Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Jason Robert Brown is a renowned American composer, lyricist, and playwright who has made a significant contribution to the world of musical theatre. He was born on June 20, 1970, in Ossining, New York, to a Jewish family. Brown's parents were both musicians, and he grew up in a musical household. His mother was a voice teacher, and his father was a trumpet player and music educator. Brown started playing the piano at the age of three and began composing music when he was just 15 years old. Brown attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied composition. He later transferred to the University of Southern California, where he continued his studies in composition and orchestration. While at USC, Brown wrote his first musical, "Songs for a New World," which premiered in 1995 at the WPA Theatre in New York City. The show was a critical success and helped launch Brown's career as a composer and lyricist. In 1998, Brown wrote the music and lyrics for the musical "Parade," which was based on the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was falsely accused of murder and lynched in Georgia in 1915. The show premiered at the Lincoln Center Theatre in New York City and won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score. Brown's score for "Parade" is considered one of the most powerful and moving in musical theatre history. Brown continued to write music for the stage, including the musicals "The Last Five Years" and "13." "The Last Five Years" premiered in Chicago in 2001 and later moved to Off-Broadway in New York City. The show tells the story of a failed marriage from two different perspectives, with the man's story told in chronological order and the woman's story told in reverse chronological order. The show's innovative structure and Brown's emotionally charged score made it a critical and commercial success. "13" premiered on Broadway in 2008 and was the first Broadway musical to feature an all-teenage cast. The show tells the story of a young boy who moves from New York City to Indiana and has to navigate the challenges of being the new kid in school. Brown's score for "13" is a mix of pop and rock music, and the show was praised for its fresh and contemporary approach to musical theatre. In addition to his work in musical theatre, Brown has also written music for film and television. He wrote the score for the 1999 film "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" and the 2007 film "The Bridges of Madison County." He also wrote the theme song for the television show "The Men Who Built America." Brown has won numerous awards for his work in musical theatre, including three Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award, and a Grammy Award. He is known for his emotionally charged and deeply personal music, which often explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Brown continues to write music for the stage and is considered one of the most important and influential composers of his generation.

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