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{{short description|British composer and musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Stephen Keeling''' is a British composer and musician who works predominantly in [[musical theatre]].
'''Stephen Keeling''' is a British composer and musician who works predominantly in [[musical theatre]].


== Biographical details ==
== Biographical details ==
Born in 1966 in Staffordshire, England, he trained at [[Goldsmith's College]], [[University of London]], gaining an honours degree in music. In 1990 he was chosen by [[Sir Cameron Mackintosh]] to be one of 12 writers to study with [[Stephen Sondheim]] during the latter's year-long tenure at [[Oxford University]] as the Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre.
Born in 1966 in Staffordshire, England, he trained at [[Goldsmiths College]], [[University of London]], gaining an honours degree in music. In 1990 he was chosen by [[Sir Cameron Mackintosh]] to be one of 12 writers to study with [[Stephen Sondheim]] during the latter's year-long tenure at [[Oxford University]] as the Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-08-10-8901030668-story.html|title=Sondheim Will Teach at Oxford}}</ref>


== Notable works ==
== Notable works ==
During his time with Stephen Sondheim at Oxford, he composed the music for ''Maddie'' (book and lyrics by [[Shaun McKenna]] and [[Steven Dexter]]), which was subsequently workshopped at the [[Royal National Theatre]] Studio before receiving its first full production at the [[Salisbury Playhouse]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4704458/The-show-weve-been-waiting-for.html |title=The show we've been waiting for |first=Charles |last=Spencer |publisher=The Telegraph |date=21 Sep 1996}}</ref> The production then transferred to the [[Lyric Theatre]], Shaftesbury Avenue in London's West End in 1997, produced by Kenny Wax Productions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kennywax.com/musicals.html |title=Kenny Wax: Musicals |publisher=KennyWax.com }}</ref>
During his time with Stephen Sondheim at Oxford, he composed the music for ''Maddie'' (book and lyrics by [[Shaun McKenna]] and [[Steven Dexter]]), which was subsequently workshopped at the [[Royal National Theatre]] Studio before receiving its first full production at the [[Salisbury Playhouse]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4704458/The-show-weve-been-waiting-for.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224032808/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4704458/The-show-weve-been-waiting-for.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 February 2011 |title=The show we've been waiting for |first=Charles |last=Spencer |publisher=The Telegraph |date=21 September 1996}}</ref> The production then transferred to the [[Lyric Theatre, London|Lyric Theatre]], Shaftesbury Avenue in London's West End in 1997, produced by Kenny Wax Productions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kennywax.com/musicals.html |title=Kenny Wax: Musicals |publisher=KennyWax.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716171910/http://www.kennywax.com/musicals.html |archive-date=2010-07-16 }}</ref> In 2023, ''Maddie'' was performed in New York, winning Best Score at the New York Theater Festival awards.<ref>https://newyorktheaterfestival.com/winterfest-festivals/winners-winterfest/winners-nominees-2023-winterfest/</ref>


He was the co-composer of the music for ''[[La Cava]]'' (book by [[Dana Broccoli]], lyrics by John Claflin), which transferred from the [[Churchill Theatre]], Bromley to the [[Victoria Palace Theatre]], London in 2000 and then later transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End of London.
He was the co-composer, along with [[Laurence O'Keefe (composer)|Laurence O'Keefe]], for ''[[La Cava (musical)|La Cava]]'' (book by [[Dana Broccoli]], lyrics by John Claflin), which transferred from the [[Churchill Theatre]], Bromley to the [[Victoria Palace Theatre]], London in 2000 and then later transferred to the [[Piccadilly Theatre]] in the West End of London.
He composed the music for a musical adaptation of ''[[Heidi]]'' (book and lyrics by [[Shaun McKenna]]), which combines the story of [[Johanna Spyri]]’s first ''Heidi'' novel with the life of the author. ''Heidi'' opened in Switzerland in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Kate |last=Connolly |date=23 July 2005 |title=A blast of fresh air as Heidi returns to the mountains |publisher=The Telegraph |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/1494663/A-blast-of-fresh-air-as-Heidi-returns-to-the-mountains.html }}</ref>
He composed the music for a musical adaptation of ''[[Heidi]]'' (book and lyrics by [[Shaun McKenna]]), which combines the story of [[Johanna Spyri]]’s first ''Heidi'' novel with the life of the author. ''Heidi'' opened in Switzerland in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Kate |last=Connolly |date=23 July 2005 |title=A blast of fresh air as Heidi returns to the mountains |publisher=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/1494663/A-blast-of-fresh-air-as-Heidi-returns-to-the-mountains.html }}</ref>


