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Martin Charnin
Martin Charnin
Martin Charnin
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Martin Charnin (November 24, 1934 – July 6, 2019) was an American lyricist, writer, and theatre director. Charnin's best-known work is as conceiver, director, and lyricist of the musical Annie.

Key Information

Life and career

[edit]

Charnin was born in New York City, the son of Birdie (Blakeman) and William Charnin, an opera singer.[1] His family was Jewish.[2] Charnin graduated from The High School of Music & Art and then from The Cooper Union, where he earned a BFA.[3] Charnin began his theatrical career as a performer, appearing as "Big Deal", one of the Jets in the original production of West Side Story.[3] He played the role for 1,000 performances on Broadway and on the road. He wrote music and lyrics for numerous Off-Broadway and cabaret revues, many of them for Julius Monk. He then went on to write, direct, and produce nightclub acts for Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Mary Travers, Larry Kert, Jose Ferrer, and Leslie Uggams.[citation needed]

The first Broadway musical for which he wrote the lyrics was the 1963 musical Hot Spot starring Judy Holliday, with music by Mary Rodgers.[4] He contributed lyrics to Vernon Duke's musical Zenda which ran in California in 1963 but did not reach Broadway. In 1967, he wrote the lyrics for Mata Hari, which was produced by David Merrick.[5] He wrote lyrics to Richard Rodgers' music and Peter Stone's book for the musical Two by Two (1970), which starred Danny Kaye and ran on Broadway for 10 months.[4]

In the early 1970s, he worked in television where he conceived, produced, wrote and directed six television variety specials. In 1971, he won the Emmy Award for Annie, The Women in the Life of a Man, which starred Anne Bancroft.[6] In 1972, he won two primetime Emmy Awards for S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin, which starred, among others, Jack Lemmon, Fred Astaire, Ethel Merman, Larry Kert, and Robert Guillaume.[6] His other television specials included Get Happy (starring Jack Lemmon, Johnny Mathis, Cass Elliot), Dames at Sea (1971, starring Ann-Margret, Anne Meara, Ann Miller, Dick Shawn, Harvey Evans, and Fred Gwynne), Cole Porter in Paris (starring Perry Como, Twiggy, Louis Jourdan, Charles Aznavour), and a second Bancroft special titled Annie and the Hoods. He supplied music and lyrics for the song "The Best Thing You've Ever Done", sung by Barbra Streisand on her multi-platinum album The Way We Were.[citation needed]

He made his Broadway directing debut in 1973, conceiving and directing the revue Nash at Nine, based on the works of Ogden Nash and starring E.G. Marshall and running for 21 performances.[4][7] He next directed the revue Music! Music!, which had a libretto by Alan Jay Lerner and ran at City Center for 37 performances in 1974.[8] He directed The National Lampoon Show (1975) and its road company. The New York version starred John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, and other Saturday Night Live performers.[9]

He then created, wrote the lyrics for and directed Annie at the Goodspeed Opera House. Annie moved to Broadway and ran for 2,327 performances,[9] becoming one of the 25 longest running musicals in Broadway history. His collaborators were Charles Strouse and Thomas Meehan. He went on to direct the five U.S. national companies of Annie and three productions in the West End in London. While in London, he directed Bar Mitzvah Boy (1978), which had music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Don Black.[9][10]

He wrote the lyrics for I Remember Mama (1979) with music by Richard Rodgers, and directed, wrote the lyrics for, and co-wrote the book for The First (1981), a musical about Jackie Robinson and the integration of baseball, for which he was nominated for two Tony Awards. He directed A Little Family Business on Broadway in 1982, which starred Angela Lansbury and John McMartin,[11] and Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson in The Flowering Peach for Tony Randall's National Theatre, on Broadway. He wrote additional lyrics for La Strada (1969) and The Madwoman of Central Park West (1979). He directed Cafe Crown in 1988 at the Off-Broadway Public Theater, which subsequently transferred to Broadway in 1989.[12] In 1989 he directed Sid Caesar & Company on Broadway.[13] He directed Laughing Matters in 1989 at the Theater at St. Peter's Church, New York, a revue written by and starring Peter Tolan and Linda Wallem.[14] He directed Jeanne La Pucelle (1997) in Montreal, with book and lyrics by Vincent de Tourdonnet and music by Peter Sipos.[15]

In the 1990s, he directed dozens of companies of Annie, and its sequel Annie Warbucks; in 1997, he directed three additional companies of Annie in London, Australia and Amsterdam. He directed the 20th anniversary production of Annie on Broadway, and in 2004, he directed the 30th anniversary production of Annie, produced by Ken Gentry and Networks. It ran for three and a half years all over the U.S.[citation needed]

