Walter Willison
Birth Place:
Monterey Park, CA, USA
Bio:
Additional Performances [not listed above]:
NIGHT OF YOUR NIGHTS: A Celebration of Broadway's Golden Age starring Walter Willison and Heather Mac Rae; Written by Walter Willison; Musical Direction & Arrangements by Jeffrey Silverman; Produced by Jeffrey Silverman & David Kates for BadaBing ...
(read complete bio)
Latest News on Walter Willison
American Popular Song Society To Honor Lee Roy Reams In Star-studded Benefit Concert At Cutting Room
(May 9, 2022)
A 10 Year Anniversary Celebration & More to Take Place This Week at Feinstein's/54 Below
(May 2, 2022)
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Date of Birth:
June 24, 1947 (74)
Birth Place: Monterey Park, CA, USA
Bio:
Additional Performances [not listed above]:
NIGHT OF YOUR NIGHTS: A Celebration of Broadway's Golden Age starring Walter Willison and Heather Mac Rae; Written by Walter Willison; Musical Direction & Arrangements by Jeffrey Silverman; Produced by Jeffrey Silverman & David Kates for BadaBing ...
(read complete bio)
|
Latest News on Walter Willison
Stage Credits
[Off-Broadway]
Musicals in Mufti Concert, 2000
Edmund Kean
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1994
Performer
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1989
Gunther Gustafsson
Felix Von Gaigern [Replacement]
Felix Von Gaigern (Standby) [Replacement]
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1985
Performer
[Regional (US)]
World Premiere, 1980
Performer
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1972
Pippin (Standby)
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1971
Charlie
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1970
Japheth
[Broadway]
1970
Garson Hobart
Writing
Adaptation
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Conceiver/Lyrics
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Photos
Walter Willison
From:
Date:
02/03/2017
Walter Willison
From:
Date:
02/03/2017
Steve Ross, Joan Copeland, Walter Willison
From:
Date:
09/16/2015
front row: Ann Harada, Janice Hall, host William V Madison, Hanna Burke, Joan Copeland. Back: Rosa Betancourt, Minda Larsen, Lawrence Leritz, Julie Feltman, Adam B. Shapiro, Walter Willison. Not pictured but also in the cast: Sarah Rice, Steve Ross and Mi
From:
Date:
09/16/2015
Steve Ross, Joan Copeland, Jesse Bielenberg and Walter Willison
From:
Date:
07/28/2015
Stage
Performances [Off-Broadway]
Musicals in Mufti Concert, 2000
Edmund Kean
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1994
Performer
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1989
Gunther Gustafsson
Felix Von Gaigern [Replacement]
Felix Von Gaigern (Standby) [Replacement]
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1985
Performer
[Regional (US)]
World Premiere, 1980
Performer
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1972
Pippin (Standby)
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1971
Charlie
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1970
Japheth
[Broadway]
1970
Garson Hobart
Writing
Adaptation
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Conceiver/Lyrics
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Walter Willison Biography
Additional Performances [not listed above]:NIGHT OF YOUR NIGHTS: A Celebration of Broadway's Golden Age starring Walter Willison and Heather Mac Rae; Written by Walter Willison; Musical Direction & Arrangements by Jeffrey Silverman; Produced by Jeffrey Silverman & David Kates for BadaBing Entertainment, LA; LA, Phoenix, Mesa and Sunrise, AZ; February 2004
A TRIBUTE TO BOB MERRILL [Guest Star, with Neva Small, Sheila Smith & others]; The Lambs Club Theatre; 2003
13th ANNUAL CABARET CONVENTION: SOME ENCHANTED EVENINGS Produced by Donald Smith; Musical Director Dick Gallagher; starring Walter Willison, Heather Mac Rae, Karen Akers, Bill Hayes, Mary Rodgers, Nancy Dussault, Patricia Morrison, Julie Wilson and others; 2002
WALL TO WALL RICHARD RODGERS at Symphony Space; starring Walter Willison, Mary Rodgers, Judy Kaye, David Green, James Naughton, Sheldon Harnick, Debbie Gravitte, Melissa Erico & others