In 2007 a sequel, ''Heidi and Johanna'' (intertwining the second ''Heidi'' novel with the final years of Johanna Spyri’s life and ending with her death), was nominated for a Prix Walo award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prixwalo.ch/uploads/media/The_Entertainer.pdf |title=The Entertainer (magazine) |publisher=PrixWalo.ch }}</ref>
In 2007 a sequel, ''Heidi and Johanna'' (intertwining the second ''Heidi'' novel with the final years of Johanna Spyri’s life and ending with her death), was nominated for a Prix Walo award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prixwalo.ch/uploads/media/The_Entertainer.pdf |title=The Entertainer (magazine) |publisher=PrixWalo.ch }}</ref>


Stephen Keeling has also composed the music for ''My Father’s Son'', a musical set in nineteenth century Sheffield and based loosely on Shakespeare's ''[[Hamlet]]'' (book and lyrics by Stephen Clark, directed by [[Steven Dexter]] at the [[Crucible Theatre]], Sheffield and the [[Lilian Baylis Theatre]], Sadler’s Wells). For children he has composed ''The Other Side,'' a musical about the [[Children's Crusade]] (book and lyrics by Peter Spafford) and written the music for a musical adaptation of ''The Amazing Mr. Blunden'' (book and lyrics by Edward Hardy).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen Keeling |publisher=United Agents |url=http://unitedagents.co.uk/stage/stephen-keeling/ }}</ref>
Stephen Keeling has also composed the music for ''My Father’s Son'', a musical set in nineteenth century Sheffield and based loosely on Shakespeare's ''[[Hamlet]]'' (book and lyrics by [[Stephen Clark (playwright)|Stephen Clark]], directed by [[Steven Dexter]] at the [[Crucible Theatre]], Sheffield and the [[Lilian Baylis Theatre]], Sadler’s Wells). For children he has composed ''The Last Wave,'' a musical about the [[Children's Crusade]] (book and lyrics by Peter Spafford) and written the music for a musical adaptation of ''[[The Amazing Mr. Blunden]]'' (book and lyrics by Edward Hardy).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen Keeling |publisher=United Agents |url=http://unitedagents.co.uk/stage/stephen-keeling/ }}</ref>

He wrote the music for a sequel to ''Peter Pan,'' called ''The Return of Peter Pan'' (book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna), which premiered at the Theater Regensburg, Germany, in November 2023.<ref>https://www.theaterregensburg.de/produktionen/die-rueckkehr-von-peter-pan.html</ref>


== Other ==
== Other ==
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Keeling was a founding member of the Mercury Workshop, which merged with the New Musicals Alliance to become MMD, a UK-based organisation developing new musical theatre.
Keeling was a founding member of the Mercury Workshop, which merged with the New Musicals Alliance to become MMD, a UK-based organisation developing new musical theatre.


