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Susan Birkenhead

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BIO

Susan Birkenhead is an American lyricist.



Birkenhead made her Broadway debut as one of a team of songwriters contributing to Working (1978), for which she received her first Tony Award nomination. Her second was earned for Jelly's Last Jam (1992), which won her the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics and a Grammy Award nomination. Additional Broadway credits include Triumph of Love (Drama Desk nomination) and additional lyrics for the Cole Porter tunes in the 1998 revival of High Society.

Birkenhead's Off-Broadway and regional theatre credits include What About Luv?, a musical adaptation of the Murray Schisgal play Luv, for which she won the Outer Critics Circle Award; Pieces of Eight with Jule Styne and Michael Stewart; Fanny Hackabout Jones with Erica Jong and Lucy Simon; The Night They Raided Minsky's with Charles Strouse and Evan Hunter, the new musical Minsky's based on the same; and, in collaboration with Henry Krieger, two potentially Broadway-bound projects based on hit films, The Flamingo Kid and Moonstruck (with a book by screenwriter John Patrick Shanley).

Birkenhead is one of several lyricists who contributed to Hats!, a musical inspired by the Red Hat Society, which is enjoying an open-ended run at Harrah's New Orleans, after premiering at the New Denver Civic Theatre. The musical had a limited engagement at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago starting in April 2007.

Radio Girl, a musical based on Kate Douglas Wiggin's Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, premiered at the Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terrace Theatre with music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Birkenhead, and a book by Daniel Goldfarb. The show ran in 2010 from July 29 to August 22.

She also wrote the lyrics for the musical version of Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, with music by Duncan Sheik and a book by Lynn Nottage. It premiered at the Off-Broadway Atlantic Theater Company on May 12, 2019.

Photos

Productions

BOOP! The MusicalBOOP! The Musical
 
[Broadway, 2025]
Lyricist

Writing

Hats!
Composer/Lyricist
High Society
Lyricist
Love
Lyricist
Lyricist
Working
Lyricist

Awards and Nominations

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2025 - Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Susan Birkenhead, Boop! The Musical

Drama Desk Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Lyrics

Susan Birkenhead, The Secret Life of Bees


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2020 - Outstanding New Score

Susan BirkenheadThe Secret Life of Bees


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1999 - Outstanding Lyrics

Susan BirkenheadTriumph of Love

Drama Desk Awards - 1997 - Outstanding Lyrics

Susan Birkenhead, Triumph of Love


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1992 - Outstanding Lyrics

Susan Birkenhead, Jelly's Last Jam

Tony Awards - 1992 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Susan Birkenhead, Jelly's Last Jam


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1984 - Best Score

Susan Birkenhead, Love

Tony Awards - 1978 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Susan Birkenhead, Working

Videos

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News


Workshop of CODE RED Comes to Mosaic Theater Company Photo
Workshop of CODE RED Comes to Mosaic Theater Company
by Stephi Wild - Oct 16, 2025

Mosaic Theater Company will present a workshop for CODE RED, a new play that illuminates day-to-day life in an environment perpetually alert—the American public school system.
TEA WITH G Comes to Theater 555 Photo
TEA WITH G Comes to Theater 555
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2025

 Theatre Now New York will present a one-night-only performance of Tea with G. Featuring Deborah Berenson as tea etiquette instructor Georgina Grace (a combination of Mary Poppins and Dame Edna) and Mark Schenfisch as her much harassed accompanist.
Theatre Now's Industry Nights Return Photo
Theatre Now's Industry Nights Return
by Stephi Wild - Sep 9, 2025

​​​​​​​Theatre Now New York's Industry Nights return with a Master Class given by award-winning writer Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad, Bernice Bobs Her Hair) on September 22nd at 6:30pm.
Arlington Friends Of The Drama to Present TRIUMPH OF LOVE in September Photo
Arlington Friends Of The Drama to Present TRIUMPH OF LOVE in September
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 28, 2025

Arlington Friends of the Drama will present Triumph of Love (musical), featuring Book by James Magruder; Music by Jeffrey Stock; Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. Learn more!
Mary Stout, Allyson Tucker, Gregory North To Star In THE SUSTAIN Workshop Photo
Mary Stout, Allyson Tucker, Gregory North To Star In THE SUSTAIN Workshop
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 18, 2025

The Sustain, an original musical by Aaron Drescher, Alice Jankell and Pamela Weiler Grayson, will receive 5 developmental workshop presentations at the Sargent Theatre. Learn more and see how to attend!
Bristol Township Residents Can Purchase $10 Tickets To Bristol Riverside Theatre's 20 Photo
Bristol Township Residents Can Purchase $10 Tickets To Bristol Riverside Theatre's 2025"2026 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 4, 2025

For the fifth consecutive season, Bristol Township residents can experience the magic of live theatre for just $10. Learn more about the season and see how to purchase tickets here!
Review: HIGH SOCIETY at Ogunquit Playhouse Photo
Review: HIGH SOCIETY at Ogunquit Playhouse
by Dan Marois - Jul 28, 2025

The brassy stage musical, High Society, is currently holding court at the Ogunquit Playhouse in a production that was specifically reimagined from Philip Barry's play The Philadelphia Story (and its iconic film counterpart), for the hallowed playhouse. This production delivers a generous helping of wit, charm, and musical sophistication, making for an unforgettable evening of theater.did our critic think of HIGH SOCIETY at Ogunquit Playhouse?
Video: Inside Rehearsals of HIGH SOCIETY at Ogunquit Playhouse Photo
Video: Inside Rehearsals of HIGH SOCIETY at Ogunquit Playhouse
by Joshua Wright - Jul 15, 2025

Get a first look inside rehearsals for High Society, directed by Matt Lenz, with Cole Porter’s timeless tunes, which begins performances Thursday, July 24 with a limited run through August 23, 2025 at Ogunquit Playhouse.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Susan Birkenhead written?

Susan Birkenhead has written 14 shows including Working (Lyricist), King of Schnorrers (Lyricist), A...My Name Is Alice (Material), Love (Lyricist), Tatterdemalion (Lyricist), Pieces of Eight (Lyricist), High Society (Lyricist), What About Luv? (Lyricist), Jelly's Last Jam (Lyricist), Triumph of Love (Lyricist), The Night They Raided Minsky's (Lyricist), The Flamingo Kid (Lyricist), Hats! (Composer/Lyricist), Monsoon Wedding (Lyrics).

What awards has Susan Birkenhead been nominated for?

Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Boop! The Musical, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for The Secret Life of Bees, Outstanding New Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Secret Life of Bees, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Triumph of Love, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Triumph of Love, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Jelly's Last Jam, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Jelly's Last Jam, Best Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Love and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Working.

What awards has Susan Birkenhead won?

Susan Birkenhead has won several prestigious awards, including Outstanding New Score from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Secret Life of Bees, Outstanding Lyrics from the Drama Desk Awards for Triumph of Love, Outstanding Lyrics from the Drama Desk Awards for Jelly's Last Jam, and Best Score from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Love.

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