Composer * Lyricist * Playwright * Producer
A strong believer in the legacy of musical theatre writing and the continuity of passing down craft and experience from one generation to the next, Hannah has worked closely with some of the most prolific and exciting writers of our time.
Currently the Associate Creative Producer on ROCKY, a new musical by Tony Award-winners Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty (ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, SEUSSICAL, RAGTIME) and Thomas Meehan (ANNIE, THE PRODUCERS, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN) Hannah has also assisted Joseph Stein (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, ENTER LAUGHING, ZORBA!) worked as Ahrens & Flaherty's Music Assistant on the 2009 Broadway revival of RAGTIME , assisted Rachel Sheinkin (SPELLING BEE) on LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and worked for Musical Theatre International.
She's had the pleasure to work with Alex Timbers and Steven Hoggett, study with Michael John LaChiusa, Bright Sheng, and William Finn, intern with Stephen Schwartz, and cook dinner for Sheldon Harnick.
A natural educator, Hannah has worked with budding lyricists from Yale and Columbia, founded an award-winning children's choir, given seminars that help teachers incorportate the arts into their daily curriculum, and has taught more than 600 kids to compose!
Her licensing and distributing company " Showbox Theatricals " is currently building a catalog of high quality original childrens musicals and TYA titles. To submit your title for consideration, please contact showboxtheatricals_gmail.com.
Her company " Left Brain/Right Brain " matches students struggling in school with tutors who have MFA's in writing and composition - creative problem-solvers who think outside the box and help students find new ways to achieve academic success. To join our roster of tutors, please contact left.right.tutors_gmail.com
Composer Lyricist
Bookwriter Playwright Author
Producer
From a lush and lyrical musical about the last months in the life of Leonardo da Vinci to a side-splitting comedy about the fanatical world of competitive eating to a dark and off-kilter Hansel & Gretl story set on the Mexican-American border, Hannah's work walks a tightwire between the wonderous and strange, yet always rings true.
Her musical THE HOUDINI BOX , based on the book by Caldecott Award-winning author and illustrator Brian Selznick premeired at the Chicago Children's Theatre directly following the release of Selznick's film HUGO , directed in 3D by Martin Scorsese . THE HOUDINI BOX runs January 24th - March 4th at the Mercury Theatre in Chicago, followed by a second run at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL from March 14th - 25th. Click here for tickets.
Watch for the 2012 release of her upcoming book Great Composers for Kids , packed with 100 hands-on activities that connect kids of all ages to the lives and music of the world's most influential composers in fresh, fun, unforgettable ways.
Come one, come all!
Chicago is captivated by THE HOUDINI BOX!
"Highly recommended" "Magical" "...when a show is this beautiful..." "Enthusiastic thumbs up" "A moving little show"
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Read Chris Jones' full review here: Chicago Tribune: THE HOUDINI BOX
"As Martin Scorsese well understood with the movie version of "Hugo," Selznick's storytelling has a distinctive visual vocabulary, which makes it ideal for dramatization. And you get the sense here that the lyricist and bookwriter, Hannah Kohl, has an innate understanding of the Selznick aesthetic and vocabulary. She extends his narrative just enough for it to work as drama but retains its distinctive rhythm and spirit."
- Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO SUN TIMES
Read Hedy Weiss' full review here: Chicago Sun Times: THE HOUDINI BOX
"Adults, every bit as much as children, are bound to fall in love with “The Houdini Box,” the utterly beguiling, immensely inventive, hourlong world premiere musical based on the book by Brian Selznick... witty, whimsical, exquisitely produced... sharp wordplay, deliciously droll humor... and crystal clear storytelling..."
- Hedy Weiss, The Chicago Sun Times
CHICAGO READER
Read Chicago Reader's full revie here: Chicago Reader: THE HOUDINI BOX
"Kohl's book moves fast, while puppetry and a lively xylophone-and-accordion accompaniment add whimsy."
- Keith Griffith, The Chicago Reader
ADA GREY (Age 7)
Read Ada Grey's full review here: Ada Grey Reviews for You: THE HOUDINI BOX
"It is an awesome adaptation of The Houdini Box, and if anybody is born and misses it, I hope they do a remount."
