Lynne Shankel

Lynne Shankel is an award-winning orchestrator and arranger living in the New York City area. She most recently wrote orchestrations for Chita: A Legendary Celebration, a benefit concert celebrating and starring the legendary Chita Rivera which played the August Wilson Theatre in October 2013. Lynne has written orchestrations and arrangements for the San Francisco Symphony (featuring Bonnie Raitt), the Dallas Opera Orchestra (featuring George Hearn), Tony Bennett’s famed 80th birthday celebration at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She was music director/arranger for the B’way production of CRY-BABY, as well as the resident music supervisor for the Tony-award winning revival of COMPANY, for which she conducted the Grammy-nominated cast album. She was music director/arranger for the Off-Broadway hit ALTAR BOYZ, for which she received a Drama Desk nomination for orchestrations. Lynne received a second Drama Desk nomination for her work on THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY (by Paul Loesel and Scott Burkell) in 2010. In 2012, she received the Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Orchestrations in San Diego for her work on the new musical ALLEGIANCE, starring Lea Salonga, Telly Leung and George Takei. She was the orchestrator and music director for the acclaimed revival of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND at the Papermill Playhouse directed by Thomas Kail, and was the music supervisor, arranger and co-orchestrator for BARE THE MUSICAL. She also collaborated with lyricist Jon Hartmere to provide the new songs for that production. Lynne was music supervisor for the San Francisco premiere of NICK ADAMS at Davies Symphony Hall. She has conducted on Broadway for CRY-BABY, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Recent credits include the world premiere of BEACHES at the Signature Theatre in VA (orchestrations) and CHASING THE SONG at La Jolla Playhouse (music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements). Her orchestrations and arrangements have been played all over the U.S. and as far away as Beijing, China. Lynne lives in New Jersey with her husband, percussionist Joe Mowatt. Proud graduate of the University of Michigan.

• Chita Rivera
• Bonnie Raitt
• Lea Salonga
• Jason Danieley
• Marin Mazzie
• George Hearn
• Raul Esparzta
• Lindsay Mendez
• Lauren Pritchard
• Sierra Boggess
• Caissie Levy
• Chester Gregory
• Darius de Haas
• Aisha de Haas
• Carrie Manolakos
• Capathia Jenkins
• Orfeh
• Andy Karl
• Lauren Kennedy
• Alysha Umphress
• Euan Morton
• Beth Leavel
• Natalie Weiss
• Anne L. Nathan
• Anita Johnson (soprano)

 

bare: a pop opera

“…bare contributes an important voice to a broader conversation about equality and tolerance, all the more compelling because its impact is both visceral and incisive. Rather than hand out neatly wrapped answers to difficult questions about faith and acceptance, the show lays bare the heartbreaking pain of coming of age in a world in which these questions need to be asked at all.”
– Towleroad, Naveen Kumar

“…Jon Hartmere”s book scenes now draw out the show’s epic-sized emotions, enhancing the engaging and danceable pop score from Lynne Shankel and Damon Intrabartolo…”
– Variety, Randy Gener

Huffington Post Feature - Nuns, LGBT Youth and the Power of a Single Song

Alice Lee and Sara Kapner (the bare understudies) singing ‘You Don’t Know’ at the Laurie Beechman.

 

ALLEGIANCE

“Throughout director Stafford Arima's gracefully staged production, music supervisor/arranger Lynne Shankel's gorgeous orchestrations (some of the most satisfying I've heard in a musical here) inspire an excellent 12-piece orchestra to invest the songs with tons of period personality and East-meets-West textures, right down to the most subtle underscoring.”
– UT San Diego, James Hebert

“…Kuo’s score is refreshingly different, with unusual and sweeping, Asian-inspired melodies, all lushly arranged and orchestrated by Lynne Shankel.”
– North County Times, Pam Kragen

“The orchestrations are magnificent, and exceptionally played.”
– KSDS Jazz 98 Radio, Pat Launer

“Lynne Shankel’s orchestrations and her twelve-piece orchestra are simply beautiful and inspiring.”
– San Diego Jewish World, Carol Davis

“Lynne Shankel’s music supervision, arrangements, and orchestration are key in making this uplifting and insightful production come brilliantly and musically alive.”
– Desert Local News, Jack Lyons

Allegiance highlights - The Old Globe

 

CRY-BABY

“The pit orchestra, led by Lynne Shankel, is the hardest-rocking band on Broadway.”
– Wall Street Journal, Terry Teachout

 

NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS
(A BENEFIT ALBUM FOR ASTEP)

This is a project that is near and dear to my heart. A few years ago, I had an idea for a holiday concert. I wanted to write a bunch of very original arrangements of holiday tunes for some of my crazy talented friends. I approached my dear friend Mary-Mitchell Campbell about doing the concert as a benefit for her non-profit, ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty). She was really excited about the idea, so we got the wheels turning. The concert was a huge success! The next year, we made an album of the tunes from the concert with the help of our wonderful friends at Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records. The concert is now an annual event! We will be at Joe’s Pub on Monday December 16th 2013 at 7:30pm. Tickets on sale now!

“…The rousing Finale… is guaranteed to have you singing along and dancing around your living room.”
– Life Upon The Sacred Stage

“To see how daring many of these arrangements are and how well they work is a true credit to the craftsmanship employed by the musicians, the stalwart performers and, of course, the woman in charge: Ms. Shankel.”
– Broadway World, Pat Cerasaro

To buy the album, please visit the Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight website. All proceeds go to benefit ASTEP!

To learn more about ASTEP and the great work they do, visit ASTEP Online.

 

BROADWAY BARES

Another organization I have done a lot of work for is Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. I have written arrangements for both Broadway Bares and Carols For A Cure. Visit their online store to buy and album or a song to benefit BC/EFA!

 

INTERVIEWS

Zach Redler, composer of THE MEMORY SHOW, wrote a blog about my orchestration for “My Mother And Me”. A fun read for the music theorists out there!

I did a fun interview a few years ago with Jesse North for Stage Rush about what it's like to be a music director in NYC. Visit Stage Rush.

 

Direct

[email protected]

Representation

Mark Sendroff
Sendroff and Baruch, LLP
1500 Broadway, Suite 2201
New York, NY 10036
P: 212.840.6400
F: 212.840.6401
[email protected]