Richard O'Donnell (born June 17, 1956) is an American

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes play (theatre), plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and is intended for Theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Readin ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

lyricist A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

, and stand-up comic. He has worked and lived in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, where he has written and performed for the stage and television. O'Donnell co-wrote the ASCAP award-winning

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...

'' One & One'', and

Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...

's ''Manhattan Showboat''. He founded the New Age Vaudeville theatre company, the New Variety cabaret, the Black Pearl Cabaret, and St. John's Conservatory Theater. As a stand-up comic, he was the executive producer and host of the Fox, Chicago comedy variety television show '' R. Rated''.

Early life and education

Richard O'Donnell began in the entertainment industry as a professional

ventriloquist Ventriloquism or ventriloquy is an act of stagecraft in which a person (a ventriloquist) speaks in such a way that it seems like their voice is coming from a different location, usually through a puppet known as a "dummy". The act of ventrilo ...

. While in Jr. high school, he ran away with the Sells & Gray 3-ring tent

circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicy ...

at the age of 15, sleeping in the back of a truck that transported their elephants, Bessie and Anna May. O'Donnell was eventually forced to return home to finish school. In 1974, he won a full scholarship to attend the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts at

Bucknell University Bucknell University is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal-arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts a ...

, where he studied theatre under Broadway actress, dancer, and playwright Dr. Glory Van Scott. In 1975, O'Donnell graduated from Penncrest High School, Media, Pennsylavania. While attending Penncrest, he studied theatre arts and dance under Judy Roman.

Career

New York, New York

''One & One''

In 1978, at age 22, O'Donnell co-authored the book, music, and lyrics for the musical comedy '' One & One'' that played the Carter Theatre, in the Carter Hotel at 250 West 43rd street. It opened

on November 15, 1978, and O'Donnell won three American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (

ASCAP The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...

) Awards, shared with Dianne Adams (Vocal Arranger, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder).

''Manhattan Showboat''

In 1979, for

, O'Donnell co-wrote with Scott Bodie
Manhattan Showboat
' produced by Robert Yani, which celebrated over 100 years of American entertainment. It featured musical direction and arrangements by

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

-winning conductor Donald Pippin, and John Corry of The New York Times wrote, "Three Cheers! It is slick and attractive, even witty. It has style."

The Double R

In the 1980s, billed as "The Double R" comedy duo, in collaboration with screenwriter

Richard LaGravenese Richard LaGravenese (; born October 30, 1959) is an American screenwriter and film director, known for ''The Fisher King'', ''The Bridges of Madison County (film), The Bridges of Madison County'', and ''Behind the Candelabra''. Personal life LaG ...

, O'Donnell co-wrote and consecutively performed in several

Off-Off-Broadway Off-off-Broadway theaters are smaller New York City theaters than Broadway theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway theaters, and usually have fewer than 100 seats. The off-off-Broadway movement began in 1958 as part of a response to perceived commerc ...

productions including ''Spare Parts'', ''Blood-brothers'', and ''Entrees'' at the 78th Street Theatre Lab, the Lion Theatre, and West Bank Cafe. The Double R were regular guests on the ''Linda Lichtman Comedy Hour'', WNBC Radio, 30 Rockefeller Plaza. On the college circuit, they opened for Leon Redbone and further developed their work in

stand-up comedy Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage (theatre), stage and delivers humour, humorous and satire, satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical comedy, physical acts. These ...

clubs such as

's Comedy Cellar and Yuk Yuk's in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. While working with O'Donnell, LaGravenese discovered he had a knack for writing dialogue.

Fish Creek, Wisconsin

''Comedy Cabaret''

In 1983, while living in New York City, O'Donnell was contracted by Tony Award-winning producer James B. McKenzie to create an after-show revue to complement evening performances of the Peninsula Players in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. The ''Comedy Cabaret'', produced by Amy McKenzie and O'Donnell returned for a follow-up season in 1985 with O'Donnell's comedy revue, ''Dr. Funny Bones'', presented by New Age Vaudeville in its own 75-seat theater at the Glidden Lodge resort, Baileys Harbor, WI.