He conceived and directed the cabaret revue Upstairs at O'Neals, which ran Off-Broadway from October 1982 to July 1983 at O'Neal's restaurant.[16][17] He directed and wrote the book with Douglas Bernstein and Denis Markell and music with Marvin Hamlisch, Thomas Meehan, Billy Weeden and David Finkle for The No Frills Revue; sketches were written by Ronny Graham among others. The revue featured his daughter, Sasha Charnin Morrison. The revue opened Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theater in October 1987.[18][19] He directed the premiere stage adaptation of Jules Feiffer's Carnal Knowledge Off-Broadway at the Kaufman Theatre in 1990 and Wallach and Jackson in In Persons.

In regional theatre, he directed Robin Hood: The Legend Continues which ran at the Village Theatre, Issaquah, Washington in December 2004.[20] He also wrote the lyrics, with music by Peter Sipos and the book by Thomas Meehan, and the cast featured Shelly Burch.[21] He directed A.R. Gurney's Later Life in Orlando in 2005, featuring Shelly Burch.[22] He created, wrote or directed regional shows including Love is Love, Shadowlands, and in 2010, Sleuth, all for the Village Theatre in Issaquah.

He moved back to the East Coast for the 35th Anniversary revival of Annie, which opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in November 2012 and ran until January 2014.[23] He created, produced and directed night club acts for his wife, Shelly Burch,[24] and prepared a new one-woman theatrical entertainment for her for Fall 2014. He directed the revival of Two by Two, starring Jason Alexander as Noah, and Tovah Feldshuh as Noah's wife. It was performed at the York Theatre in 2014 and a new Broadway production was being planned.[citation needed]

Charnin moved to Issaquah, Washington after directing Robin Hood and stayed there until he returned to New York in 2012.[25][26][27] He was Artistic Director of Showtunes!, a theatre company in Seattle, Washington, devoted to resurrecting forgotten and unsung musicals, and celebrating the works of composers, including Richard Rodgers and Irving Berlin, and producing them in concert at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.[28]

Personal life and death

[edit]

He and his wife, Shelly Burch, lived in New York. He suffered a heart attack on July 3, 2019 and died on July 6, 2019, aged 84, following a period of hospitalization. The marquee lights of Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre (known as the Alvin Theatre when Annie debuted there in 1977) were dimmed in his honor in tribute on July 13, 2019.[29][30][31]

Works

[edit]

