Musical Theatre Composers Of Color

[missthemountains]

Posted: 2/18/21 at 4:37pm

I'm trying to branch out and learn new musicals from composers from artists of color. Here is a list of all the composers of color could think of, and it did take some digging from MTF's website and this list. I'm including as many as I can think of, though I would prefer names from any living, emerging composers and voices too!

• Michael R. Jackson — composer, lyricist, bookwriter (2020 pulitzer prize winner for A Strange Loop)
• Kirsten Childs — composer, lyricist, bookwriter (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Bella: An American Tale.)
• Douglas Lyons — composer, lyricist, bookwriter (Polkadots, Five Points)
• Karole Foreman — bookwriter, lyricist (Rule My World)
• Troy Anthony — composer (The River is Me)
• Jacinth Greywoode — composer (Iron John: An American Ghost Story)
• Eric Ulloa — bookwriter (Passing Through, Molly Sweeney)
• David Henry Hwang — bookwriter, lyricist (Soft Power)
• Stew — composer, lyricist (Passing Strange)
• Lin Manuel Miranda – composer, lyricist (In The Heights; Hamilton)
• Sukari Jones – bookwriter, lyricist (The River Is Me; Ain’t Far From Home)
• Ari Asfar – composer, lyricist, bookwriter (Jeannette)
• Jason Ma — composer, lyricist, bookwriter (Gold Mountain)
• Janelle Lawrence — composer, lyricist (Group Therapy and others)
• Kit Yan — bookwriter, lyricist (Interstate)
• Melissa Li — composer (Interstate)
• Ling Men-Huan — playwright & lyricist (Tropical Angels)
• Sheng Lei - composer (Tropical Angels)
• Jay Kuo - composer (Allegiance) 
• Micki Grant - composer & lyricist (Working, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope,Your Arms Too Short To Be Boxin' With God)
• Ann Duquesnay - composer (Bring In The Noise, Bring In Da Funk)
• Diana Oh - composer, playwright, and lyricist ([my lingerie play])
• Bert Keyes - composer (But Never Jam Today)
• Vinette Caroll - lyricist/playwright/director - (But Never Jam Today)
• Brenda Russell - composer (The Color Purple)
• Stephen Bray - composer (The Color Purple)
• Eubie Blake - composer/lyricist (Shuffle Along)
• Noble Sissle - composer/lyricist (Shuffle Along)
• Troy Anthony - composer/lyricist
• Marcus Scott - playwright/lyricist
• Cheeyang Ng - bookwriter/lyricist (Eastbound)
• Khiyon Hursey - bookwriter/composer (Eastbound)
• Michelle J. Rodriguez (The Tempest at The Public)
• Jerry Dixon - playwright/composer/lyrics (Rock Of Ages)
• Jillian Walker - playwright/composer/lyrics (SKiNFoLK: An American Show)
• Heathcliff Saunders - playwright/composer/lyrics
• Jahn Sood - playwright/composer/lyrics (The Disappearing Man)
•  

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 2/18/21 at 5:01pm

Justin Huertas wrote several musicals, including Lizard Boy, which has a cult following.

Richard Allen of Allen & Gray, the writing team behind several shows including Freedom Riders and Bayard.

Jaime Lozano, writer of several shows, recently released the album Songs by an Immigrant with liner notes by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Christine Toy Johnson, writer and actor on the Come From Away tour.

Robert Lopez is a two-time EGOT winner.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/18/21 at 5:09pm

Charlie Smalls - The Wiz

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/18/21 at 6:12pm

Langston Hughes, librettist/lyricist, STREET SCENE 

Duke Ellington, composer and lyricist, BEGGAR'S HOLIDAY, BLUE HOLIDAY and several other shows

Fats Waller, MARLENE, EARLY TO BED and many other shows

Updated On: 2/18/21 at 06:12 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/18/21 at 7:27pm

Aya Aziz, who wrote “Eh Dah” that played NYMF 2016.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/18/21 at 8:28pm

Helen Park, who cowrote the Broadway-bound KPOP.

