Nathan Tysen (born January 15, 1977) is a Grammy-nominated[1] American songwriter whose musicals have appeared on Broadway and the West End. Musicals with composer Chris Miller include Tuck Everlasting,[2]The Burnt Part Boys, Fugitive Songs, Revival,Dreamland, and The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. He also collaborated with songwriter Daniel Messé of the band Hem on lyrics for the Broadway musical Amélie[3] starring Phillipa Soo, and the reworked Olivier-nominated [4] original London cast production starring Audrey Brisson. Television work includes songs for Sesame Street, Elmo's World, and the Electric Company. He also wrote lyrics for the digital murder mystery A Killer Party.
Biography
Tysen was born in Kingston, New York and spent his infancy in Woodstock, New York. He moved to Salina, Kansas when he was three. He graduated from Salina High School South, to study at Missouri State University with a BFA in musical theatre. While attending MSU, he wrote his first musical, Noah's Art with composer Ryan McCall. In 1999, Tysen moved to New York City and received his MFA at New York University's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. It was at NYU that Tysen started collaborating with Miller. Their thesis musical, The Burnt Part Boys, was given a world premiere at Barrington Stage Company, and a subsequent Off-Broadway run at Playwrights Horizons produced in conjunction with Vineyard Theatre.[5] Tysen has written several musicals with Miller, most notably the adaptation of the popular young adult novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. He is also an accomplished writer and performer of children's music, penning tunes for Sesame Street, Elmo's World, The Electric Company, Storytime By Design, and Little Maestros. He has worked for over two decades writing and directing for the Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, helping create numerous new musicals with young adults.He plays in the band Joe's Pet Project.
Works
The Great Gatsby (2023) Broadway try-out. Music and orchestrations by Jason Howland. Book by Kait Kerrigan. Direction by Marc Bruni. Choreography by Dominique Kelley.[6]
Amélie (2020) West End production. Music by Dan Messé. Book by Craig Lucas. Direction by Michael Fentiman. New Orchestrations by Barnaby Race.
Dreamland (or a musical riff on Shakespeare's Midsummer set during the declassification of Area 51). (2019) In development. Commission from Concord Theatricals. World-premiere reading at the International Thespian Festival, first showing at Salina High School South, Direction by Kate Lindsay.[7]
Revival (2019) In development. Co-commission from Playwrights Horizons and Theatreworks Silicon Valley.[8]
Paradise Square (2019) World premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan.Choreography by Bill T. Jones. Direction by Moises Kaufman.[9]
Tuck Everlasting (June 2013) Pre-Broadway world premiere at Boston's Colonial Theatre, produced by Broadway Across America and Barry Brown. Book by Claudia Shear. Direction by Casey Nicholaw
Circus Xtreme (2015) Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey US tour. Book by Miller & Tysen. Direction by Michael Schwandt.
Stillwater (2015) Lab production at Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Music by Joe's Pet Project.
Circus Superheroes (2014) Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey US tour. Book by Miller & Tysen. Direction by Michael Schwandt.
Stars of David (2013) Off-Broadway production. Songs written with Chris Miller and Daniel Messé.
The Burnt Part Boys (2010) Off-Broadway co-production by Playwrights Horizons and Vineyard Theatre. World premiere at Barrington Stage Company (2006). Book by Mariana Elder. Direction by Joe Calarco
Fugitive Songs (2009) Off-Broadway production by Dreamlight Theatre Company
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (2008) World premiere at Barrington Stage Company. Book and Direction by Joe Calarco
Noah's Art (2003) Various collegiate and high school productions. Music by Ryan McCall. Book and Lyrics by Nathan Tysen