ANYONE CAN WHISTLE: In Concert as Cookie ["Bluebird Song"] etc.; Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by Arthur Laurents; Directed by Herb Ross; All-star Cast featuring Bernadette Peters, Scott Bakula, Angela Lansbury, Chip Zien, Walter Bobbie, Eric Riley, Marin Mazzie, Betsy Joslyn, Madeline Kahn, Walter Willison
& others
FROM BERLIN TO BROADWAY: A Pipe Night Tribute to Wright & Forrest; Music & Lyrics by Robert Wright & George Forrest; Concept & Musical Direction by Jack Lee; Written by Sheila Smith; with Alfred Drake, Jose Ferrer, Karen Akers, Lilianne Montevecci, Walter Willison, Joan Diener, Sheila Smith & others; 1990
A CELEBRATION OF RICHARD RODGERS with Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II & Lorenz Hart; Staged & Directed by Donald Saddler; Musical Direction by Colin Romoff; Produced by Anna Sosenko; Presented by The Museum of the City of New York; starring Mary Martin, Gordon Mac Rae, Jan Clayton, Walter Willison, Tricia O'Neal, Celeste Holm, Agnes DeMille, Gene Nelson, Pam Myers, Benay Venuta, Helen Gallagher, Terry Saunders, John Reardon, Johnny Green, Leonard Bernstein & others
Additional Recordings in release [not listed above]:
WALL TO WALL RICHARD RODGERS [Vocal] Fynsworth Alley; 2002
CYRANO: The Musical & GRAND TOUR with book & lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.; Music by David Shire; Stage Manager, John Badham; Musical Direction by Arthur Rubinstein; Remastered from the original 1958/1959 Recordings and Produced by Walter Willison' with John Cunningham, Dick Cavett, Carrie Nye McGeoy, Bill Hinnant, Austin Pendleton, Gretchen Cryer, Nancy Currie [Ford], Lynne Meadow & others
UNSUNG IRVING BERLIN Produced by Bruce Kimmel;Verese-Serabande; 1995
JUDY KAYE: DIVA BY DIVA [Guest Artist]Produced by Bruce Kimmel; Verese-Serabande; 1995
LOST IN BOSTON III [Performer/Contractor] Produced by Bruce Kimmel; Verese-Serabande; 1995
LOST IN BOSTON II [Performer/Contractor] Produced by Bruce Kimmel; Verese-Serabande; 1994
COLLETTE COLLAGE with Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones; Music by Harvey Schmidt; Produced by Bruce Kimmel; starring Judy Kaye, Judith Blazer, George Lee Andrews, Jonathan Freeman, Rita Gardner, Walter Willison & others
UNSUNG SONDHEIM [Performer/Contractor] Produced by Bruce Kimmel; with Walter Willison, Kaye Ballard, Davis Gaines, Marilyn Cooper, Judy Kuhn, Harry Groener, Lynette Perry, Niki Harris, Rebecca Luker, Jason Graae, Judy Kaye, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte, Kaye Ballard, Sally Mayes, Christa Moore, Michael Rupert, Liz Calloway
TWO BY TWO [as Japheth] with Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Martin Charnin; Book by Peter Stone; Directed by Joe Layton; starring Danny Kaye, Walter Willison, Joan Copeland, Tricia O'Neil, Michael Karm, Harry Goz, Marilyn Cooper, Madeline Kahn; Originally recorded in 1971; Digitally Remastered CD released in 1993
GRAND HOTEL: The Musical with Music & Lyrics by Robert Wright & George Forrest; Book by Luther Davis; Additional Songs by Maury Yeston; Musical Direction by Jack Lee; Directed by Tommy Tune; starring David Carroll, Brent Barrett, Lilianne Montevecci, Karen Akers, Jane Krakowski, Timothy Jerome, Kathi Moss & others
THE ANASTASIA AFFAIRE [Original version, remastered as ANASTASIA: The Musical, See Above] Bay Cities; 1992
Additional Produced Plays [not listed above]:
HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN: The New 1940s Musical; Adapted & Directed by Walter Willison; Choreographed by Kay Cole; Musical Arrangements by Jeffrey Silverman & David Kates; Various Composers; BadaBing Entertainment, LA; LA & Phoenix, AZ Tour 2004
WONDERFUL LIFE!: The Musical with Book by Douglas Holmes; Lyrics by Walter Willison; Music by John Kroner; based on Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life"; World Premiere at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis, 1989; Produced annually at various venues around the US.
