Brian Lasser
Brian Alan Lasser Born, February 8, 1952, Chicago, Illinois. Died - November 20, 1992, New York, New York
Composer, Lyricist, Musical Director, Arranger, Pianist, Actor
Studied at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Brian Lasser was born in Chicago, where he received his initial training in musical theater and returned to embark on a career as an actor/singer/dancer after studying at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Lasser helped re-introduce cabaret as a vital entertainment form in Chicago, playing sold-out shows at the Park West, Old Vic and Ravinia. These successes led him to more theatrical pursuits in New York.
Lasser began working with vocalist Karen Mason in 1976, and was her musical director/arranger for fifteen years. Their partnership resulted in an album, NOT SO SIMPLY BROADWAY, and her one-woman show, ONE TOUGH COOKIE, written with Gary Gardner.
Lasser's first Off-Broadway musical, THE MATINEE KIDS, won an ASCAP Popular Music Grant. His second, Bundle of Nerves, was produced at the Village Gate in New York and won the Village Critics Award for Best Musical Score Off-Broadway in 1984. His 1991 musical THE BLACK TULIP, written with Tracy Friedman, received its world premiere at the Center Theater in Chicago. He contributed original songs to Martin Charnin's NO FRILLS REVUE, and to Eighty-Eights' HERE S TO OUR FRIENDS with one of his collaborators, David Arthur.
In 1984 Lasser received an After Dark Hall of Fame Award for his lifetime contribution to entertainment in Chicago, a Chicago "Clio" Award for Best Musical Radio Spot, and an ASCAP Award for Most Promising Composer.
Lasser was also well known for his cabaret and concert work in New York. He arranged, directed and wrote special material for a wide variety of performing artists, including Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert at the Rainbow Room, and Karen Mason in KAREN MASON SINGS BROADWAY, BEATLES AND BRIAN at the Minetta Lane Theatre. He received two Manhattan Association of Cabaret (MAC) Awards for Best Direction and Special Material, and a special commendation award from the Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Foundation.
His song "Hold Me" won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song in 1998. Fourteen of his songs were recorded by Karen Mason on her 1996 album BETTER DAYS, and were published by Lasserations Music in 2000 under the title THE SONGS OF BRIAN LASSER.
He wrote music and lyrics for THE LITTLE PRINCE (1968-69), AESOP S FALLIBLES (1969-70), CLEVER THINGS (1972), WIZARD OF OZ (1976), THE MATINEE KIDS (1980-81), BUNDLE OF NERVES (1983), NO FRILLS REVUE, THE BLACK TULIP (1991), THE MATING HABITS OF THE URBAN MALE, ONE TOUGH COOKIE (1995).
Among the songs he has written are: Better Days, Carry Me Away, Come Share My Life, Favorite Son, Footprints, Getting So Old In New York City, Hold Me, Hello, Tom, How Long Has It Been, I Haven t Got Time, I Made a New Friend, Living, Loving You, The Lucky Ones, Man On A Wire, Merry Christmas, Nice Joint, Sally s Song, Tear Up The Town, That s My Girl, The Toast, We re So Glad You re Here, What I Saw.
Brian Lasser died of AIDS in New York at the age of 40 on November 20, 1992.
With thanks to the author, Nurit Tilles The Estate Project for Artists with AIDS
Author's Shows
Questions & Answers
Callboard
-
Did you see our latest news earlier in the week? Chitty flies again! We're thrilled to announce that rights to the full, 2-act version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are now available without restrictions for performances scheduled to take place before 31st December 2023. Applications for 2024 are currently restricted to those in venues of less than 500 seats. Apply today! www.mtishows.co.uk/chitty-chitty-bang-bang #chittychittybangbang #newrelease #trulyscrumptious
View on Instagram -
Xanadu is now available for licensing! You have to believe we are magic... Xanadu is a moving, electrifying tale of endless fun that will keep audiences in stitches, while the original, legendary chart-topping tunes lift them out of their seats. Find out more: www.mtishows.co.uk/xanadu #xanadu #newshow #amateurtheatre #licensing #olivianewtonjohn #strangemagic
View on Instagram -
Bravo to everyone at @_spotlight.theatre who went Into the Woods at Nottingham Arts Theatre earlier in the month. These photos look great! Photo credit: Martin Holtom. #intothewoods #nottingham #amateurtheatre #amdram
View on Instagram -
A huge congratulations to everyone at @green_room_productions on their hugely successful production of Sunshine on Leith. We really would have walked 500 miles to grab a ticket. #sunshineonleith #pottersbar #amateurtheatre #wyllyotts
View on Instagram -
As schools across the UK and Europe wind down for the Summer holidays we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate the incredible teachers everywhere who make musical theatre happen year after year. To those teachers we say: you are an inspiration! We had close to 100 of these incredible teachers take part in this years Junior Theatre Festival, so lets enjoy the special teacher number from that days awards ceremony. #teachers #jtf22 #musicaltheatre #schoolshow #inspiration #education #broadwayjr
View on Instagram -
We love these production shots of Disneys The Little Mermaid JR from @pqanorthampton #merfolk #thelittlemermaidjr #performingarts #disney #broadwayjr
View on Instagram -
Bravo to @curtaincallshrewsbury on their production of Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical JR. Theyre currently having the best time working on the show, and these wonderful photos prove it! Enjoy your final performances. #matildajr #broadwayjr #shrewsbury #roalddahl #youththeatre #maggots
View on Instagram -
WHAT A PICTURE We'll definitely be sticking these in the family album A few snaps from @haslemereplayers dress rehearsal of KIPPS - The New Half a Sixpence Musical which runs at Haslemere Hall this week. Break a leg! #kipps #kippshalfasixpence #haslemere #haslemerehall #surreytheatre #surrey
View on Instagram -
Do you love musicals and want to work at MTI? We're searching for a new Licensing Assistant / Receptionist. The successful candidate will be required to work from our newly refurbished office in London at 12-14 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JJ. The core duties/responsibilities will include: Reception duties: * answering a busy telephone switchboard * greeting all visitors to the office Amateur Licensing support: * show availability requests * answering basic enquiries both via phone and in email * general administrative support as required Professional Licensing support: * general enquiries * generation of invoices as per instructions from the Professional Licensing team * vetting of foreign language translations The successful candidate will have a keen interest in musical theatre (on or off stage) and have excellent administrative skills. For full details visit: https://www.mtishows.co.uk/.../job-vacancy-licensing... #vacancy #licensing #receptionist #job #musicals #opportunity
View on Instagram -
JTF is making the news! @skynews @fyi_skykids came to Birmingham last month to share the power of jazz hands and spirit fingers with a wider audience. The JTF piece will air Saturday at 10:30 and 16:30 and then on Sunday at 10:30. We can't wait! Check out this sneak peak, which follows Timi from The British Theatre Academy. #jtf22 #news #jazzhands #broadwayjr
View on Instagram