Robert Martin (born December 8, 1962) is a Canadian television and musical theatre actor and librettist.
Career
Theatre Martin began his career as an actor and director at The Second City in Toronto in 1996. He served as Second City Toronto's artistic director from 2003–2004.
In 2005, he made his Broadway debut starring as "Man in Chair" in the musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which he co-wrote with Don McKellar (book), and Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (music and lyrics). He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical with Don McKellar. Internet Broadway Database listing, Tony Awards 2006 He reprised his role in London's West End production of The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received an Olivier nomination. Martin then kicked off the show's North American tour on its first stop in Toronto.Brown, Tony. Plain Dealer (Cleveland), "Loving spoofs of musicals, in a musical", October 14, 2007, p.J1
Martin wrote the book for the musical Minsky's, which premiered at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles in 2009.
He returned to Broadway as co-bookwriter of Elf with Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Chad Beguelin and music by Matthew Sklar. Elf had two limited engagements for the holiday seasons of 2010 and 2012.
Martin wrote the book for a musical adaptation of the 1973 film The Sting, with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Greg Kotis, and direction by John Rando, who had previously collaborated on Urinetown. Additional music and lyrics were provided by the show's star Harry Connick, Jr. The Sting premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ.
He collaborated with Beguelin and Sklar again for Half Time at Paper Mill Playhouse, which had premiered in Chicago in 2015 under the title Gotta Dance.
Martin reunited once more with the team of Sklar, Beguelin, and director Casey Nicholaw on The Prom which has its world-premiere at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in 2016. The Prom opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on November 11, 2018. The Prom received seven Tony nominations including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical for Martin and Beguelin.
In 2020, Netflix released a film adaptation of The Prom, which was directed by Ryan Murphy and starred Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, and Keegan-Michael Key.
Martin has written the book for a musical adaptation of The Princess Bride with Rick Elice, a sequel to The Drowsy Chaperone, and a musical adaptation of Night at the Museum with Shawn Levy.
Martin's latest projects include writing the books for two new musicals, Smash, based on the television series, and Boop! The Musical, a new musical about Betty Boop. He is also writing the book for the world premiere of Millions at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA. The show is directed by Bartlett Sher with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel.
Television Martin co-created the award-winning series Slings & Arrows (TMN/Sundance), a TV show about a Canadian theatre company struggling to survive while a crazy genius director haunted by his dead mentor helps the actors find authenticity in their acting. Martin also served as a writer (alongside fellow writers and co-creators Susan Coyne and Mark McKinney) and a creative producer. Martin played the role of Terry in two episodes.
His first foray into writing for television was for the CBC Television series The Industry (formerly titled Made in Canada), in which he also acted.
Martin was also a writer of and starred in the Canadian television sitcom Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, which had its debut on CBC Television in fall 2011."Camelot & cover songs: Inside CBC’s new fall lineup" . National Post, June 8, 2011.
He provided the voice of Cuddles the comfort doll on the Canadian TV show Puppets Who Kill, aired on The Comedy Network.
Martin's improv background carried over to television with acting credits including Improv Heaven and Hell and The Second City Project. For the latter, Martin also served as writer and producer.
Personal life Martin was married to Canadian actress Janet van de Graaf.