- Ada Grey (Age 7), Reviews for You
SPLASH MAGAZINE
Read Noel Schecter's full review here: Splash Magazine: THE HOUDINI BOX
"Early in the play, the Barker (Derek Hasenstab) asks the audience to prepare for “the end of (the) ordinary.” The Houdini Box deftly accomplishes this... Bottom line: The Houdini Box is highly recommended."
- Noel Schecter, Splash Magazine
CHICAGO THEATER BEAT
Read Katy Walsh's full review here: Chicago Theater Beat: THE HOUDINI BOX
"This is what a good time sounds like! "
- Katy Walsh, Chicago Theater Beat
CHICAGO NOW: OFF BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Read Chicago Now's full review here: Off Broadway in Chicago: THE HOUDINI BOX
"... beguiling... you're going to walk away from The Houdini Box with a smile on your face. "
- Chicago Now
CHICAGO DADS
Read Chicago Dads' full review here: Chicago Dads: THE HOUDINI BOX
"I give an enthusiastic thumbs up, as did my daughter and her two classmates. It is sophisticated yet accessible for kids, yet not dumbed down for the grownups in the audience."
- Chicago Dads
THE LUXURY LIFE - CHICAGO
Read The Luxury Life's full review here: Luxury Life: THE HOUDINI BOX
"The Chicago Children’s Theatre production successfully captures the tone and style of the book while giving it theatrical flash and intimacy."
- The Luxury Life
THE HOUDINI BOX
Book and Lyrics by Hannah Kohl, Music by Mark Messing
Based on the book THE HOUDINI BOX written and illustrated by Brian Selznick. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
Direction and Design by Blair Thomas, Blair Thomas & Co.
CHICAGO CHILDREN'S THEATRE
Mercury Theatre, Chicago
World Premiere: January 24th - March 3rd 2012
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie, IL
Extended Run: March 14th - March 25th, 2012
Can you catch the Houdini Box Bus?
It's zipping through Chicago!
GREAT COMPOSERS FOR KIDS
By MaryAnn Kohl and Hannah Kohl, Fall 2012
Bright Ring Publishing
A book full of 100 creative, interactive projects introducing
children to some of the world's greatest composers.
Past Publications
THE DRAMATIST
Lyrics to "I Thought We Were Children" from THE NATIONAL ARCHIVE OF MEMORY are published in the March 2011 edition of THE DRAMATIST, the Dramatists Guild Magazine.
MUSICALS
- THE HOUDINI BOX , Book and Lyrics, Music by Mark Messing
World Premiere, Chicago Children's Theatre January 24th - March 14th, 2012
- THE LIGHT AND LEONARDO DA VINCI , Book and Lyrics, Music by Matteo Martis
- THE BLACKBIRD , Music, Book, and Lyrics
- TORA BORA , Music / Book and Lyrics co-written with Eric Price
- CAKE! , Music, Book, and Lyrics, with Molly McQuilkin
- GARDENIA , Music, Book, and Lyrics
CURRENT POSITIONS
- Associate Creative Producer, Babington Productions: ROCKY - THE MUSICAL (Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Book by Thomas Meehan)
- Owner, SHOWBOX THEATRICALS
- Professional author, composer, lyricist, and playwright
- Educator, presenter, and speaker
HONORS AND ASSOCIATIONS
- 2009-2010 Dramatists Guild Fellow
- Member of the Dramatists Guild
- Development Chair / Board Member, The Musical Theatre Writers Collective
- President of the Tisch Graduate Student Organization, 2008-2009
EDUCATION
- MFA, Musical Theatre Writing, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
- MS, International Education, SUNY-Buffalo
Music, Book, and Lyrics by Hannah Kohl
Set in present day Buenos Aires, THE NATIONAL ARCHIVE OF MEMORY follows Ana's search for her brother, one of Argentina's thousands of "Disappeared." Working at the National Archive, Ana uses an uncanny sense of what is true to piece together stories spanning more than 30 years - stories that, once told, bring some families together and tear others apart.