OPTIONS: a musical choice; Lyrics by Walter Willison; Music by Jeffrey Silverman; Concept & Direction by Michael Shawn; Circle Repertory Theatre, NYC; with Julie Budd, JoAnna Rush, Walter Willison & Jeffrey Silverman; 1983
FRONT STREET GAIETIES: Dodge City's Hottest Revue with Book & Lyrics by Walter Willison; Music by Jeffrey Silverman; Directed by Walter Willison; Choreographed by Wade Collings; Produced by Willison, Barbara Custer & Collings; starring Susan Watson, Charles Ward, Carol Swarbrick, Walter Willison & others; The Mayfair Theatre, Santa Monica, CA; 1980-81
Additional Director Credits [not listed above]:
ROBERT ANDERSON: GENTLEMAN PLAYWRIGHT [starring Robert Anderson, Shirley Knight, Walter Willison, Kate Hopkins & others] Written & Directed by Walter Willison; Musical Direction by Jeffrey Silverman; The 3rd William Inge Festival, Independence, KS, 1985
WILLIAM GIBSON: A Seesaw Life [starring William Gibson, Shirley Knight, Walter Willison, Kate Hopkins & others; Musical Direction by Jeffrey Silverman; The 2nd Annual William Inge Festival, Independence, KS; 1984
JEROME LAWRENCE: A Celebration of Lawrence & Lee [with Jerome Lawrence, Martha Scott, Walter Willison & Jeffrey Silverman]; Written by Jerome Lawrence; Directed by Jerome Lawrence & Walter Willison; Musical Direction by Jeffrey Silverman; The 1st Annual William Inge Festival, Independence, KS; 1983
THE GRASS HARP [West Coast Premiere] with Susan Watson, Chris Costello, Leonard Conner, Claudia West, Christina Applegate & others; American Theatre of Actors, LA; 1979-80
YOUR OWN THING directed by Walter Willison; The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA
BOOKS:
Associate Editor of John Willis' THEATRE WORLD, Volume #42
Associate Editor of John Willis' THEATRE WORLD, Volume #43
Associate Editor of John Willis' THEATRE WORLD, Volume #44
Associate Editor of John Willis' SCREEN WORLD, Volume #37
Associate Editor of John Willis' SCREEN WORLD, Volume #38
Associate Editor of John Willis' SCREEN WORLD, Volume #39
Associate Editor of John Willis' SCREEN WORLD, Volume #40
Walter Willison Awards and Nominations
Theatre World Awards - 1971 - Performance  |
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| Walter Willison, Two by Two | ||
| Tony Awards - 1971 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | ||
| Walter Willison , Two by Two | ||
Walter Willison News
American Popular Song Society To Honor Lee Roy Reams In Star-studded Benefit Concert At Cutting Roomby Stephi Wild - May 9, 2022
The American Popular Song Society will honor Lee Roy Reams in a star-studded benefit concert celebrating the art and legacy of the American popular song, at The Cutting Room, 44 East 32nd Street, on Sunday June 12, at 5pm.
A 10 Year Anniversary Celebration & More to Take Place This Week at Feinstein's/54 Belowby Chloe Rabinowitz - May 2, 2022
This week, FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.
