Michael Patrick Walker
EducationCarnegie Mellon University
Occupations
  • Composer
  • lyricist
  • musician
Notable workAltar Boyz
Websitemichaelpatrickwalker.com

Michael Patrick Walker is a composer, lyricist, writer, and musician.

Life

Walker was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and raised in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. He lived in Pittsburgh for several years while earning his bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University[1] and then moved to New York City, where he currently resides. He played piano and keyboards and/or conducted for various theatrical Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring productions including Frozen, Aladdin, If/Then, Avenue Q (conductor), the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of The Tin Pan Alley Rag (music director/arranger), Wicked, The Lion King, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and tick, tick... BOOM! (conductor).

Work as composer/lyricist

Walker, with fellow composer/lyricist Gary Adler and book writer Kevin Del Aguila, wrote and created the Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz,[2] which won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical.[3] Additionally, the show was nominated for seven Drama Desk Awards (including two each for Walker and Adler for Best Music and for Best Lyrics)[4] and four Lucille Lortel Awards including Best Off-Broadway Musical. The show ran for 2,032 performances, making it the ninth-longest running Off-Broadway musical off all time.[5] It has been translated into multiple languages to be performed around the world.

From 2005 through 2008, Walker composer numerous songs for the Emmy-nominated Disney Channel TV Series Johnny and the Sprites, becoming the music director and supervisor for Season 2 of the show. In this capacity, Walker served as the lead composer, oversaw a team of theatre composers who wrote the original songs for each episode, and developed the stories for each of 26 scripts for the series. He also arranged, orchestrated, and produced the recordings of the songs and co-produced the CD for the series. Season 2 of Johnny and the Sprites received four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including one for Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series. His involvement lead to his writing original music and lyrics for the Nick Jr. Channel television show Olivia.

In 2009, another musical Walker co-created and for which he wrote the score, The Distant Bells, was selected as a finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's musical theater conference. This led to a 2011 reading produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company which starred Chita Rivera, Ana Gasteyer, and Rachel York.

On November 8, 2011, Walker's album of his music and lyrics, Out of Context: The Songs of Michael Patrick Walker, was released on the Yellow Sound Label.[6] It includes songs from his musical in development, trunk songs, stand-alone songs, and a new version of "I Believe" from Altar Boyz. The 13 tracks were performed by Broadway performers including Cheyenne Jackson, Kelli O'Hara, Telly Leung, Michael Arden, Rachel York, Lisa Howard, Peter Friedman, Andy Karl, Anne L. Nathan, Kate Wetherhead, Kerry O'Malley, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Jim Stanek, Andy Mientus, and Noah Galvin. Walker co-produced the album with Yellow Sound Label co-founder Michael Croiter.

In 2014, Walker's next musical, Dog and Pony, with music and lyrics by Walker and book by Rick Elice, had its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, starring Nicole Parker, Jon Patrick Walker, Heidi Blickenstaff, Beth Leavel, and Eric William Morris, with direction by Roger Rees.

As of early 2019, a new original musical being theo, with book, music and lyrics by Walker, was in development.[7]

Awards

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2005 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical Altar Boyz Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Music Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Musical Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "BWW TV Exclusive: CUTTING-EDGE COMPOSERS CORNER- Al Calderon Sings Michael Patrick Walker's 'Someday'". BroadwayWorld. December 13, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  2. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (March 1, 2005). "Altar Boyz Opens Off-Broadway March 1". Playbill. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ Gans, Andrew; Hetrick, Adam (January 10, 2010). "Altar Boyz Ends Off-Broadway Run Jan. 10". Playbill. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ Simonson, Robert (May 22, 2005). "Drama Desk Awards to Be Announced May 22; Fierstein is Host". Playbill. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ Bacalzo, Dan (December 4, 2009). "Altar Boyz to Close Off-Broadway January 10". TheaterMania. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Out Of Context: The Songs of Michael Patrick Walker". Broadway Records. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  7. ↑ "OKLAHOMA! Anniversary Benefit Concert Takes Center Stage At Bucks County Playhouse". BroadwayWorld. May 15, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
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