Peninsula Players

While working the ''Comedy Cabaret'', O'Donnell also took to the main stage at Peninsula Players, starring in title roles of Larry Shue's '' The Nerd'' and '' The Foreigner''. Both comedies were given two-week extended runs because of ticket demands. In 1984, for the Peninsula Player's 50th Anniversary, O'Donnell was featured on the cover of the Chicago Tribune Magazine.

''Wish Wisconsin''

In 1998, while living in Chicago, O'Donnell was commissioned to write the book, music, and lyrics for a new musical play entitled ''Wish Wisconsin'', to celebrate the state's 150th birthday. Directed and produced by Amy McKenzie, it opened on January 2, in the Fish Creek Town Hall Auditorium. Songs included "Wish", "So Blessed", and "Oh!, Wisconsin".

Chicago, Illinois

New Age Vaudeville

In 1983, O'Donnell co-founded (with Amy McKenzie) the professional Actor's Equity theater company New Age Vaudeville (1984–1987). Throughout its run, O'Donnell produced, wrote, composed,

choreographed Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A choreographer creates choreographies thr ...

, and acted in numerous productions with actors Amy McKenzie, Bobby McGuire, Caroline Schless, Del Close, Lisa Keefe, Megan Cavanagh, Michael Dempsey, Peter Neville, Todd Erickson, and Tom Purcell (executive producer of ''

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'' is an American late-night talk show, late-night news satire, news and liberal political satire talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert, which premiered on September 8, 2015. Produced by Stephen Colbert, Spartin ...

'').

CrossCurrents

New Age Vaudeville was the first resident theatre company in CrossCurrents history. It was located at 3207 N. Wilton Ave. Noteworthy productions included O'Donnell's musical comedies '' An Evening With Elmore & Gwendolyn Putts, The Neighbors Next Door'' and '' The TV Dinner Hour'' (the later featured iO, formerly ImrovOlympic, founder Del Close as The Rev. Thing of the First Generic Church of What's His Name). Rick Kogan of the ''Chicago Tribune'' hailed both productions as "Among the most polished and clever productions of the season, a pair of devilishly inventive and challenging shows that won over critics and audiences."

Stand-up comedy

As a stand-up comic, billed as R. O'Donnell, he headlined numerous comedy clubs throughout the 1980s and 90s, including Zanies (where his headshot still hangs on the wall), the Chicago Improv, and Catch A Rising Star, an
the Funny Firm
where he was a regular headliner and also featured for such national comics as Brian Regan,

Rick Overton Richard Overton (born August 10, 1954) is an American actor and screenwriter. His writing credits include ''Dennis Miller Live'' (1994–2002), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award, while his acting credits include '' Gung Ho'' and '' O ...

and

Bill Hicks William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian and satirist. His material— encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy— was controversial and ofte ...

''New Variety''

In the 1990s, O'Donnell co-executive produced and hosted the '' New Variety'', which played, among other venues, at the 500-seat Chicago Improv Comedy Club. It ran for over two years, and was responsible for changing a faltering three-ring comedy presentation into a successful variety format. The ''New Variety'', which was hailed by the ''Chicago Tribune'' as "a cabaret for the 90's," was a fast-paced, ever-changing volley of acts that included award-winning

jugglers Juggling is a physical skill, performed by a juggler, involving the object manipulation, manipulation of objects for recreation, entertainment, art or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling. Juggling can be the manipula ...

, fire-eaters, comics, and

sketch comedy Sketch comedy comprises a series of short, amusing scenes or vignettes, called "sketches" or, "skits", commonly between one and ten minutes long, performed by a group of comic actors or comedians. While the form developed and became popular in ...

groups including the all-girl Nude Coffee, the all-gay The Boys in the Bathroom, and the all-improv Upright Citizens Brigade. Dr. Boom (who literally blew things up on stage) was the highlight of the evening.