Stage

[edit]
  • Fallout (Revue) (1958)
  • Kaleidoscope (Revue) (1960)
  • Pieces of Eight (1961) - for Julius Monk
  • Upstairs at the Downstairs (1961) - for Julius Monk
  • The Littlest Revue (1961) - for Ben Bagley
  • Zenda (1963) - co-lyricist, music by Vernon Duke
  • Hot Spot (1963) - lyricist; music by Mary Rodgers
  • Mata Hari (1967) - lyricist; music by Edward Thomas, book by Jerome Coopersmith
  • Ballad for a Firing Squad [revision of Mata Hari] (1968)
  • La Strada (1969) – additional lyrics; Music by Eliot Lawrence
  • Two by Two (1971) – lyricist; music by Richard Rodgers, book by Peter Stone
  • Nash at Nine (1973) - director; music by Milton Rosenstock
  • Music! Music! (1974) - director; book by Alan Jay Lerner, various composers
  • Annie (1977) - conceived, director and lyricist; music by Charles Strouse, book by Thomas Meehan
  • Bar Mitzvah Boy (1979) – director; music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Don Black, book by Jack Rosenthal
  • I Remember Mama (1979) – lyricist; music by Richard Rodgers, book by Thomas Meehan
  • The Madwoman of Central Park West (1979) – additional lyrics
  • The First (1981) – lyricist, director; co-book writer with Joel Siegel, music by Bob Brush
  • A Little Family Business (1982) – director, Written by Jay Presson Allen
  • Upstairs at O'Neal's (1982) – creator and director
  • Jokers (1986) – director, Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam
  • The No-Frills Revue (1987) – creator and director
  • Cafe Crown (1989) – director
  • Sid Caesar & Company (1989) - director
  • Laughing Matters (1989) - director, St. Peter's Church, New York City
  • Carnal Knowledge (1990) – director; Written by Jules Feiffer; Kaufman Theater[32]
  • Annie Warbucks (1993) – director, lyricist; music by Charles Strouse, book by Thomas Meehan
  • Starcrossed: The Trial of Galileo (1994) – director; lyrics by Keith Levenson, music by Jeanine Tesori at Goodspeed/Norma Terris Theatre, Connecticut
  • Can-Can (1995) – director; music and lyrics by Cole Porter, Book by Abe Burrows, revised by Martin Charnin at Goodspeed Opera House, Connecticut[33]
  • The Flowering Peach (1997) – director; Written by Clifford Odets
  • Annie (1997) Broadway Revival – director, lyricist
  • Jeanne La Pucelle (1997) - director; book & lyrics by Vincent de Tourdonnet, music by Peter Sipos
  • Two by Two (2004) director, lyricist. Revised book by Peter Stone
  • Robin Hood: The Legend Continues (2004) - director, lyricist; music by[Peter Sipos; book by Thomas Meehan
  • Later Life (2005) director (Orlando, Florida)
  • Annie (2005) 30th Anniversary Production – director, lyricist
  • Shadowlands (2006) – director; written by William Nicholson
  • Annie Warbucks (2008) - director, lyricist (For Showtunes)[34]
  • Rodgers &... (2009) - writer, director, lyricist (Lyrics and Lyricists, 92nd Street Y, New York City)[35]
  • Love Is Love (2009) Musical Revue - director, lyricist; music by Richard Gray (Florida)[36]
  • Follies (2010) - Artistic Director, Concert (For Showtunes Theatre Company, Seattle.)[37]
  • Sleuth (2010) - director; written by Anthony Shaffer
  • The Melody Lingers On: The Songs of Irving Berlin (2011) - director, author. (For Showtunes Theatre Company, Seattle.)[38]
  • Real to Reel (Songs that went from stage to screen) (2012) - director, author. (For Showtunes Theatre Company, Seattle.)
  • The Broadway Revues (A Tribute to the Great Revues from The Follies to Sugar Babies) (2012) - director, author. (For Showtunes Theatre Company, Seattle.)
  • Rodgers & (2013) The Emelin Theatre
  • Real to Reel (2014) The Emelin Theatre
  • Something Funny's Going On (revue) 54Below, New York City
  • “I Happen To Like New York” (2015) Emelin Theatre starring Shelly Burch
  • ”In The Secret Sea” (2016)Theatre Row
  • ”Incurably Romantic”(2016)starring Burch
  • ”Forgotten Broadway” (2017)-Emelin Theatre

Television and film

[edit]
  • Feathertop (1961) ABC - (lyricists; music by Mary Rodgers)
  • The Jackie Gleason Show (1961) CBS - (lyricist; music by Mary Rodgers)
  • Annie, The Woman in the Life of a Man (1971) - (conceived; produced; wrote; and directed)
  • S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin (1972) - (conceived; produced; wrote; and directed)
  • Get Happy - (conceived; produced; wrote; and directed) [39][40]
  • Dames at Sea - (conceived; produced; wrote; and directed)[41]
  • Cole Porter in Paris - (conceived; produced; wrote; and directed)
  • Annie and the Hoods - (conceived; produced; wrote; and directed)
  • The Annie Christmas Show (1977) CBS - (director, producer)
  • Annie (1982) Columbia Pictures (starring Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters)
  • Annie (1999) Disney (starring Kathy Bates, Audra McDonald, Victor Garber, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth)
  • Annie (2014) Columbia Pictures (starring Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale)

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Awards
  • 1971 Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program-Variety or Musical-Variety and Popular Music – Annie, the Women in the Life of a Man
  • 1972 Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program-Variety or Musical-Variety and Popular Music – S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin
  • 1973 Peabody Award for Broadcasting – S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin
  • 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical – Annie
  • 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics – Annie
  • 1977 Tony Award for Best Original Score – Annie
  • 2006 The Richard Rodgers Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Performing Arts
  • 2011 Goodspeed Musical Award for Outstanding Contribution to the American Musical Theatre[42]
  • 2013 The first George M. Cohan Ascap Award
Nominations
  • 1972 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety, or Music – S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin
  • 1973 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy, Variety, or Music – Get Happy
  • 1977 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Annie
  • 1982 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical – The First
  • 1982 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – The First

