Warner Brown

Warner Brown is an internationally-renowned writer whose work encompasses everything from the traditional form to the radical avant garde. He has collaborated with the composers Angelo Badalamenti, Michael Feinstein, Jenny Giering, Tony Hatch, David Heneker, Gwyneth Herbert, Michael Reed, Jimmy Roberts, Joshua Schmidt, Jim Steinman, Charles Strouse, George David Weiss and, by permission of the Cole Porter Trusts, the late Cole Porter. The Biograph Girl was Warner’s first West End musical and it went on to play internationally. It introduced him to composer David Heneker, who was to become his mentor, and Mr Heneker and Warner were the subjects of the BBC2 tv documentary The Making Of A Musical. Warner wrote the New Version of the classic Heneker/Cross musical Half A Sixpence. Further work in London includes Six For Gold, a series of six one-act musicals performed over a two-night cycle, Cinderella at the London Palladium, Tallulah For A Day, starring Marti Webb, and The Black and White Ball, featuring the songs of Cole Porter and directed by Matthew White. For the UK national tour, Warner wrote Son Of A Preacher Man, featuring the songs of Dusty Springfield, directed by Craig Revel Horwood. Warner’s plays include Laughing Dove, Wavelength and The Prospero Suite, directed by John Doyle. For BBC Worldwide, Warner wrote the arena show Walking With Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular, creating an entirely new genre of theatrical presentation. His work on this has won many international awards, including the Billboard Magazine Creative Content Award. Seen by over nine million people in more than two hundred and fifty cities around the world, this twenty-million dollar production is “the biggest family show of all time”. An episode of CSI: Las Vegas was based upon the show and it has even been parodied on The Simpsons. Warner is part of the consortium including choreographer Arlene Phillips and musical director Mike Dixon for the internet-based project Reality – The Musical. He has worked extensively in Europe, with artists ranging from Sir Peter Ustinov to Al Jarreau. His musical Garbo received its world premiere at Oscarsteatern in Stockholm, Sweden, with music by “Meatloaf” rock supremo Jim Steinman and Michael Reed. Warner has extensive writing credits for the BBC and was Script Associate of the BBC Classic Musicals Series, for which he adapted fourteen musicals and directed such international stars as Barbara Cook, Anthony Newley, Tyne Daly and Julia McKenzie. With Caroline Underwood, Warner is co- founder of The S&S Award, an international award for new musical theatre writing named in honour of his late parents. The Award has been presented, at its annual gala, by Michael Ball, Don Black, Nigel Harman and Janie Dee.