Michael Korie

Personal Information
MICHAEL KORIE wrote the lyrics for Grey Gardens. Composed by Scott Frankel and with a book by playwright Doug Wright, it opened at Playwrights Horizons in a production directed by Michael Greif starring Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson. Korie is co-writing lyrics to composer Lucy Simon’s music for Zhivago with book by Michael Weller and direction by Des McAnuff, opening at The La Jolla Playhouse. Also with composer Frankel, Korie wrote book and lyrics of two original musicals: Doll, presented at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival and developed at The Sundance Institute with direction by Lonny Price; and Meet Mister Future being directed by Christopher Ashley at Barrington Stage. For opera, Korie has written the libretto to The Grapes of Wrath composed by Ricky Ian Gordon. Adapted from Steinbeck’s novel, it premieres beginning in 2007 at Minnesota Opera, Utah Opera, and Houston Grand Opera directed by Eric Simonson, conducted by Grant Gershon. Korie wrote the librettos to four operas composed by Stewart Wallace: Harvey Milk, Houston Grand Opera, directed by Christopher Alden; San Francisco Opera premiere recorded by Teldec; Hopper's Wife, Long Beach California Opera, directed by Christopher Alden; Where's Dick?, Houston Grand Opera, directed by Richard Foreman; Kabbalah, Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival, directed by Ann Carlson, recorded on Koch Classics. For the concert stage, with composer Larry Grossman, Korie created Gay Century Songbook to commemorate The NYC Gay Men’s Chorus 20th anniversary, premiered at Carnegie Hall, recorded on DRG. His text to the concert requiem, Kaddish for Harvey Milk, was broadcast live on the B.B.C. His songs with Ricky Ian Gordon have been performed by Los Angeles Master Chorale conducted by Grant Gershon at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. For his lyrics, he was a recipient of both The Edward Kleban Award and The Jonathan Larson Foundation Award. His work has been presented at The Guggenheim Museum “Works and Process” series, and two of his musicals were awarded The Richard Rodgers Production Award. He lives in New York City with Ivan Sygoda.
 
Credits

Author
Production Theatre Opened Credit
1 Far From Heaven Playwrights Horizons 06/02/2013 Lyricist
2 Happiness Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater 03/30/2009 Lyricist
3 Grey Gardens Playwrights Horizons 03/07/2006 Lyricist
Awards
Award Production Function
1 NOMINATED 2014 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Lyrics Far From Heaven Lyricist
2 NOMINATED 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Happiness Lyricist
3 NOMINATED 2006 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical Grey Gardens Lyricist