Book and Lyrics by Hannah Kohl, Music by Matteo Martis
Set in France in the last months of Leonardo da Vinci's life, THE LIGHT AND LEONARDO bounds to the far corners of human achievement and imagination as the world's greatest mind struggles to find a way to pass on his knowledge to a young apprentice before he dies. A compelling story, full of humor, beauty and invention, with a rich, romantic score by Italian composer Matteo Martis .
When an blackbird arrives in the practically perfect town of Schoenfeld, life turns tospy-turvy for the village's buttoned-down citizens in this quirky (and just a little bit spooky) musical for families.
Music, Book, and Lyrics by Hannah Kohl and Molly McQue
A 20-minute dash through the world of competitive eating with a true sportsman, his stage-mother wife, and the cake-eating competitor who brings them to their knees.
Selections:
1. Swallow It Whole
Performed by Beth Kirkpatrick & Jonathan Rayson
2. It Only Matters If You Win
Performed by Kristy Glass & Jonathan Rayson
3. It Only Matters If I Win
Performed by Jonathan Rayson
4. Sometimes Things Have to Go Down (Before They Come Up Again)
Performed by Kristy Glass, Beth Kirkpatrick, & Jonathan Rayson
Music by Hannah Kohl, Lyrics by Hannah Kohl and Eric Price
Two spec songs written for a Broadway-bound musical based on a hit romantic comedy from the 1990's.
Selections from Joe's Pub, The Barrington Stage, The Duplex and more.
Bring Hannah Kohl to your school, institution, theatre, or conference!
Hannah Kohl offers a variety of interactive workshops,
trainings, seminars, and keynotes. Some of the most frequently
asked questions regarding her popular events are found below.
In addition, Hannah’s checklist will give you all the information you
need. Ask for your pre-checklist today.
Teaching Artist Visits and Educator Training
Bring Hannah to your school to work directly with your faculty and/or students!
* Learn the techniques of singer/songwriters and Broadway composer/lyricists!
* Discover new ways to integrate music and art into every classroom.
* Have Hannah work with students to create their own original theatre and/or songs!
* Plan a day or week of interactive programs, presentations, and activities!
SAMPLE SESSIONS:
Great Composers for Great Kids
Blow the dust off the music history books in this exciting hands-on approach to th lives and music of the great composers. Fun, creative, and interdisciplinary experiences reveal the relevence of these wonderful music-makers. Students leave with lasting memories of the composers, their lives, and their music and a deep understanding of what drove them to create.
The Fraction Philharmonic: Where Music Meets Math
Basic fractions are revealed through an interactive experiene with beginning music theory in this surprising and fun session combining art, dance, music, and math. Kid leave with a whole-body understanding of beginning fractions and note values, laying the foundation to add fractions, compose simple melodies, and read music.
Backyard to Broadway: Original Theatre for Every Audience!
Students gain understanding of their world through writing and producing their own songs, plays, and musicals. Students learn the jobs of the theatre - from writing lyrics and composing to directing and set design. This workshop can last from two days to several weeks and culminates in a performance of original work!
Presentations and Workshops
What is the difference between a presentation and a workshop?
An all-day event with Hannah is called a full-day presentation. Each individual topic presented that day is a workshop. A full-day presentation with two workshops is th most popular and effective framework for what Hannah has to offer. A full-day presentation typically runs from 8:30am - 3:30pm with two workshops.
Other than full-day presentations, what other kinds of events does Hannah Kohl offer?
Hannah can easily meet the needs of your event. Some choices are: conference keynote, conference breakout sessions, parent night workshop, back to school night, bookstore reading, school visit with children, library gathering, and in-service workshop or training for staff.
PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS:
* Core Knowledge National Conference, 2012 (Orlando, FL)
Sessions: "The Fractions Philharmonic" & "Great Composers for Kids"
* The Gradute Musical Theatre Writing Program, NYU
Sessions: "Making Your Way in Children's Theatre" & "Surviving Student Loans"
If you would like to be added to the mailing list or would like to contact Hannah regarding collaborations, productions, speaking engagements, or guest artist visits, please fill out the form below and we will respond as quickly as possible.
