Michael Bitterman wrote the music & lyrics for the off Broadway musical, FIVE AFTER EIGHT, which played at the Cubiculo Theatre in New York in 1979 breaking all existing house records for that theater. The cast album was released by Original Cast Records in 1980 and re-released on CD in 1993. Michael wrote many musicals and revues which have been performed in regional theaters.
As a composer and collaborator with James Corey Kaufman, he wrote the music for DISCOVERING MAGENTA. DISCOVERING MAGENTA has been selected with 4 other new musicals to be presented at OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY-Bass School of Music-OCU STRIPPED’S New Musical Theatre Project on April 15, 2007
As a composer and collaborator with Dennis Drogseth, he has written music for RASPUTIN and The DEMIGOD OF E. 78th St
He recently completed the score for FORLORN HOPE-THE DONNER PARTY MUSICAL, (no it's not a satire-sorry) with book by TG Harpster. It is a true sincere account told from the journals of 12 year old Virginia Reed-whose father, James, was one of the leaders of the famed Donner Party.
He also wrote book, music and lyrics to THE CELLAR-A psycho-drama musical about sexual fetishes -(sorry again, it's not a silly parody).
Original Cast Records has released his compilation of theatre songs called, THE THEATRE’S NEVER DARK.
He has written radio jingles, music for films & videos, worked as a rehearsal pianist for Alan Klein (Beatles' manager), was a staff songwriter for Albert Grossman (manager for Bob Dylan, THE BAND, Janis Joplin, etc) and has been published by Chappel. As one of the first Arp 2600 Synthesizer musicians/programmers in NYC, he has played on records of Barry Manilow, Janis Ian, and many others.
He had his own show on WBAI called Mike Bitterman's Musical Murders. His musical styles range from pop, , electronic and dramatic musical theater.
As a Producer and Engineer he has produced several Woodstock compilation albums as well as albums with Priscilla Herdman, Jean Redpath, Denise Jordan Finley, Anna Cheek, John Sebastian, NRBQ, Graham Parker, Allan Shadow, Richard Shulman, Dennis Yerry, John Hall, Abby Newton, and many others.
Label credits include Rounder, Flying Fish, Bloodshot and Original Cast
Records.
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His new CD-THE THEATER'S NEVER DARK , is now available on Original Cast Records, features songs from all of his musicals. It is available at CD BABY
To hear audios/MP3s of songs by Michael Bitterman click HERE
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FORLORN
HOPE-The Donner Party Musical. Listen to the CD HERE |
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"FIVE AFTER EIGHT": was a drastic rewrite of "WE'RE NOT WHO WE THINK WE ARE". I had my friend/playwright Richard Morton do a new book, I wrote some new songs, and produced it Off-Broadway at the Cubiculo Theatre in 1979. Original Cast Records released the cast CD. Listen to the CD HERE |
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"CLUB CAR": was an all sung musical I wrote in 1980. There really was no such thing as all sung musicals at that time and most producers turned it down because they couldn't figure out if it was opera or broadway. It was definitely (and still is) Broadway all the way. It's one setting is the Club Car of a commuter train to New York. The people fantasize their day dreams on it - wishing for better things - it has a twilight zoney ending to it. |
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"RASPUTIN": Music by Michael Bitterman with book & lyrics by Dennis Drogseth, As if it were anticipating the cynical, post-Enron era, "Rasputin" tells a fable of hope and defeat, comedy and corruption in a world in which "cheating souls" unwind in "double-time." Beneath this cynicism is a story about both loss of innocence and the power of innocence. Was Rasputin an evil villain, a hero trying to save Russia, or something in between? Who can really tell the story? |
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"DEMIGOD OF E 78th ST": Music by Michael Bitterman with book & lyrics by Dennis Drogseth, A 2000 year-old Roman Demigod comes to the Upper East Side of Manhattan as an Italian fashion designer to denounce hypocrisy. A Victorian fantasy in a contemporary setting "filled to the brim" with honest human concern and laughter.This musical was scheduled to open at the Woodstock Playhouse in 1985. Janet Hayes Walker (York Theater) loved the score and was going to direct. Harris Gordon, the producer, who had already advertised the show in the NY Times, removed the show a month before opening as he got cold feet about putting on a new musical. He stuck with Agatha Christie instead - something safer. Listen to the CD here |
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"THE CELLAR": a very dark subject. We all have hidden fantasies/obsessions/fetishes - we're afraid to reveal them to the outside world. We keep them to ourselves in our cellar. This will not be a family musical. |
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"DISCOVERING MAGENTA"-Music by Michael Bitterman with Book & Lyrics by "James Corey Kaufman". Discovering Magenta is a psychological musical for the new millenium . Henry, a mental health worker, struggles to help Katrina cope with a past that is threatening to destroy her present. But he must also wrestle with his own emotional issues. Henry and Katrina both are searching for the specks of goodness hidden in life -- as they try to discover magenta.
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NOTE: All these musicals have demo CDs available and are available for production.
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