Fox TV comedy variety shows

=''Twisted''

= O'Donnell produced and directed comedy segments for the 1993 New Year's Eve special ''Twisted'', which aired on Fox TV,

featuring Matt Besser (

Comedy Central Comedy Central is an American Cable television in the United States, cable television channel, channel owned by Paramount Global through its Paramount Media Networks, network division's Paramount Media Networks#MTV Entertainment Group, MTV Ente ...

's '' Upright Citizens Brigade''). He also wrote and directed commercials for

McDonald's McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese ch ...

Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...

, Jiffy Lube, and

Ameritech AT&T Teleholdings, Inc., formerly known as Ameritech Corporation (and, before that, American Information Technologies Corporation), was an American telecommunications company that arose out of the 1984 AT&T divestiture. Ameritech was one of the ...

, starring Besser and stand-up comic Michelle Garb in a stylistic homage to the works of

Ernie Kovacs Ernest Edward Kovacs (January 23, 1919 – January 13, 1962) was an American comedian, actor, and writer. Kovacs's visually experimental and often spontaneous comedic style influenced numerous television comedy programs for years after his dea ...

=''R. Rated''

= In 1999, as R. O'Donnell, he executive produced, wrote, and hosted '' R. Rated'', which aired late night on Fox TV in

. This comedy variety show included short works by the Annoyance Theatre featuring Rachel Dratch (''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

''), Mick Napier (

The Second City The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise. It is the oldest improvisational theater troupe to be continuously based in Chicago, with training programs and live theaters in Toronto and New York. Since its debut in 1959, it has b ...

), Tim Kazurinsky (''

''), and Stephnie Weir (''

MADtv ''Mad TV'' (stylized as ''MADtv'') is an American sketch comedy television series created by David Salzman, Fax Bahr, and Adam Small. Loosely based on the humor magazine '' Mad'', ''Mad TVs pre-taped satirical sketches were primarily parodie ...

''), among many other independent film and video makers.

Journalism and blogging

Stop Smiling magazine

O'Donnell has written for such national publications as ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...

'' and '' Stop Smiling'' as well as having served under publisher J. C. Gabel as editor-at-Large for the latter.

Static Multimedia E-zine

He served as editor-at-large for cultural

ezine An online magazine is a magazine published on the Internet, through bulletin board systems and other forms of public computer networks. One of the first magazines to convert from a print magazine format to an online only magazine was the computer ...

Static Multimedia from 2004 to 2012. He also wrote a daily horror column titled Kreep's Korner and The Horror under his pen name B. R. Kreep. For Halloween, October 31, 2008, O'Donnell's Kreep Blog on Static Multimedia and Super Unleaded Design was the cover story for the Chicago Tribune Movies page ''Screen Scene'' titled "Kreep-ing Along Poetically". It chronicled the history of his blog and podcast The Kreep, that reviewed horror films in poetic verse. It accredited his daughter Valia for encouraging him to go public with his Kreep character and poems. In 2008, O’Donnell's blo
The Kreep
received a ''

Coraline ''Coraline'' () is a 2002 British dark fantasy horror children's novella by author Neil Gaiman. Gaiman started writing ''Coraline'' in 1990, and it was published in 2002 by Bloomsbury and HarperCollins. It was awarded the 2003 Hugo Award for ...

'' handmade box, numbered 46/50, assembled by the stop-motion animation team at Laika films, honoring their favorite bloggers.

B. R. Kreep

B. R. Kreep (a.k.a. The Kreep) is O'Donnell's

pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...

. He has a Gothic blog entitled The Kreep. This persona, according to Robert K. Elder of the ''Chicago Tribune'', is, “…a Gothic poet and illustrator in the tradition of Edward Gorey.” As B. R. Kreep, O'Donnell has penned numerous poems called Kreeplets as well as having written and composed over half a dozen full-scale musical comedies including ''An Evening With The Kreep'', ''Kreepshow'', ''Kreepmas'', ''Mr. Scrooge'', ''Twist'', ''Kreepy Hollow'' and ''Alice Isn't All There''.

