Jeff Blumenkrantz (born June 3, 1965) is an American actor, composer and lyricist.
Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, Blumenkrantz is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Communication.Interview with Broadway’s Jeff Blumenkrantz | Contemporary Musical Theatre His stage credits include roles in the Broadway productions Into the Woods (1987), The Threepenny Opera (1989), Damn Yankees (1994), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1995), A Class Act (2001), and Bright Star (2016), and Off Broadway in Murder for Two, the City Center Encores productions of Anyone Can Whistle, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, and The Golden Apple, and the New York Philharmonic productions of Candide (as Maximillian) and Sweeney Todd (as The Beadle), both filmed for PBS. He has also appeared in such television shows as Succession (TV series), Pose (TV series), Mr. Robot, The Blacklist (TV series), Fosse/Verdon, The Detour, Will & Grace, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Ugly Betty, Just Shoot Me!, and Law & Order, and the films The Big Sick and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
In 2000, noted Broadway actress and recording artist Audra McDonald included Blumenkrantz's song "I Won't Mind" on her CD, How Glory Goes. This lullaby (with lyrics by Annie Kessler and Libby Saines) has become a staple of McDonald's repertoire. Blumenkrantz also contributed a piece to The Seven Deadly Sins, a song cycle commissioned by Carnegie Hall for the singer. His comic song, "My Book," addressed the sin of sloth.
In 2003, Blumenkrantz was nominated for a Best Original Score Tony Award for his work on Urban Cowboy, a nomination he shared with Jason Robert Brown and others. He wrote the book, music, and lyrics for Scaffolding as part of the 2018 Inner Voices series. Scaffolding was directed by Victoria Clark and starred Rebecca Luker. His song "Ovid" was featured in the Prospect Theatre Company's production of Notes from Now at 59E59 Theaters.
In 2005–2006, Blumenkrantz created and hosted The Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook Podcast, a weekly podcast featuring the songs from his songbook, occasional additional episodes of which were released until at least February 2010. This project was succeeded in 2008 by the BMI Workshop Songbook Podcast, which Blumenkrantz hosted, showcasing the eponymous songbook, which features the work of members of the BMI Songwriters' Workshop.
Blumenkrantz is the recipient of the 2011 Fred Ebb Award for excellence in musical theatre songwriting.Jones, Kenneth. "Jeff Blumenkrantz Wins 2011 Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting", Playbill, October 28, 2001; accessed July 9, 2014.
Theatre credits Year Title Role Notes1986Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatZebulun/Baker 1987 South Pacific Professor New York City Opera1987-89Into the Woods u/s Jack, The Steward, Rapunzel’s Prince BroadwayJack Broadway Replacement1989My Fair LadyFreddy Eynsford-HillBenedum CenterGreaseEugene FlorczykThreepenny OperaFilchBroadway1990A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumHero1992Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatSimeonNorth America Tour (Also played the role in the film)1994-95Damn YankeesSmokeyBroadway1995-96How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingBud FrumpBroadway1997Into the WoodsThe Steward10th Anniversary Concert2001A Class ActCharley/Marvin HamlischBroadway2004CandideMaximilianConcert2010Anyone Can WhistleTreasurer CooleyEncores!2013-14Murder for TwoAll Suspects2014Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetBeadle BamfordConcert2015-16Bright StarDaryl Ames Kennedy Center & Broadway 2016God Bless You, Mr. RosewaterThurmond McAllisterEncores!2017The Golden AppleMenelaus / Scylla2017-18Bright StarDaryl Ames US Tour2019The UnderpantsKlinglehoff2022The Drowsy ChaperoneUnderling 2023 Hercules Panic Paper Mill Playhouse
References
External links
Jeff Blumenkrantz at Internet Off-Broadway Database Official Web Site Fred Ebb Foundation