Miscellaneous

[edit]
Miscellaneous
  • Member of ASCAP, The Writers Guild, The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
  • Author: Annie: A Theatrical Memoir (1977) - Published E.P. Dutton, ISBN 978-0-525-03010-2
  • Author: The Giraffe who Sounded like Ol' Blue Eyes (illustrated by Kate Draper - Published by E.P. Dutton)
  • Album: Nancy Wilson Live at the Sands (1969)
  • Album: Annie Original Broadway recording (1977 Columbia Records)
  • Album: Upstairs at O'Neal's Original New York Company (1982 Bruce Yeko Records)
  • Album: Incurably Romantic (seventeen lyrics; various composers)
  • Album: Annie 30th Anniversary Original recording (2005 Time-Life Records)
  • Album: Second Coming - Shelly Burch live at the Metropolitan Room in New York City
  • Songs recorded by: Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Rod McKuen, Grace Jones, Jay-Z, Nancy Wilson, Andrea McArdle, Shelly Burch, and others
  • Unproduced musical - Softly - lyricist, music by Harold Arlen, book by Hugh Wheeler
  • Cabaret Acts - Nancy Wilson, Diahann Carrol, Leslie Uggams, Jose Ferrer, Tom Poston, Larry Kert, Andrea McArdle, and Shelly Burch.

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Martin Charnin

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Martin Charnin (November 24, 1934 – July 6, 2019) was an American lyricist, theatre director, and occasional actor best known for conceiving, directing, and writing the lyrics for the Broadway musical Annie. Born in New York City to William and Birdie Charnin, he initially pursued fine arts at Cooper Union before transitioning to theatre, debuting on Broadway as the dancer Big Deal in the original 1957 production of West Side Story. His early career included writing lyrics for shows like Hot Spot (1963) and directing revues such as Nash at Nine (1973), but Annie marked his pinnacle of success. Annie, adapted from Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie comic strip with music by and book by Thomas Meehan, premiered in 1976 before transferring to Broadway in 1977, where it ran for 2,377 performances and grossed over $24 million in its initial run. Charnin won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (shared) and was nominated for Best Original Score, with iconic songs like "Tomorrow" becoming cultural staples sung worldwide. He directed multiple revivals of Annie, including three on Broadway, and contributed to related projects like the sequel Annie Warbucks (1992), though none matched the original's impact. Throughout his career, Charnin directed or wrote lyrics for other productions, including The Madwoman of West (1979), A Little Family Business (1987), and Legs (1983), earning Drama Desk Awards and nominations for his versatile contributions to . His work emphasized optimistic narratives and enduring melodies, influencing generations of performers and audiences, though he occasionally clashed with producers over creative control in later projects. Charnin died of a heart attack in , survived by his wife, Shelby Burton, and five children.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Childhood

Martin Charnin was born Martin Jay Charnin on November 24, 1934, in , to William Charnin, a basso profundo singer in the chorus of the , and Birdie (née Blakeman) Charnin, who worked as a secretary. The family, of Jewish descent, lived in the Washington Heights neighborhood of , where Charnin spent his childhood. His father's professional involvement in provided early immersion in the , though William encouraged his son to pursue rather than performance.

Formal Training and Influences

Charnin attended the High School of Music & Art in , a specialized institution emphasizing training in visual and , where he developed foundational skills in music and artistic expression during his secondary education. He subsequently enrolled at for the Advancement of Science and Art, pursuing studies in fine arts with a focus on painting, and earned a degree in 1956. Despite this academic grounding in , Charnin lacked formal instruction in theater disciplines such as acting, singing, or dancing at the time of his entry into professional performance. His early theatrical influences derived primarily from immersion in New York City's Broadway scene and opportunistic casting opportunities rather than structured mentorship or conservatory programs, shaping his transition from to stage work.

Performing Career

Broadway Debut and Roles

Charnin made his Broadway debut portraying Big Deal, one of the Jets gang members, in the original production of , which opened on September 26, 1957, at the under the direction of and ran for 732 performances until June 27, 1959. The musical, with music by , lyrics by , and book by , adapted Shakespeare's to a modern setting amid rival teen gangs. This role marked Charnin's sole professional acting engagement on Broadway, though he reprised Big Deal during the subsequent national tour. Following the production's success, which earned six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Charnin shifted focus from performing to writing and directing.