In 1997, he appeared, together with Shaun McKenna, on BBC Radio 2's ''In Company With Sondheim'' in an edition devoted to ''Maddie''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sondheimguide.com/television.html#Part%20Four |title=Sondheim Guide: Radio and Television }}</ref>
In 1997, he appeared, together with Shaun McKenna, on BBC Radio 2's ''In Company With Sondheim'' in an edition devoted to ''Maddie''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sondheimguide.com/television.html#Part%20Four |title=Sondheim Guide: Radio and Television }}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://mercurymusicals.com MMD website]
* [http://mercurymusicals.com MMD website]
* [http://www.heidimusical.ch Heidi: The Musical]
* [http://www.heidimusical.ch Heidi: The Musical]
* [http://www.stephenkeeling.org.uk Stephen Keeling's website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqbLopwxxXg&context=C3887d7dADOEgsToPDskIcpWkHRH7IUTBHatBRF0bW Stephen Keeling's showreel]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Keeling, Stephen}}
{{Lifetime|1966|living|sort key}}
[[Category:Composers]][[Category:Musical theatre]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:British musical theatre composers]]

Latest revision as of 16:34, 10 January 2024

Stephen Keeling is a British composer and musician who works predominantly in musical theatre.

Biographical details

[edit]

Born in 1966 in Staffordshire, England, he trained at Goldsmiths College, University of London, gaining an honours degree in music. In 1990 he was chosen by Sir Cameron Mackintosh to be one of 12 writers to study with Stephen Sondheim during the latter's year-long tenure at Oxford University as the Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre.[1]

Notable works

[edit]

During his time with Stephen Sondheim at Oxford, he composed the music for Maddie (book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Steven Dexter), which was subsequently workshopped at the Royal National Theatre Studio before receiving its first full production at the Salisbury Playhouse.[2] The production then transferred to the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in London's West End in 1997, produced by Kenny Wax Productions.[3] In 2023, Maddie was performed in New York, winning Best Score at the New York Theater Festival awards.[4]

He was the co-composer, along with Laurence O'Keefe, for La Cava (book by Dana Broccoli, lyrics by John Claflin), which transferred from the Churchill Theatre, Bromley to the Victoria Palace Theatre, London in 2000 and then later transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End of London.

He composed the music for a musical adaptation of Heidi (book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna), which combines the story of Johanna Spyri’s first Heidi novel with the life of the author. Heidi opened in Switzerland in 2005.[5]

In 2007 a sequel, Heidi and Johanna (intertwining the second Heidi novel with the final years of Johanna Spyri’s life and ending with her death), was nominated for a Prix Walo award.[6]

Stephen Keeling has also composed the music for My Father’s Son, a musical set in nineteenth century Sheffield and based loosely on Shakespeare's Hamlet (book and lyrics by Stephen Clark, directed by Steven Dexter at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield and the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler’s Wells). For children he has composed The Last Wave, a musical about the Children's Crusade (book and lyrics by Peter Spafford) and written the music for a musical adaptation of The Amazing Mr. Blunden (book and lyrics by Edward Hardy).[7]

He wrote the music for a sequel to Peter Pan, called The Return of Peter Pan (book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna), which premiered at the Theater Regensburg, Germany, in November 2023.[8]

Other

[edit]

Keeling was a founding member of the Mercury Workshop, which merged with the New Musicals Alliance to become MMD, a UK-based organisation developing new musical theatre.

In 1997, he appeared, together with Shaun McKenna, on BBC Radio 2's In Company With Sondheim in an edition devoted to Maddie.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sondheim Will Teach at Oxford".
  2. ^ Spencer, Charles (21 September 1996). "The show we've been waiting for". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Kenny Wax: Musicals". KennyWax.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2010.
  4. ^ https://newyorktheaterfestival.com/winterfest-festivals/winners-winterfest/winners-nominees-2023-winterfest/
  5. ^ Connolly, Kate (23 July 2005). "A blast of fresh air as Heidi returns to the mountains". The Telegraph.
  6. ^ "The Entertainer (magazine)" (PDF). PrixWalo.ch.
  7. ^ "Stephen Keeling". United Agents.
  8. ^ https://www.theaterregensburg.de/produktionen/die-rueckkehr-von-peter-pan.html
  9. ^ "Sondheim Guide: Radio and Television".
[edit]
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