Wikipedia

Corey Brunish

Corey Frederick Brunish (born 7 July 1955)[5][1] is a singer, actor, director, writer and producer who has won multiple Tony Awards. He is currently based in Portland, Oregon, and New York City.

Corey Frederick Brunish
Corey Brunish in January 2017
Born (1955-07-07) July 7, 1955 (age 68)}[1]
Los Angeles, California, US
Occupations
Known for
SpouseJessica Rose Brunish
Children1 daughter
Parents
  • Robert Brunish[2][3] (father)
  • Virginia Hughes[4] (mother)
Relatives
  • Bonnie Brunish (sister)
  • Wendee Brunish (sister)
Musical career
Genres
Websitehttps://www.brunishfamily.com/Corey/Corey.html


Early life edit

Burnish was born in Los Angeles, California to Robert Brunish.[citation needed]

He spent his early years in Belgium and Copenhagen, Denmark. He later attended Beverly Hills High School, where he first discovered his love of music while listening to the cast recordings of Broadway shows.[citation needed]

In 1977, Brunish received a BA in Theatre Arts from Occidental College cum laude.[6]

Career edit

Acting career edit

In 1977, while in college, Brunish began his acting career appearing in shows in repertory at the Remsen Bird Theatre.[7] He moved to Oregon shortly after and worked as a property developer while appearing in numerous theatre productions, indie movies, TV shows and feature films.[7]

In 1993, he appeared in the Willem Dafoe and Madonna feature movie, Body of Evidence in a scene with Julianne Moore. He also portrayed the character Nigel Hayton in one episode of the TV show Leverage.

In February 2015, he appeared on the NBC series Grimm as Laszlo Kurlon, the fortune telling Fuchsbau (episode 4-12).

In 2017, Brunish acted in Woodstock or Bust alongside Willow Shields and Meg Delacy.[citation needed]

In 2022, Brunish appeared in Claydream, a documentary about the invention of Claymation by Will Vinton.[8]

Music career edit

Brunish recorded over 500 songs.[7] He had released more than a dozen CDs featuring mostly covers of standards and show tunes. CDs featuring his voice include Broadway Records' recording of Jekyll and Hyde, which was released in September 2012.

In 2009, he first produced a cast recording in the musical Bonnie & Clyde. The show was nominated for two Tony Awards, including Best Score (Frank Wildhorn and Don Black).[citation needed]

In February 2017, Brunish released his debut solo album on Broadway Records: #ThrowbackThursday. His follow-up CD Just The Three Of Us was released in December 2020.[9]

In 2022, with the release of the CD of the cast recording of Music Man, Brunish had written his second set of liner notes for a Broadway Cast Recording, following Bonnie & Clyde in 2012.[8]

Brunish helped to produce the soundtrack for Nice Work If you Can Get It; the CD was nominated for a Grammy Award.[7]

His most notable producing credit is Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, one of the longest running shows on Broadway and for which the Cast CD won the Grammy Award. Later, he helped produce the cast recording of The Color Purple, which won the Grammy Award.[citation needed]

Film and TV producer edit

Brunish serves as producer on Broadway: Beyond The Golden Age, and on the filming of the production of Gypsy with Imelda Staunton in West End theater. He had been nominated twice for an Emmy (New York Region) on his work as a producer in Due Process. Brunish also funded the taping of the TV special Women of Soul. He also worked as a producer on a documentary film about the original creators of West Side Story.[citation needed]

In collaboration with Spencer Proffer and Russell Miller, Brunish produces documentary films, streaming content and new works for Broadway.[10] Their latest release is American Pie, based on the 1971 song by Don McLean.[citation needed]

Theater edit

Director edit

He debuted as a director in 1975 with the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.[11]

In 2009, he directed Stephen Sondheim's Company.[12]

Amid his other projects, Brunish directed Sherlock Holmes & the Case of The Jersey Lily and Dracula at the Temple Theatre in Sanford, North Carolina. Brunish also directed It's A Wonderful Life, Shrek and Hedwig and the Angry Inch in Portland, Oregon.

In 2022, Brunish served as Assistant Director on the UK premiere of Bonnie & Clyde. The show received positive reviews as well as the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Musical.[citation needed]

Producer and investor edit

Mentored by Jeff Calhoun, Brunish started his theater producing career in 2011.[7] He came to New York as assistant director and producer of the Broadway musical Bonnie & Clyde[13] and was also a producer of the show's cast album.[14]

Between 2016 and 2017, Brunish served as a producer on Come From Away and The Play That Goes Wrong. Additionally, he served as an investor in Dear Evan Hansen, Hello Dolly and Dreamgirls on the West End.

Between 2017 and 2018, he worked on the revival of Once On This Island, and was an investor in the revival of Angels in America, and the new shows 1984 and The Band's Visit.

In 2018, Brunish and his wife Jessica presented a revival of The Rink in London.

Between 2018 and 2019, he served as a producer alongside his wife on the musical Tootsie. They were also investors in the play Network adapted from the 1976 film of the same name.[citation needed]

In 2021, Brunish garnered a Grammy Nomination as a producer on the theatre album Snapshots by Stephen Schwartz, released on Broadway Records.[15][16]

Brunish has served as a producer or investor on several Off-Broadway plays, including The 39 Steps, I and You, City Stories, All Is Calm, and Standard Time. He is also an investor in Georgie. He also helped to launch the cabaret Finding My Voice, a one-woman show starring Kathleen Turner.

He served as a producer on several Tony award-nominated produuctions, including Slave Play, Company, Parade, Fat Ham and The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window.