Transition from Acting

Charnin performed in several Broadway musicals during the late 1950s, including the role of Big Deal in the original production of West Side Story (1957–1960), where he appeared in approximately 1,000 performances as one of the Jets. He also took on bit parts, such as a waiter and standby for Dick Van Dyke in The Girls Against the Boys (1959). These onstage roles provided him with immersion in the creative process, but by the early 1960s, he began shifting focus amid a realization that writing offered greater fulfillment, later recalling of his West Side Story tenure: "I did it for a thousand performances and then I began to write." While his acting career was still active, Charnin started composing lyrics for revues, shows, and nightclub acts featuring performers like , , and . This parallel pursuit culminated in his Broadway lyricist debut with (1963), for which he wrote the lyrics to Mary ' music in a production starring that ran for 43 performances at the Majestic Theatre. Though critically mixed and short-lived, marked his decisive move from performer to , as he increasingly prioritized scripting and production over acting. Following , Charnin's acting appearances dwindled, with his energies redirected toward lyric collaborations, such as with on Two by Two (1970), and eventual directing credits that further distanced him from the stage as an . This evolution reflected a broader pattern in his career, leveraging theatrical insight gained from performance to inform his backend contributions, without abrupt cessation but through gradual professional reorientation.

Lyric Writing and Directing Achievements

Early Lyric Contributions

Charnin's entry into professional lyric writing began in the scene, where he supplied lyrics for revues produced by Julius Monk, a prominent figure in New York nightlife entertainment during the early 1960s. His first Broadway credit as a arrived with the musical , which opened on April 19, 1963, at the Majestic Theatre and closed after 43 performances on May 25, 1963; Charnin wrote the lyrics to accompany music by , with the production starring in her final stage role before her death later that year. That same year, Charnin provided lyrics for Vernon Duke's Zenda, a musical adaptation of The Prisoner of Zenda that premiered in California but failed to reach Broadway despite its composer's established reputation. In 1967, he contributed lyrics to Mata Hari (later retitled Ballad for a Firing Squad in an Off-Broadway mounting), a biographical musical about the infamous spy, though it achieved limited commercial success. Charnin supplied additional lyrics for La Strada, an adaptation of Federico Fellini's 1954 film that opened on December 14, 1969, at the and closed after one performance, despite featuring emerging talent like and receiving some critical notice for its score. A more substantial opportunity came with Two by Two, for which Charnin wrote the full set of lyrics to music by and book by Peter Stone; the biblical retelling of , starring and Mary Madeline , premiered on October 7, 1970, at the and ran for 289 performances until September 11, 1971, marking Charnin's first extended Broadway run as amid production challenges including Kaye's onstage improvisations. Subsequently, he penned lyrics for the one-night benefit A Celebration of on March 26, 1972, at the Uris Theatre, honoring the composer's catalog. In 1973, Charnin conceived and wrote lyrics for Nash at Nine, a revue celebrating poet that opened May 17 at the Theatre and closed after 20 performances on June 2. These early efforts, often for short-lived productions, honed Charnin's craft in rhyming narrative and character-driven songs, laying groundwork for his later triumphs despite frequent box-office struggles attributable to factors like mismatched stars, ambitious concepts, and competitive market conditions.

Conception and Success of Annie

In 1970, Martin Charnin optioned the rights to adapt Harold Gray's "" comic strip into a musical, inspired by a collection of the strips that sparked his vision for a Depression-era story emphasizing resilience and hope. He assembled a creative team comprising composer , who had previously collaborated with Charnin on By Strouse, and playwright Thomas Meehan for the book, with Charnin handling the lyrics and directing duties himself. Development proceeded through workshops, culminating in a tryout production at the Goodspeed Opera House in , in August 1976, where refinements addressed pacing and character arcs to heighten the narrative's optimistic tone. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre (now ) on April 21, 1977, following previews that began on April 7, and achieved immediate commercial and critical acclaim, running for 2,377 performances over nearly six years until January 2, 1983. It grossed over $25 million in its original run, equivalent to hundreds of millions in adjusted terms, and spawned international productions, including a premiere in 1978 that transferred to the West End. Charnin received a Tony Award for Best Original Score (shared with Strouse) and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, with the production securing six additional Tonys, including Best Musical. Charnin attributed much of Annie's enduring success to its unapologetic portrayal of American optimism amid hardship, encapsulated in songs like "Tomorrow," which resonated during the post-Vietnam, inflationary 1970s by promising renewal without cynicism. The show's family-friendly appeal, bolstered by child actress Andrea McArdle's star-making performance as Annie, drove repeat audiences and merchandise sales, while Charnin's direction emphasized ensemble energy and visual spectacle, such as the sequences, to evoke the source material's grit without diluting its uplift. Revivals under Charnin's guidance, including the 20th-anniversary Broadway production in 1997 and tours into the 2000s, sustained its profitability, with global licensing generating ongoing revenue through Music Theatre International.