Port Townsend, Washington

Poetry Scream

O'Donnell produced and hosted (sometimes dressed as The Kreep) the Poetry Scream on July 30, 2010. Now an ongoing event, it features five poets on stage, Thursdays at the Boiler Room in Port Townsend, Washington.

Black Pearl Cabaret

In 2012, O'Donnell founded the Black Pearl Cabaret with the mission to recruit a professional troupe of actors, variety artists and musicians to perform original works of a Gothic and macabre nature.

=''An Evening With The Kreep''

= In October 2012, Black Pearl Cabaret opened ''An Evening With The Kreep'', a musical comedy with book, music, and lyrics accredited to O'Donnell's nom de plume B. R. Kreep. The show featured the Kreep's poetry and songs, and summoned a variety of haunting characters from the Kreep's darkest dreams.

=Kreepmas

= On December 20, 2012, the musical comedy ''Kreepmas'' opened. A Gothic and macabre twist on the

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

classic ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. It recounts the ...

'', it has a book, music, and lyrics by B. R. Kreep. Characters included The Kreep performed by O'Donnell, Albert T. Krumb performed by Jason "Ares" Altamirano, Kreepy H. Krawler performed by cellist Aidan McClave, Thaddeus Plum performed by Joey Ripely, Matilda Pift performed by Misha Cassella-Blackburn, and the two-headed Twipple Twins, Twinkle & Dinkle, performed by Cassella-blackburn and Ripley.

=''Bite Me!''

= On February 14, 2013, Black Pearl Cabaret opened ''Bite Me!'' at the Pope Marine Building. It is a musical comedy spoof on the famed vampire film ''

Twilight Twilight is daylight illumination produced by diffuse sky radiation when the Sun is below the horizon as sunlight from the upper atmosphere is scattered in a way that illuminates both the Earth's lower atmosphere and also the Earth's surf ...

''. The book, music, and lyrics were by O'Donnell.

=''Kreepshow''

= On March 29, 2013, O'Donnell's ''Kreepshow'' was presented for an open-ended run. A 90-minute Gothic musical comedy cabaret, it played weekends at the historic Manresa Castle. Characters include B. R. Kreep performed by O'Donnell, Parthenia Goste performed by Misha Cassella-blackburn, Jack Frost performed by Jason Altamirano, and Kreepy H. Krawler performed by cellist Aidan McClave. Steve Treacy, contributing theatre critic to the Port Townsend Leader, praised O'Donnell's artistry, “His writing, directing, acting and warbling abilities conspire to make him a quadruple threat. Even his spoken poems, especially “Little Annie Orkle,” are sparkling (no mean feat for that musty old art form).” In a “Best Local Theater of 2013” article published in the PT Leader Arts Section, "Kreepshow," a Gothic comedy cabaret conjuring some spiritual denizens of our Victorian seaport,” was listed as one of the favorite locally written plays penned by Brazillia R. Kreep. Other nods included one of the standout acting performances by R O’Donnell as The Kreep, as well as outstanding achievements in directing and choreography (O’Donnell) and costuming (Lynne Casella.)

Ogdensburg, New York

St. John's Conservatory Theater

In 2014, O'Donnell founded the St. John's Conservatory Theater (SJCT), a professional troupe of actors, variety artists, and musicians. His vision was to create educational, inspirational, and professional opportunities for local artists of all ages while presenting original works based on folklore, literature, and fairy tales.

=''Alice Isn't All There''

= On October 10, 2014, at the St. John's Parish Theater the musical comedy ''Alice Isn’t All There'' opened. It was a 90-minute musical comedy with book, music, and lyrics by O'Donnell and accredited to his pen name B. R. Kreep. It is an adaptation of

Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet, mathematician, photographer and reluctant Anglicanism, Anglican deacon. His most notable works are ''Alice ...

