Adam Gwon

Adam Gwon is an American composer and lyricist living in New York City.[1]

Personal life

Gwon was born in Boston, and spent his childhood in Baltimore before attending New York University.[2][3] While studying acting at NYU, Gwon was encouraged to pursue writing by a teacher, David Bucknam, and was later mentored by the musical theater writing team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.[4] Gwon is of Chinese-American and Jewish descent.[5]

Professional life

Gwon made his off-Broadway debut in 2009 with Ordinary Days, the first musical production in Roundabout Theatre Company's black box space, Roundabout Underground.[6] In 2011, Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia premiered Gwon's musical The Boy Detective Fails, based on the novel by Joe Meno, as part of their American Musical Voices Project.[7] South Coast Repertory commissioned and premiered his musical Cloudlands, written with Octavio Solis, in 2012.[5][8]

In 2015, he had two simultaneous world premieres, both co-written with Julia Jordan: Bernice Bobs Her Hair, adapted from the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and Cake Off at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.[9] Cake Off received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Original Play or Musical Adaptation.[10]

Village Theatre in Issaquah, Washington produced the world premiere of Gwon's musical String, with a book by Sarah Hammond, in 2018.[11]

Gwon's Ordinary Days was preserved on a cast album and has been produced in London's West End, and around the world from Paris to Rio de Janeiro.[12][13][14] A 2018 revival by the Keen Company was nominated for a Drama League Award for Best Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical.[15]

Gwon's song "I'll Be Here" was recorded by Audra McDonald on her album Go Back Home.[16] McDonald has performed the song in concert, including at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.[17][18] It aired on PBS's Live from Lincoln Center in 2013.[19]

He served a three-year term on the Tony Awards Nominating Committee beginning in 2015.[20]

Gwon's musical Scotland, PA, with book by Michael Mitnick, adapted from the cult 2001 film, premiered at Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre in 2019.[14]

Musicals
  • Ordinary Days (2009)
  • The Boy Detective Fails (2011)
  • Cloudlands (2012)
  • Bernice Bobs Her Hair (2015)
  • Cake Off (2015)
  • String (2018)
  • Scotland, PA (2019)

Discography

References
  1. Lee, Felicia R. (13 May 2011). "Adam Gwon and Michelle Elliott Win Musical-Theater Writing Prizes". Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  2. "McDonald's 'Songs We Love Tour' stops in Hub". The Bay State Banner. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  3. "A Musical Mystery". 6 October 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  4. Evans, Suzy (4 January 2017). "Where Do You Learn to Write Musicals?". AMERICAN THEATRE. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  5. "'Cloudlands': Singing — and tragedy". 1 May 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2019 – via LA Times.
  6. Jones, Kenneth (19 August 2009). "Hunter Foster Is One of Four in NYC Premiere of Musical Ordinary Days". Playbill. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  7. Jones, Kenneth (5 April 2011). "DC's Signature Plans Four New Musicals; Writers Include Adam Gwon, Hunter Foster and More". Playbill. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  8. "Review: An extraordinary 'Cloudlands' has world premiere". 23 April 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2019 – via LA Times.
  9. "Adam Gwon and Julia Jordan: So Many World Premieres — So Little Time - TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  10. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/2016-helen-hayes-awards-nominations/2016/02/01/bf4ba7fe-c6d7-11e5-9693-933a4d31bcc8_story.html
  11. Desk, BWW News. "Village Theatre Announces 2017-2018 Season:". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  12. Gans, Andrew (16 September 2010). "Cast Recording of Ordinary Days Due Sept. 21; R&H Theatricals Acquires Performance Rights". Playbill. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  13. Shenton, Mark (30 December 2010). "Daniel Boys and Julie Atherton to Star in Adam Gwon's Ordinary Days at Trafalgar Studios". Playbill. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  14. "Adam Gwon's Scotland, PA Musical Sets World Premiere with Roundabout". Broadway.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  15. Evans, Greg (17 April 2019). "Bryan Cranston, Adam Driver, Jeff Daniels & Laurie Metcalf Among Broadway's Drama League Award Nominees – Complete List". Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  16. "Audra McDonald, A Broadway Star Gone Roaming, Comes Home". www.wbur.org. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  17. Holden, Stephen (23 October 2011). "Audra McDonald at Carnegie Hall - Review". Retrieved 18 June 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  18. Holden, Stephen (10 May 2013). "Not Just the Standards, but Storytelling, Too". Retrieved 18 June 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  19. Hetrick, Adam (24 May 2013). "Audra McDonald's Go Back Home Concert Broadcast on 'Live from Lincoln Center' May 24". Playbill. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  20. Gans, Andrew (26 May 2015). "Tom Kitt, Adam Gwon Among Those Tapped for 2015-16 Tony Nominating Committee". Playbill. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  21. Viagas, Robert (9 November 2015). "Listen to Heartbreaking Exclusive Sondheim Track From Liz Callaway's New 'Essential' Album". Playbill. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  22. "'Because' - Tracy Lynn Olivera's CD - reviewed". DC Theatre Scene. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  23. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Australian-Discovery-Orchestra-to-Hold-Vocal-Competition-to-Record-New-Music-20190131
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