Later Directorial Works

Following the success of Annie in 1977, Charnin directed the musical The First, which opened on Broadway on November 17, 1981, at the Martin Beck Theatre and closed after 25 performances; the production, for which Charnin also wrote the lyrics, dramatized the life of baseball pioneer and featured music by Bob Edison. In 1982, he directed the comedy A Little Family Business by William F. Brown, which premiered on December 15 at the and ran for only 12 performances. Charnin's later Broadway directing credits included revivals of plays such as Cafe Crown (1989, 24 performances), & Company (1989, 4 performances, incorporating songs by Charnin), and The Flowering Peach (1994, 35 performances). These short-lived productions reflected Charnin's continued involvement in theater direction beyond musicals, often with limited commercial success. Much of Charnin's post-Annie directing work centered on revivals and tours of Annie itself, including the 20th anniversary Broadway production in 1997 (which ran for 239 performances), the 30th anniversary U.S. tour in 2005, a 1998 revival, and the 2014 national tour, among at least 19 additional stagings worldwide in cities like , , and . These efforts underscored his enduring oversight of the musical's legacy, though they did not replicate the original's blockbuster status.

Comprehensive Works

Stage Musicals and Productions

Charnin contributed lyrics to the Broadway musical Hot Spot, which premiered on April 19, 1963, at the Majestic Theatre and ran for 43 performances. He provided additional lyrics for , a musical adaptation of Fellini's film that opened on December 14, 1969, and closed after one performance. As lyricist for Two by Two, with music by , the production opened November 10, 1970, and ran for 330 performances, featuring in the lead role despite challenges from cast changes. In 1979, Charnin wrote lyrics for I Remember Mama, a musical adaptation of Forbes's with music by , which opened May 31 at the Majestic Theatre and played 108 performances, starring . He served as , book writer, and director for The First, a musical about that premiered November 17, 1981, and closed after 25 performances. Charnin made his Broadway directing debut with Nash at Nine, a revue of Ogden Nash's poems that he also conceived, opening May 17, 1973, for 37 performances. Beyond the original 1977 production of Annie, for which he directed as well as wrote lyrics, Charnin directed its 1997 Broadway revival, which ran from March 26 to October 19. He also directed international stagings of Annie, including productions in , , , and , totaling 19 directorial iterations of the show.
ProductionPremiere DateRole(s)Performance Run
Hot SpotApril 19, 1963Lyricist43 performances
La StradaDecember 14, 1969Additional Lyrics1 performance
Two by TwoNovember 10, 1970Lyricist330 performances
Nash at NineMay 17, 1973Director, Conception37 performances
I Remember MamaMay 31, 1979Lyricist108 performances
The FirstNovember 17, 1981Lyricist, Book, Director25 performances
Annie (1997 Revival)March 26, 1997Director, Lyrics7 months

Television and Film Contributions

Charnin contributed to several television variety specials and musical programs, primarily as a lyricist, producer, and director. In 1965, he wrote lyrics for two episodes of The Bell Telephone Hour: "The Music of Harold Arlen" and "Salute to Jerome Kern." He also served as lyricist for segments of The Jackie Gleason Show in 1961, with music by Mary Rodgers. In the late 1960s and early , Charnin produced and directed notable TV musical specials. He conceived, wrote, produced, and directed the 1971 special , featuring , , and , adapting the revue into a televised format. Another key production was Get Happy, a 1970 special starring , , and , for which Charnin handled directing and writing duties. His work on Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man (1970), a musical special starring , earned him an Emmy Award for producing; he received two additional Emmys for similar television productions during this period. Charnin's film contributions were more limited, focusing on lyric writing rather than directing or producing. He provided the lyrics for the 1982 musical film adaptation of Annie, directed by John Huston, which retained the core songs from the Broadway production he had co-created, including "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life." The film, starring Aileen Quinn as Annie and Albert Finney as Oliver Warbucks, grossed over $57 million at the box office against a $10 million budget, though it received mixed critical reception for its deviations from the stage version. Charnin's lyrics also appeared in soundtracks of later films, such as Deadpool 2 (2018), which featured "Tomorrow."

