CRITIC

THE BARD...OFF-BROADWAY

Theater Bio

Home

(Formerly "StopScandal.Com")

Free-the-Music.Com is a musical comedy about a young man who goes to Washington, D.C., with a song in his heart, his patriotism on his sleeve, and his naiveté written all over him. Naturally he gets into trouble, the kind that only a song and the internet can get him out unscathed. Maybe....

In a "fresh, witty twist" (Back Stage magazine) on the Mark Twain story "The Prince and the Pauper," a New York City drama critic switches identities with a struggling actor who happens to look just like him. Each has a lover ? one male, one female ? and each learns something about themselves in the process of playing a role past curtain time.

Critic was workshopped at the CUBICULO theater (NYC) in 1987, then produced at the JUDITH ANDERSON theater on West 42nd Street (NYC) in 1988 for 41 performances.

This was a very interesting experiment on the part of Jay Michaels and three pop songwriters ? yours truly included. JM put together a pastiche play made up of bits from Shakespeare's tragedies, amplified by songs by three unknowns. Not one song was written specifically for the production, but rather in the manner of "Moulin Rouge" each was inserted "as is" into the setting.

Steven L. Rosenhaus (Bio)

Steven Rosenhaus' first theatrical compositions came in Canarsie High School, where he became involved in a production of the decidely-nonmusical comedy, The Skin of Our Teeth by Thorton Wilder. Originally asked to come up with entr'acte music, Steven suggested adding a song or two he had written (not for the ocassion but for his band at the time, Triangle). The teachers in charge heard the songs, asked for more, and thus "Skin" became a musical. Nothing legal of course, but who knew then?

Next, jump up to 1986. Steven was introduced to budding playwrite/director Jay Michaels. One thing, as it always does, led to another, and soon Steven was contributing pre-written "pop" songs to The Bard...Off-Broadway. The experience was interesting and not at all bad. In fact, it led Steven and Jay to collaborate again, in 1987-1988, on a brand-new musical, Critic.

Critic (1988) was a rare thing, a "freshman" effort by two unknowns which not only was professionally produced (at the Judith Anderson Theater on NYC's Theater Row, West 42nd Street), but ran for 41 performances and garnered some nice reviews. Steven and Jay even wound up on the Joe Franklin show, giving them at least five of Andy Warhol's estimated 15 minutes of fame.

Steven has contributed songs to cabaret shows (Damned If You Do..., 1989) and experimental projects (the musical farce Love is a Four-Letter Word, 1989).

In 1999 Steven was approached to assist in the creation of a musical, currently known as Free-the-Music.Com. His co-writers are lyricist/librettist William Strauss (of The Capitol Steps fame) and co-composer Bo Ayars. As of 2003, the work is simultaneously awaiting professional production and is available for production by community and educational groups.

Future projects include the musical drama Mohawk, and The Bald Show, a one-woman musical based on the true story of a woman with alopecia, with a script and lyrics by Chuck Noell.