Ahrens & Flaherty, Joe Iconis & More Join Feinstein's/54 Below 10th Anniversary Celebrationby Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 12, 2022
From reviving the jewels of the canon to concerts celebrating Broadway’s theatres, Feinstein’s/54 Below audiences have taken countless trips down a magical memory lane. Now, to celebrate their tenth year in operation, Feinstein’s/54 Below will be celebrating these wonderful musical moments that appeared on their stage.
Musical Theatre Melodies to Celebrate Robert Wright & George Forrest's KEAN 60th Anniversary This Weekby Gigi Gervais - Oct 31, 2021
The next Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast, hosted by Rob Morrison on 96.5 FM on Tuesday, November 2 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Robert Wright and George Forrest musical KEAN (from a play by Jean-Paul Sartre and the comedy by Alexandre Dumas).
Musical Theatre Melodies Will Broadcast THE GRASS HARPby Stephi Wild - Aug 29, 2021
The next Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast, hosted by Rob Morrison on 96.5 FM on Tuesday, August 31st will mark the 50th anniversary of Claibe Richardson and Kenward Elmslie's THE GRASS HARP (based on the novel and play by Truman Capote), the 1971 Broadway musical which starred Barbara Cook, Karen Morrow, Carol Brice, Russ Thacker, Ruth Ford and Max Showalter.
BWW Interview: Kritzerland's Multi-Talented Bruce Kimmel " A Man Wearing Many Hatsby Gil Kaan - Jul 14, 2021
Kritzerland will resume its LIVE presentations at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s with KRITZERLAND’s 114th July 28, 2021. Bruce Kimmel, the mastermind behind (and front center) of Kritzerland made some time available between his creative multi-taskings to talk about Kritzerland and his various other accomplishments.
Kritzerland to Present Final Online Show MAY IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER in Two Weeksby Stephi Wild - May 16, 2021
Kritzerland will present a free concert via Facebook and YouTube, called 'May is Busting Out All Over.'
Dave Konig and Elliot Finkel Return to Don't Tell Mamaby A.A. Cristi - May 14, 2021
In celebration of New York opening up again, Dave Konig, with Elliot Finkel, is bringing real LIVE entertainment back for two special nights. After a long year of quiet stages, they decided to bring their intimate show to the historic cabaret theatre, Don't Tell Mama, to give audiences a chance to celebrate life - and comedy - returning to NYC!
Karen Ziemba, Walter Willison and More Star in TWO BY TWO: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL CONCERTby Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 3, 2020
Tony Award nominee Walter Willison and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba will star in Two By Two: The 50th Anniversary Virtual Concert to benefit The Actors Fund. The virtual holiday event will premiere at 2:00 PM on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25 through Monday, December 28.
WATCH: 54 Sings Grand Hotel on #54BelowAtHome at 6:30pm!by Taylor Brethauer-Hamling - May 17, 2020
Feinstein's/54 Below continues their #54BelowAtHome series tonight with 54 Sings Grand Hotel: The 25th Anniversary Concert!
Walter Willison Videos
BWW TV Exclusive: Original Casts of GREASE, NINE & GRAND HOTEL Reunite for RAMA-LAMA-DING DONG Concert!
by BroadwayWorld TV - Jan 16, 2013
by BroadwayWorld TV - Jan 16, 2013
A once in a lifetime event took place on January 14th, when original Broadway cast members and creators from the landmark musicals GREASE, NINE and GRAND HOTEL reunited to help one of their own in Kathi Moss' RAMA-LAMA-DING DONG REUNION! The Actor's Fund Benefit was held at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive highlights from the special concert below!
Walter Willison Frequently Asked Questions
How many Broadway shows has Walter Willison been in?
Walter Willison has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.
How many West End shows has Walter Willison been in?
Walter Willison has not appeared in the West End
What awards has Walter Willison been nominated for?
Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Two by Two and
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Two by Two .
What awards has Walter Willison won?
Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Two by Two.
How many shows has Walter Willison written?
Walter Willison has written 4 shows including Front Street Gaieties (Conceiver/Lyrics), Broadway Scandals of 1928 (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Options (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Betting on Bertie (Adaptation).