Awards, Recognition, and Critical Assessment

Major Honors and Nominations

Charnin garnered significant recognition for his contributions to musical theater and television specials, particularly through his work on Annie and earlier variety productions. He received one Tony Award win amid four nominations, two Drama Desk Award wins, three , and a Grammy Award, with many honors tied to Annie's 1977 Broadway premiere. For Annie, Charnin shared the 1977 Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) with composer Charles Strouse. He was also nominated that year for Best Direction of a Musical. In 1982, he earned two Tony nominations for The First: Best Direction of a Musical and, with Joel Siegel, Best Book of a Musical.
YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1977Tony AwardBest Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics)AnnieWinner (with Charles Strouse)
1977Tony AwardBest Direction of a MusicalAnnieNominee
1982Tony AwardBest Direction of a MusicalThe FirstNominee
1982Tony AwardBest Book of a MusicalThe First (with Joel Siegel)Nominee
Charnin won two Drama Desk Awards in 1977 for Annie: Outstanding Director of a Musical and Outstanding Lyrics. On television, he secured three Primetime Emmy Awards: one in 1971 for Outstanding Single Program - Variety or Musical - Variety and Popular Music for Annie, the Women in the Life of a Man, and two in 1972 for 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin as producer and co-writer. Additionally, he won a Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album for Annie at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978. He also received a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award in 1977 for Annie.

Commercial Successes and Box Office Impact

Charnin's principal commercial triumph was the original Broadway production of Annie, for which he served as lyricist, director, and co-conceiver. Opening on April 21, 1977, at the Alvin Theatre, it amassed 2,377 performances over nearly six years, concluding on January 2, 1983, and establishing itself as one of the era's longest-running musicals. By its close, the production and its associated touring companies had grossed over $200 million against an initial investment of roughly $800,000, yielding extraordinary returns amid the high-stakes environment of 1970s Broadway theater. This box office performance underscored Annie's broad appeal, driven by family-friendly themes and hit songs that sustained consistent ticket sales through economic fluctuations. National tours extended the financial footprint, with multiple companies operating concurrently and later iterations occasionally setting venue records, such as during a 2006 holiday stint at . Revivals, including the 1997 production that ran for 221 performances, maintained profitability on a smaller scale, though the 2012 Broadway mounting struggled, failing to recoup its $12 million capitalization after underperforming at the box office despite celebrity casting boosts like Jane Lynch's temporary stint adding roughly $175,000 weekly. In contrast, Charnin's other endeavors yielded more modest results. The 1970 musical Two by Two, for which he wrote lyrics, achieved a respectable 401-performance run buoyed by star but lacked Annie's sustained draw or revenue scale. Later directing efforts, such as the 1981 Jackie Robinson bio-musical The First, closed after just 25 performances, reflecting limited commercial viability. Overall, Annie's dominance in Charnin's oeuvre highlights how its endurance not only recouped costs rapidly but also fueled ancillary income from licensing, merchandise, and international stagings, cementing its role in bolstering Broadway's economic model during a period of rising production expenses.

Criticisms and Professional Disputes

Charnin faced professional challenges with the 1979 musical I Remember Mama, where he was hired as director but dismissed after its out-of-town opening on March 19 due to irreconcilable differences over the production's approach with star . He publicly attributed the conflict to Ullmann, quipping that "there's no longer a in my future" upon his firing. The show, with music by , lyrics by Charnin and Raymond Jessel, and book by Thomas Meehan, proceeded to Broadway but received mixed reviews for its tired execution and lack of cohesion, closing after 108 performances on September 2, 1979. Charnin voiced strong disapproval of the 1982 film adaptation of Annie, directed by , arguing it fundamentally altered the musical's essence due to his lack of creative input after selling the rights. In a interview, he stated, "The movie distorted what this musical was," criticizing changes such as Albert Finney's portrayal of Oliver Warbucks as overly aggressive, Carol Burnett's Miss Hannigan as a "man-crazy drunk," and the diminished emphasis on the song "Tomorrow," which producer deemed corny. His protective stance over Annie extended to later productions, including a 2014 public critique of an upcoming non-Equity national tour, which he claimed would deviate substantially from the 1977 original and recent Broadway revival in staging and tone, prompting backlash from producers for undermining the effort. Charnin maintained that such alterations risked diluting the show's core optimism and fidelity to Harold Gray's .

Personal Life and Death

Marriages and Family

Charnin was married four times. His first marriage was to Lynn Ross, a dancer in the original Broadway production of , with whom he had a son, Randy. His second marriage was to Genii Prior, also a dancer in , producing a daughter, Sasha. His third marriage was to Jade Hobson, a for fashion magazines, from which he had three children. Charnin's fourth marriage, in 2006, was to actress and singer Shelly Burch, with whom he resided in . Burch brought stepchildren to the marriage, including stepdaughter Dayna Bennett and stepsons Richard and Andrew Bennett. At the time of his death, Charnin was survived by his wife, seven children in total (biological and step), and three grandchildren.