's classic ''

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...

''.

=''Alice Isn’t All There'' re-staged

= On June 3, 2016 ''Alice Isn't All There'' opened with an extended book, music, and lyrics by O'Donnell and accredited to his pen name B. R. Kreep.

=''A Kreepy Christmas Carol''

= On December 6, 2014 ''A Kreepy Christmas Carol'', a musical comedy adaptation on the Dickens classic ''

'' opened. It has a book, music, and lyrics by O'Donnell and accredited to his pen name B. R. Kreep.

=''Mr. Scrooge''

= ''Mr. Scrooge'', a musical comedy adaptation of Dickens' ''A Christmas Carol'', was a re-staging of O'Donnell's musical ''A Kreepy Christmas Carol'' with book, music, and lyrics accredited to his pen name B. R. Kreep. ''Mr. Scrooge'', with O'Donnell in the title role, opened December 15, 2017 at the multi-million-dollar, all-digital George Hall Theater, and opened again the following year on December 21, 2018 both for a limited runs.

=''Orchard of Hide & Seek''

= On July 9, 2015, the musical comedy ''Orchard of Hide & Seek'' opened. It was written, composed, and directed by O’Donnell.

=''Orchard of Hide & Seek'' re-staged

= O'Donnell's musical ''Orchard of Hide & Seek'' was re-staged at the George Hall Theater. It opened June 16, 2017 for a limited run.

=''Kreepy Hallow''

= On October 16, 2015, The Kreep's musical comedy ''Kreepy Hallow'' with a book, music, and lyrics by O'Donnell and accredited to his pen name B. R. Kreep, and opened for a limited run. An adaptation of

Washington Irving Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He wrote the short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and "The Legend of Sleepy ...

's classic short story " The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", it was also produced and directed by O'Donnell.

=''Twist''

= On October 7, 2016, O'Donnell's musical comedy ''Twist'', an adaptation of Dickens' ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens. It was originally published as a serial from 1837 to 1839 and as a three-volume book in 1838. The story follows the titular orphan, who, ...

'' opened for a limited. The production had a book, music, and lyrics by O'Donnell and accredited to his pen name B. R. Kreep, and was also executive produced and directed by O'Donnell.

=''Twist'' re-staged

= On October 8, 2017 ''Twist'' opened for a limited run at the George Hall theater. The title role received a gender twist from Oliver to Olivia, something O'Donnell has established as a sort of signature with his adaptations (see ''Kreepy Hollow''). The production was executive produced and directed by O'Donnell.

=''Kreepy Hollow''

= On October 26, 2017 ''Kreepy Hollow'' (renamed from ''Kreepy Hallow'') was re-staged at the George Hall Theater for a limited run. The Ichabod Crane character received a gender change and renamed Ichaboda. It was executive produced and directed by O’Donnell.

Personal life

Richard O'Donnell is the identical twin brother of

Michael A. O'Donnell Michael A. O'Donnell (born June 17, 1956, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania) is an American writer and researcher and co-principal investigator of the Adolescent Wellness Research Project, jointly with family strengths scholar Nick Stinnett. Their resea ...

. O'Donnell is the father of Valia Dee, Tim, and Rich.

Honors and awards

O’Donnell has received three

(1978) Music Awards – Off-Broadway Musical ''One & One'' (shared with Dianne Adams). O’Donnell's blog The Kreep received an honorary ''

'' handmade box, numbered 46/50.

References

External links

Internet Off Broadway DatabaseBroadway World DatabaseOvrturB. R. KreepSt. Johns Conservatory TheaterStand-up
{{DEFAULTSORT:Odonnell, Richard 1956 births 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights American male poets American male stage actors American stand-up comedians Living people American male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century American male writers American male musical theatre actors American musical theatre librettists American musical theatre lyricists American musical theatre producers American musical theatre composers American male musical theatre composers American musical theatre directors American male songwriters 20th-century American comedians