On Episode 6 of Cycle of Tisch, Shanga Parker spoke with Mel Marvin, Arts Professor, Head Composer and Director of Production in the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.
Having been a classically trained pianist in his youth, Mel Marvin performed throughout Charleston, but did not realize his passion until he wrote his first musical pieces for the Dock Street Theatre in Charleston. At age 20, Mel left his southern roots, and biology major, to plant new seeds in New York City in Graduate Comparative Literature in Drama Program at Columbia University. Initially, most of his work was incidental music, performed for auditions or rehearsals, but Mel continued to write plays and musicals that would be performed off and on Broadway. Mel’s long career as a composer includes scores for 30 musicals, 47 plays, 3 films and 2 operas.
Click below to hear how Mel Marvin’s career progressed from pianist to director to NYU! You'll also learn about his musical influences, working projects and much more.
See you next week!