George Stiles (composer)

George William Stiles(born 9 August 1961) is anEnglishcomposer of musicals for the stage.

Education

From 1974 to 1979, he was educated atGresham's SchoolinNorfolk.Stiles studied music atExeter University,where he met his writing partnerAnthony Drewe.He graduated in 1983.

Collaboration with Anthony Drewe

For more than 30 years, Stiles has worked with the lyricistAnthony Drewe.Together they have written eleven shows (see below). Projects currently in development include:Soap Dish;an adaptation of Graham Greene'sTravels with My Aunt;and a new project with the director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

Tutankhamun

Tutankhamunwas first performed at the Northcott Theatre and Imagination Buildings in 1984.

Just So

Just Sowas co-produced byCameron Mackintoshat theWatermillin 1989 where it was directed byJulia McKenzie.A further production was mounted in 1990 directed by Mike Ockrent at theTricycle Theatresin theUK.TheGoodspeed Opera Housein Connecticut produced a new version of the show in 1996.

In 2001,Anthony Drewedirected an extensively reworked version at Boston’sNorth Shore Music Theatrein the USA, with designs byPeter McKintoshand choreography byStephen Mear.With the same team, Anthony directed the 2004Chichester Festival Theatreproduction.

Honk!

Honk!was commissioned by theWatermill Theatre(1993). Under the direction ofJulia McKenzieit was developed at theStephen Joseph Theatre(1997) in a production designed byPeter McKintoshand choreographed by Aletta Collins. In 1999, duringTrevor Nunn's time as artistic director at theNational Theatre,Julia Mackenziewas invited to restage her production in theOlivier Theatre.It was the first new British musical to be produced in the history of the National Theatre.

Honk!won three Best Musical awards – the 2000Laurence Olivier Award,the FNB VITA Award inSouth Africa,and theElliot Norton Awardin theUnited States.The National Theatre production toured theUKin 2001.

It is frequently produced by schools and community theatre groups.Honk!has been seen by more than 6 million people all over the world in over 8,000 productions in more than 20 languages.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan: A Musical Adventurewon both Best Song (When I Kill Peter Pan, performed byDenis Quilley) and the Orchestra's Award for Best Musical at the 1997 International Musical of the Year. It premiered in 1999 at theNy Theater,Copenhagen.

In 2001, it was performed at theRoyal Festival Hall,starringJohn Thaw,Jenna Russell,Joe MacFadden andSheila Hancockaccompanied by theBBC Concert Orchestra.The performance also boasted a first in that Wendy, Michael and John were played by three real-life siblings,Laura Michelle Kellyand her brothers Jorim and Nathan. TheBBCbroadcast the concert onNew Year's Eve2001. Following the concert’s success, a fuller semi-staged version, with theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra,ran for 6 weeks at theRoyal Festival Hallover Christmas 2002 starringRichard WilsonandJames Gillan,withSusannah Yorkas the Storyteller and Lottie Meyer as Wendy.

In 2007, the show was given its British theatrical premiere in a fully-fledged production at theBirmingham Repertory Theatreas directed by Rachel Kavanaugh. In the summer of 2011, it made its American premiere at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, recently renamed Steel River Playhouse. The production made its Canadian premiere with the St. Albert Children's Theatre inSt. Albert, Albertain November 2011.

In October 2015 a concert version directed by Jonathan Butterell was performed at London'sAdelphi TheatrestarringBradley Walshas Hook,Ray Quinnas Peter Pan,Sheila Hancockas The Storyteller andJenna Russellas Mrs Darling.

Mary Poppins

George Stiles and Anthony Drewe were commissioned byCameron MackintoshandDisneyto write additional material augmenting theSherman Brothers' originalAcademy Awardwinning Disney's classic 1964 film song score forMary Poppins.The stage musical featured a new book byDownton Abbeywriter andAcademy AwardwinnerJulian Fellowes.The stage version ofMary Poppinsopened at thePrince Edward Theatrein December 2004 where it had a hugely successful 3-year run before embarking on a UK national tour in 2008. It opened on Broadway in 2006 where it ran for 6 years at theNew Amsterdam Theatre.A US tour hit the road in 2009, touring for over 2 years. A new production opened at theRonacherTheatre inViennain 2014. In the autumn of 2015 it embarked on a new UK Tour.

Betty Blue Eyes

Betty Blue Eyesopened at theNovello Theatrein April 2011 produced byCameron Mackintosh,starringSarah LancashireandReece Shearsmith.It received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and received nominations for ‘Best New Musical’ in the 2012Laurence Olivier Awards,The Evening Standard Awards and the WhatsOnStage.com Awards. The show received its US premiere at the Music Theatre of Wichita, Kansas in July 2013. A UK tour of ran from March–August 2014.

