first full season announcement in two years, consisting of eight Broadway national tour productions which will play both the Pantages and Dolby Theatres in Hollywood.

by Stephi Wild - Mar 22, 2022
The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) and Broadway in Columbus today announced the next exciting lineup for the PNC Broadway in Columbus series.

by A.A. Cristi - Mar 22, 2022
Broadway In Hollywood has announced their new 2022-23 season entitled, 'Simply the Best' - the first full season announcement in two years, consisting of eight Broadway national tour productions which will play both the Pantages and Dolby Theatres in Hollywood.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 21, 2022
The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization have announced the 2022-23 Broadway series with a full lineup of dazzling productions, including Broadway’s newest blockbusters and returning fan favorites, with a combined 56 Tony Awards and 46 Drama Desk Awards.

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 7, 2022
The national tour of HAMILTON will make its Lowcountry premiere July 13-24, as the anchor show of 2022-2023 Best of Broadway season at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. The show will offer sixteen performances over two weeks.
Martin Charnin Videos

by Stage Tube - Jun 24, 2021
See the performance, which earned a Golden Buzzer from Sofia Vergara, here.

by BroadwayWorld TV - Aug 2, 2020
Today we rewind to 2012, when the second Broadway revival of Annie opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 487 performances. Annie features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, with all three authors receiving 1977 Tony Awards for their work.

by Stage Tube - Dec 9, 2019
The Ogunquit Playhouse production of Annie is helmed by Broadway Director/Choreographer James A. Rocco. The cast includes Josie Todd as Annie, Emmy nominee Robert Newman as Oliver Warbucks, and Broadway veterans Angie Schworer as Lily St. Regis, Jeffry Denman as Rooster Hannigan, and Gail Bennett as Grace Farrell.

by Stage Tube - Jul 22, 2019
Reel Artistry has released a music video, "Peer Pressure," featuring Dan DeLuca and Amber Ardolino!

by A.A. Cristi - Nov 8, 2018
A new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, Annie opened on this day in 2012 at the Palace Theatre!

by Alan Henry - Jul 30, 2018
Musicals at Richter (MAR), continues its 34th season as the longest-running outdoor theater in Connecticut, with Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse's ebullient musical 'Annie,' playing July 27 through August 11. Staged on the grounds of the Richter Arts Center in Danbury, performances take place outdoors under the stars Friday through Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m., with additional specially discounted performances on Thursday, August 2 and 9.

by Stage Tube - Jul 23, 2018
Tony nominees Christopher Sieber and Jennifer Simard star as the stoically affluent Daddy Warbucks and the deliciously wicked Miss Hannigan, respectively, in the Muny's centennial season production of Annie, running through July 25. Watch the cast sing We'd Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover in the video below!

by Stage Tube - Jul 21, 2018
Tony nominees Christopher Sieber and Jennifer Simard star as the stoically affluent Daddy Warbucks and the deliciously wicked Miss Hannigan, respectively, in the Muny's centennial season production of Annie, running through July 25. Watch Simard sing the iconic hit 'Little Girls' in the video below!

by Alan Henry - Jul 19, 2018
BroadwayWorld has a first look at The Muny's production of Annie! Check out a clip below!

by Stage Tube - Apr 24, 2018
Performances for ANNIE THE MUSICAL begin tonight, Tuesday April 24 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre! ANNIE is now on stage through June 3, 2018.