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Jeff Marx

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeff Marx
Marx at the 58th Tony Awards
Marx at the58th Tony Awards
Background information
Born(1970-09-10)September 10, 1970(age 53)
United States
GenresMusical
OccupationsComposer

Jeff Marx(born September 10, 1970) is an Americancomposerandlyricistofmusicals.He is best known for creating theBroadway musicalAvenue Qwith collaboratorRobert Lopez.

Early life

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Marx grew up inHollywood, Florida.He attendedPine Crest SchoolinFort Lauderdale, Florida.Following graduation, he attended theUniversity of Michigan,where he was a member of theMen's Glee Club.He also holds ajuris doctordegree from theBenjamin N. Cardozo School of Lawand is a member of theNew York State Bar Association,but he does not practice law.

Musical career

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After passing the New York State Bar examination Marx enrolled at theBMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshopin order to meet potential clients in the entertainment industry. Here, he metRobert Lopezwho was also in the course.

Their first major project together, a specMuppetmovie,Kermit, Prince of Denmark,which was very loosely based onHamlet,won them (as part of a tie) part of the $150,000 Kleban Award.

Together, they created the original concept forAvenue Qand wrote all the show's 21 songs.Avenue Qran over six years on Broadway and then movedOff-Broadwaywhere it ran another nine years before closing on April 28, 2019.[1]It continues to have various international productions.

Avenue Qwon the 2004Tony Award for Best Musical.Lopez/Marx's musical score earned them a 2004Tony Award,and another Tony Award was awarded toAvenue QbookwriterJeff Whitty.The musical's Original Cast Album, on the RCA/Victor label, was nominated for aGrammy Award.

Marx (and his parents) can be seen in the documentary filmShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway,which followed the trajectories of four Tony-nominated musicals from 2004,Avenue Q,Wicked,TabooandCaroline, or Change.Marx, along with filmmaker Dori Berinstein and actorAlan Cumming,provided the audio commentary for the documentary's DVD.

Lopez and Marx wrote (withDebra Fordham) four songs for amusical episodeof theNBCsitcomScrubswhich aired on January 18, 2007. Their song "Everything Comes Down to Poo" was nominated for an Emmy Award.[2]Marx appeared in the episode as a pharmacist, dancing in the background during the song "We're Gonna Miss You Carla".The New York Timesreported that the episode "energized a cast and crew that, at a point when most situation comedies are sputtering along or dead, have recently been doing some of their best work."[3]In comparing it to his work onAvenue Q,Marx said: "It took us five years to writeAvenue Q... There were a million readings and previews and staged readings. With this thing, we wrote the songs in a week. They rehearsed for a week. They filmed it in a week, and it was done. It was liberating, and a collaborative effort that created a much more feel-good way of working. "[3]

Marx co-wrote the theme song for theLogo Network's animated seriesRick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the Worldand contributed additional songs for the show.

Lopez and Marx have written songs for theDisney ChannelTV seriesBear in the Big Blue HouseandThe Book of Pooh,as well as touring stage musicals for the children's theater company Theaterworks/USA.

On December 13, 2008, Marx premiered a new song he wrote, "White Kwanzaa", on the CNN showD.L. Hughley Breaks the News.[4]

Marx was an original collaborator with Lopez andSouth ParkcreatorsTrey ParkerandMatt Stoneon the 2011 Broadway musicalThe Book of Mormon.However, Marx departed the show before its premiere. "I worked with them on it and then we split up and made a deal," Marx toldBroadway Journalin 2016. "I don't want to say more than that except that I'm extremely happy the show has been so successful!"[5]

Marx collaborated withMervyn Warrenon a song called "You Have More Friends Than You Know"for theIt Gets Betterorganization. The song was featured on the television programGleeon April 18, 2013. Marx recorded his version of the song and made it available for download with a portion of the proceeds going to supportThe Trevor Project.Marx has also made a karaoke version of the song available for those who want to perform their own version and help spread the song's message, and has featured other versions on the song's website.

In 2015, a stage musical titledHome Street Homepremiered in San Francisco. It was co-written by Marx withFat Mikeof punk band NOFX, and activist and dominatrix Soma Snakeoil.[6]

Other work

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Marx has also written the bookHow To Win A High School Election.

References

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  1. ^"'Avenue Q' To Exit 15-Year New York Run: Closing Date Announced "December 11, 2018".Deadline. December 11, 2018.Retrieved2020-12-20.
  2. ^"Stage Stars Nab 2007 Emmy Nominations, Broadway Buzz".Broadway. 2012-08-01.Retrieved2013-12-05.
  3. ^abThe New York Times,Diagnosis: Acute Case of Broadway Melodium Tremens,Tuesday, January 16, 2007.
  4. ^"Jeff Marx sings Kwanzaa song" White Kwanzaa "on" D.L. Hughley Breaks The News "12/13/08".YouTube. 2008-12-13.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-12.Retrieved2013-12-05.
  5. ^Boroff, Philip (June 6, 2016)."THE BOOK OF MORMON'S EARLY-DAY WRITER".Broadway Journal.RetrievedSeptember 10,2022.
  6. ^Hetrick, Adam (February 20, 2015)."Streets Hit the Stage in Home Street Home, New Musical by Avenue Q Tony Winner Jeff Marx, Premiering Tonight".Playbill.RetrievedSeptember 10,2022.
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