Soho Cinders

Soho Cinderswas premiered at a sold-out concert performance at theQueen's Theatrein October 2011 in aid of TheTeenage Cancer Trust. A full staged production opened at theSoho Theatrein the summer of 2012. Further productions have been staged in Dallas, Texas, at the Arts Educational School, London, University of Cumbria, University of West England, Newcastle College and it opened in 2015 in Belgium.

There have been two London revivals, at the Union Theatre and the Charing Cross Theatre.

Three Little Pigs

Three Little Pigswas commissioned by theSingapore Repertory Theatrefor their Little Company and forms the first in a “trilogy of trios” (along withGoldilocks and the Three BearsandThe Three Billy Goats Gruff). It premiered for 70 sell-out performances at the DBS Arts Centre in Singapore in March 2012 (in English), and returned for a further four week run at the same venue in July 2013 (in Mandarin).

In October 2013 it was selected for the NAMT Festival in New York – the first children’s show ever to receive that honour. Since then, there have been productions at The Greenwich Theatre, London, a hit season at Emerald City Theatre, Chicago and productions in Finland and China.

In the summer of 2015Three Little Pigshad its West End premiere at London'sPalace TheatrestarringSimon Webbeas the Big Bad Wolf,Alison Jiearas Mummy Pig and Leanne Jones, Taofique Folarin and Daniel Buckley as the three piglets.

A studio cast recording featuringGareth Gates,Alison Jiear,Clive Rowe,Amy Lennox and Lewis Barnshaw was released in 2012.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks and the Three Bearswas commissioned by the Singapore Repertory Theatre and premiered there in 2013. The Mandarin production opened that same year.

A studio cast recording featuring David Bedella, James Gillan, Leanne Jones, Amy Lennox and Michael Xavier was released in 2015.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Three Billy Goats Gruffwas commissioned by the Singapore Repertory Theatre and premiered there in 2015.

Half a Sixpence

Following the success ofMary Poppins,Stiles and Drewe were reunited with producerCameron Mackintoshand book writerJulian Fellowesto create a new musical version ofHalf a Sixpencebased on theoriginal musical,using the original songs byDavid Heneker.The production premiered atChichester Festival Theatrein July 2016 before transferring to London's West End in October 2016.

The Wind in the Willows

Commissioned by producerJamie Hendryin 2011,The Wind in the Willows,a musical adaptation ofKenneth Grahame's novel, opened at theTheatre Royal, Plymouthin October 2016 before heading toThe Lowryin Salford and London's West End.

The book was written byJulian Felloweswho Stiles and Drewe previously worked with onMary PoppinsandHalf a Sixpence.The production is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh (who also directedHalf a Sixpence) with set and costume design byPeter McKintoshand lighting design by Howard Harrison.

Becoming Nancy

Themusical,based on the novelBecoming NancybyTerry Ronaldand with a book by Elliot Davis, will debut in 2019 at theAlliance Theatrein Atlanta from Sept. 5 to Oct. 6, directed byJerry Mitchell.

Identical

Based on the 1949 novelLottie and LisabyErich Kästner(also known as the basis forDisney'sThe Parent Trap),Identicalwill premiere at theNottingham PlayhouseandTheatre Royal, Bathin summer 2020 with a book by Stuart Paterson and will be directed bySir Trevor Nunn.

Outside Stiles & Drewe

Independently, Stiles is the composer ofMoll Flanders(winner of Best Musical in the 1995 TMA Awards),Tom Jones(Theatre Royal, York, North Shore Music Theatre, NYMF New York), andThe Three Musketeers(Stadttheater, St. Gallen, Switzerland; American Musical Theatre of San Jose; Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Stiles' other projects include the score forSam Mendes' productions ofHabeas Corpus,Twelfth Night,andUncle Vanyaat theDonmar Warehouseand working as Dame Edna Everage's musical director and arranger.

Other

Stiles and Drewe are founding members ofMercury Musical Developments(MMD), a charity devoted to nurturing new musical theatre in the United Kingdom. They have also written other revues and songs for theatre, TV, and radio, including theRSC'sShakespeare Revue,The Challenge,andDame Edna Everage'sLook at Me When I'm Talking to You.

Awards

Awards include Best Musical forMoll Flandersin the 1995TMA Awards,theLaurence Olivier Awardfor Best New Musical (Honk!), an Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Musical Production (Honk!), and a host of awards forMary Poppinsaround the world. As a founding board member ofMercury Musical Developments,George also awards the annual Stiles and Drewe Prize for a new song written for the musical stage.

Sources

• Stiles & Drewe
• MusicalTalk Podcastinterview with Stiles and Drewe
• MusicalTalk Podcastepisode discussing, with Stiles and Drewe, the art of pantomime.
• MMD (formerly the Mercury Workshop)

http://americantheatrewing.org/biography/detail/george_stiles/Archived3 December 2008 at theWayback Machine