He was an investor in New York, New York, KPOP and Peter Pan Goes Wrong and worked as a producer on How To Dance In Ohio and Cabaret.

Writing edit

Brunish has collaborated with Dina and Rosabella Gregory to create a new musical called My Marcello. A concept album was released on Broadway Records on August 20, 2021.[17]

Along with many other Broadway industry regulars, Brunish contributed an essay about the challenges the pandemic has presented, in a book called "When The Lights Are Bright Again."[18]

Tony Awards edit

Brunish has received 15 consecutive nominations in 11 seasons and five Tony Awards.[19] In 2012, he received a Tony as producer for Porgy and Bess, which won Best Musical Revival.[20] In 2013, Brunish received a second Tony Award as a producer of the revival of Pippin.[21] He also was the recipient of the 2013 Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for the same show. In 2017, he was awarded Tony awards for Come From Away. In 2018, Brunish received his ninth consecutive nomination and third Tony award for Once on This Island. In 2020, he garnered his 11th consecutive Tony nnomination for Slave Play with a producing credit. The show also holds the record for most Tony Award nominations in history for a play with 12 nominations.[22]

In 2021, the Tony Award-winning revival of Company, for which Brunish served as a producer, was also awarded Outstanding Broadway Production at the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards, tied with Thoughts of a Colored Man.[23][24]

In 2022, Brunish received his fourth Tony for Company.[citation needed]

He was an early investor in the cabaret space 54 Below.[citation needed]

He is also the recipient of 2 Audience Choice Awards, 3 Broadway.com Awards and an Olivier Award.

In 2023, Brunish won his fifth Tony Award for producing Parade.[citation needed]

When walking the red carpet for the 2023 Tony Awards, Brunish was included on the list of Vanity Fair's "Best Styles on the Carpet".[25]

Personal life edit

Brunish is married to Jessica Rose Brunish and they have a daughter, Olivia.[26]

 
Jessica, Olivia, and Corey

Philanthropy edit

Brunish is a donor to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He named the Brunish Theatre (part of Antoinette Hatfield Hall) in Portland, Oregon, as a surprise for his mother's 75th birthday.[27] In 2010, he also produced a CD called Portland Sings for Haiti, which proceeds from were donated to aid the citizens of Haiti recovering from the earthquake.[citation needed] In December 2023, Brunish served as a judge for the Red Bucket Follies, a fundraiser for Broadway Cares, which raised over $4.5 million.[28] He serves as an investor in The Museum of Broadway.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Corey Brunish () | Playbill". Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  2. ^ "Fred Brunish - Wikipedia". Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  3. ^ "Brunish Family". Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  4. ^ "Wendee Brunish". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  5. ^ "State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Sacramento, CA, USA". ancestryinstitution.wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistic. 2005. Retrieved 2023-11-26. Name: Corey Frederick Brunish; Birth Date: 7 Jul 1955; Gender: Male; Mother's Maiden Name: Hughes; Birth County: Los Angeles
  6. ^ Anderson, Dick (2014-08-15). "Bullish Over Broadway | Occidental College". Oxy.edu. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e Portland Tribune and Community Newspapers. "Producing winning plays, LO man nominated for 34 Tony awards". Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  8. ^ a b Bob Hicks, [1]Oregon Artswatch, September 24, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  9. ^ Broadway Records [2].
  10. ^ Bob Hicks, [3]"Corey Brunish, beyond Broadway. The Tony-winning Oregon and Broadway producer looks to streaming and music in a new joint venture." Oregon Artswatch, May 7, 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  11. ^ Portland Tribune. "Lake Oswego?s Brunish feels at home in Broadway roles".[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Oregon Music News. "The Complete Corey Story". Archived from the original on 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  13. ^ The New York Times (December 1, 2011). "Theater Reviews Armed and Amorous, Committing Cold-Blooded Musical". The New York Times.
  14. ^ Playbill (April 24, 2012). "Broadway's Bonnie & Clyde Cast Album, Featuring Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes, Released April 24". Archived from the original on May 30, 2013.
  15. ^ Broadway Records [4].
  16. ^ a b "Best New Museum (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards". 10Best. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  17. ^ Broadway Records [5].
  18. ^ When the Lights are Bright Again [6].
  19. ^ "Corey Brunish – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  20. ^ Oregon Movie News (June 11, 2012). "Tony Awards luster shows reflections and connections in Portland". The Oregonian.
  21. ^ Meteor 17, [7] "Brunish is proud to have received a Tony as a producer of the revival of Pippin."
  22. ^ Serena Sonoma, [8] them, October 15, 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  23. ^ "Thoughts of a Colored Man & Company Win GLAAD Media Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  24. ^ "33RD ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS IN NYC RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: POSE, LIL NAS X, TODAY (NBC), POWER RANGERS: DINO FURY, SESAME STREET, LILY ROSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS, JONATHAN CAPEHART, DAWN ENNIS, BROADWAY'S COMPANY, THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN, VICE NEWS AND MORE | GLAAD". glaad.org. 2022-05-07. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  25. ^ "Tony Awards 2023 Fashion: All the Best Red-Carpet Outfits & Looks". Vanity Fair. 2023-06-11. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  26. ^ Bob Hicks, [9], Oregon Artswatch, September 30, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  27. ^ Lyndsey Hewitt, "Catching up with Corey Brunish", Portland Tribune, January 19, 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  28. ^ HIGGINS, MOLLY (2023-12-06). "Red Bucket Follies' Return Raises Over $4.5 Million for Broadway Cares | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
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