Health Issues and Passing

Martin Charnin experienced recurrent cardiac problems throughout his later years, including a heart attack suffered in the summer of 1978. On July 3, 2019, he was hospitalized following another heart attack, described by family as minor at the time. Charnin's condition deteriorated rapidly thereafter, marking this as his third documented heart attack. He passed away on July 6, 2019, at a hospital in , at the age of 84, with the immediate cause confirmed as stemming from the recent episode. His daughter, Sasha Charnin Morrison, publicly announced the death via , noting his full life and ongoing engagement with his work up to the end. No additional chronic health conditions beyond his cardiac history were publicly detailed by family or medical reports.

Legacy and Cultural Influence

Enduring Impact of Annie

The musical Annie, for which Martin Charnin provided the lyrics and served as director, has maintained a robust presence on stages worldwide since its 1977 Broadway premiere, with revivals in 1997 (239 performances) and 2012 (487 performances), alongside multiple national tours including an eight-city tour tied to the 1997 production and a 2014 non-Equity tour directed by Charnin himself. International productions have proliferated, with Charnin directing many, contributing to its status as a global phenomenon licensed for professional, amateur, and educational performances across continents. This longevity stems from the show's family-oriented narrative of resilience amid adversity, bolstered by Charnin's lyrics in enduring songs such as "Tomorrow" and "," which emphasize pluck and optimism reflective of Depression-era setting. Adaptations have extended Annie's reach beyond theater, including the 1982 feature film directed by that grossed $57 million, a 1999 television movie drawing 26 million viewers, and a 2014 earning $136 million, alongside live television events like NBC's 2021 broadcast. These versions have preserved Charnin's lyrical contributions, ensuring the musical's themes of hope and grit remain accessible to new generations, while variants like Annie KIDS and school editions sustain its production in educational settings. Culturally, Annie has influenced Broadway's embrace of retro, comic-strip-inspired aesthetics, paving the way for self-parodic and irony-infused musicals amid economic malaise, with its unyielding positivity serving as an antidote to urban decline in . The original cast recording continues as a , underscoring the emotional resonance Charnin achieved by humanizing origins into relatable characters, fostering a "miracle" of audience connection that outlasted comparable works. Its relevance persists in revivals timed to economic downturns, mirroring the original's Depression themes and reinforcing themes of individual agency over systemic despair.

Broader Contributions to Musical Theater

Charnin began his songwriting career contributing lyrics to Off-Broadway and cabaret revues in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including Fallout (1958) and Kaleidoscope (1960), which honed his skills in witty, concise verse suitable for intimate venues. His Broadway lyricist debut came with Hot Spot (1963), a musical comedy set in a fictional Middle Eastern kingdom, where he collaborated with composer Mary Rodgers on songs like "You're the Fairest Flower," though the production closed after 43 performances due to mixed reviews and structural issues. In 1970, Charnin provided lyrics for Two by Two, a biblical musical with music by , starring as Noah; the show incorporated Charnin's humorous and rhythmic style in numbers such as "An Old-Fashioned Love," but it struggled with a short run of 10 previews and 343 performances amid cast changes and creative disputes. This collaboration marked one of his key partnerships with the elder Rodgers generation, bridging post-Oklahoma! sensibilities with modern influences. Transitioning to directing, Charnin made his Broadway debut helming Nash at Nine (1973), a adapting Ogden Nash's poems to music by Richard Nash, which ran for 81 performances and showcased his ability to stage light, narrative-driven cabaret-style pieces with performers like . He later directed full productions including The First (1981), a musical about for which he also co-wrote the book and earned Tony nominations for direction and book, emphasizing historical drama through integrated song and staging; A Little Family Business (1982), a ; and Cafe Crown (1989), a play revival highlighting his versatility beyond musicals. These efforts demonstrated Charnin's broader role in sustaining traditions and directing narrative musicals with ensemble focus, often prioritizing character-driven lyrics and efficient staging over spectacle. Charnin's lyrics for The Madwoman of Central Park West (1979), drawing from Dorothy Parker's writings with music by various composers including , further exemplified his affinity for literary adaptation into song, contributing to a form that blended intimacy with Broadway polish during a period when revues faced declining popularity. Overall, his pre-Annie output influenced musical theater by emphasizing adaptable, performer-centric material that could transition from experimentation to larger stages, fostering a legacy of multifaceted creative control.

References

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