[lachri5]

Posted: 2/21/21 at 9:07pm

Adam Gwon - Ordinary Days / Scotland, PA
Ted Shen - A Second Chance / Broadbend, Arkansas
Leon Ko - Heading East / And many Cantonese musicals after he moved to Hong Kong
Randall Eng - Florida
Timothy Huang - American Morning


Edit: Add Leon Ko and Randall Eng
Edit Again: removing Shaina Taub, for some reason I thought she was Latinx. Updated On: 2/22/21 at 09:07 PM

[missthemountains]

Posted: 2/21/21 at 11:55pm

I didn't know Shaina Taub identified as a Person of COlor...

Updated On: 2/21/21 at 11:55 PM

[lachri5]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 12:16am

I might be wrong. I've always thought Shaina is latinx, is she not?

Edit: according to this website, however legit that is, Shaina is white: https://celebpie.com/shaina-taub/ I stand corrected Updated On: 2/22/21 at 12:16 AM

[sirpaieg]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 5:45am

missthemountains said: "I'm trying to branch out and learn new musicals fromcomposers from artists of color. Here is a list of all the composers of colorcould think of, and it did take some digging from MTF's website and this list. I'm including as many as I can think of, though I would prefer names from any living, emerging composers and voices too!

• Michael R. Jackson— composer, lyricist, bookwriter (2020 pulitzer prize winner forA Strange Loop)
• Kirsten Childs— composer, lyricist, bookwriter (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Bella: An American Tale.)
• Douglas Lyons— composer, lyricist, bookwriter(Polkadots, Five Points)
• Karole Foreman— bookwriter, lyricist(Rule My World)
• Troy Anthony— composer(The River is Me)
• Jacinth Greywoode— composer(Iron John: An American Ghost Story)
• Eric Ulloa — bookwriter (Passing Through, Molly Sweeney)
• David Henry Hwang — bookwriter, lyricist(Soft Power)
• Stew — composer, lyricist(Passing Strange)
• Lin Manuel Miranda – composer, lyricist(In The Heights; Hamilton)
• Sukari Jones– bookwriter, lyricist(The River Is Me; Ain’t Far From Home)
• Ari Asfar– composer, lyricist, bookwriter(Jeannette)
• Jason Ma — composer, lyricist, bookwriter(Gold Mountain)
• Janelle Lawrence — composer, lyricist(Group Therapyand others)
• Kit Yan — bookwriter, lyricist(Interstate)
• Melissa Li — composer(Interstate)
• Ling Men-Huan— playwright & lyricist(Tropical Angels)
• Sheng Lei - composer(Tropical Angels)
• Jay Kuo - composer(Allegiance)
• Micki Grant - composer & lyricist (Working, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope,Your Arms Too Short To Be Boxin' With God)
• Ann Duquesnay - composer(Bring In The Noise, Bring In Da Funk)
• Diana Oh - composer, playwright, and lyricist([my lingerie play])
• Bert Keyes - composer(But Never Jam Today)
• Vinette Caroll - lyricist/playwright/director -(But Never Jam Today)
• Brenda Russell - composer(The Color Purple)
• Stephen Bray - composer(The Color Purple)
• Eubie Blake - composer/lyricist(Shuffle Along)
• Noble Sissle - composer/lyricist(Shuffle Along)
• Troy Anthony - composer/lyricist
• Marcus Scott - playwright/lyricist
• Cheeyang Ng - bookwriter/lyricist(Eastbound)
• Khiyon Hursey - bookwriter/composer(Eastbound)
• Michelle J. Rodriguez(The Tempestat The Public)
• Jerry Dixon - playwright/composer/lyrics(Rock Of Ages)
• Jillian Walker - playwright/composer/lyrics(SKiNFoLK: An American Show)
• Heathcliff Saunders- playwright/composer/lyrics
• Jahn Sood-playwright/composer/lyrics(The Disappearing Man)
•  

"

Thanks for the information...
In another words, This is a general list of composers who have written music for the musical theater, along with their works organized by first production date.