Works
Film and television works YearTitleCredited asWriterActor Role Network/distributor 1998–2001Improv Heaven and Hell The Comedy Network1998–2003The Industry Tyler HumeCBC Television 2002–2006 Puppets Who Kill Cuddles (voice, 34 episodes) The Comedy Network 2003–2006 Slings & Arrows Terry The Movie Network/Sundance Channel 2011, 2017 Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays Dr. David Storper CBC Television 2014–2016 Sensitive Skin Sam Movie Central/The Movie Network 2015 The Second City Project (also producer) Fictional version of self Global 2020 The Prom Netflix 2026 American Classic (also co-creator and executive producer) MGM+
Theatre works The Drowsy Chaperone (2006, Marquis Theater, Broadway) – Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison; book by Martin and Don McKellar; directed by Casey Nicholaw Minsky's (2009, Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles) – Music by Charles Strouse; lyrics by Susan Birkenhead; book by Martin; directed by Casey Nicholaw Elf (2010, Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway; 2012, Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway; 2024, Marquis Theatre, Broadway) – Music by Matthew Sklar; lyrics by Chad Beguelin; book by Martin and Thomas Meehan; directed by Casey Nicholaw Half Time (previously titled Gotta Dance) (2015, Bank of America Theater, Chicago; 2018, Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey) – Music by Matthew Sklar; lyrics by Nell Benjamin; book by Martin and Chad Beguelin; directed by Jerry Mitchell The Prom (2016, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta; 2018, Longacre Theatre, Broadway) – Music by Matthew Sklar; lyrics by Chad Beguelin; book by Martin and Beguelin; directed by Casey Nicholaw The Sting (2018, Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey) – Music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, Greg Kotis, and Harry Connick Jr.; book by Martin; directed by John Rando Boop! The Musical (2023, CIBC Theatre, Chicago; 2025, Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway) – Music by David Foster; lyrics by Susan Birkenhead; book by Martin; directed by Jerry Mitchell Smash (2025, Imperial Theatre, Broadway) – Music by Marc Shaiman; lyrics by Scott Wittman; book by Martin and Rick Elice; directed by Susan Stroman Millions (2025, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta) – Music and lyrics by Adam Guettel; book by Martin; directed by Bartlett Sher
Awards and nominations YearAward CategoryWorkResult2000Canadian Comedy AwardsTelevision - Writing - Episode or SpecialComedy Now!2001Television - Pretty Funny Writing - SeriesTwitch City2002Television - Pretty Funny Writing - SeriesMade in CanadaTelevision - Pretty Funny Writing - Special or Episode (For episode "Alan's Ex")2003Gemini AwardsBest Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series2004Best Writing in a Dramatic SeriesSlings & ArrowsWriters Guild of CanadaDrama SeriesSlings & Arrows (For episode "Madness in Great Ones")Slings & Arrows (For episode "Geoffrey's Return")Slings & Arrows (For episode "Outrageous Fortune")2005Canadian Comedy AwardsTelevision - Pretty Funny Writing - SeriesSlings & Arrows2006Gemini AwardsBest Writing in a Dramatic SeriesWriters Guild of CanadaDrama Series (One Hour)Slings & Arrows (For episode "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair")Slings & Arrows (For episode "Steeped in Blood")Tony AwardBest Book of a MusicalThe Drowsy Chaperone Best Actor in a Musical Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Book of a Musical Outstanding Actor in a Musical New York Drama Critics' Circle Best Musical Theatre World Award Theatre World Award 2007Gemini AwardsBest Writing in a Dramatic SeriesSlings & Arrows (For episode "The Way Madness Lies")Writers Guild of CanadaDrama Series (One Hour)2008Olivier AwardsBest New MusicalThe Drowsy ChaperoneBest Actor in a Musical2012Canadian Comedy AwardsBest Writing - Television Program or SeriesMichael: Tuesdays & ThursdaysBest Performance by a Male - Television2013Canadian Screen AwardsBest Comedy Program or SeriesBest Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic RoleGemini AwardsBell Media Award for Best Comedy Program or Series2019Tony AwardBest Book of a MusicalThe PromDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Book of a Musical2025Boop! The Musical
Recurring collaborators
Martin's theatrical works are often directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. He often partners with the music and lyrics team of Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar, sometimes co-writing the book with Beguelin. Martin's first three musicals that premiered on Broadway included Beth Leavel in the cast. He has collaborated with Don McKellar, Mark McKinney, and Susan Coyne on Slings & Arrows and Michael: Every Day, and with McKellar on The Drowsy Chaperone.
References
External links
Bob Martin - Downstage Center XM radio interview at American Theatre Wing.org, June 2006 New York Magazine interview, May 28, 2006