Peter Kellogg is a musical theater book writer and lyricist, known for his work on musicals such as Anna Karenina, for which he was nominated for two 1993 Tony Awards, Desperate Measures in 2017 and Monte Cristo in 2026.
Early life Kellogg studied English literature at Harvard University, graduating in the 1970s.
Career Before his theatrical career, Kellogg worked in advertising. While working, he began developing the book and lyrics to his most notable musical, Anna Karenina alongside Daniel Levine, which was later announced to premiere on Broadway. On August 26, 1992, the Broadway production opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City, running for 46 performances and garnering Kellogg two 1993 Tony Award nominations, for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical.
He next wrote the lyrics and book for the musical Chasing Nicolette (originally titled Nicolette and Aucassin). The first production played at the Westport Country Playhouse from August 28, 2000, to September 9, 2000. The cast included Chuck Cooper (as King Mostansir), Bronson Pinchot, Bill Buell, Nancy K. Anderson, Jennifer Allen, Darlesia Cearcy (as Nicolette), James Judy, Jeremy Webb (as Aucassin), Richard White and Michael Wiggins. Seth Barrish directed.Playbill From December 4, 2004, through January 5, 2005, The Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania performed Chasing Nicolette.
Next, along with Albert C Todd, Kellogg wrote the English lyrics for Unruly Horses, a 2002 musical conceived by Moni and Mina Yakim and based on the Soviet Union songwriter and folk hero Vladimir Vysotsky. The play is derived from the French actress Marina Vlady's best-selling memoir of her marriage and life with Vysotsky. The show features 24 musical numbers with English lyrics by Kellogg and Albert C Todd and musical adaptation by Larry Hochman, and premiered in 2002 at the King's Head Theatre in London, England. In 2008, the American Opera Projects in Brooklyn, New York performed five excerpts from the musical as a workshop.The American Opera Projects http://www.operaprojects.org/Unrulyhorses.htm
He then premiered his musical, Desperate Measures, based on William Shakespeare's play Measure for Measure. In 2004, Desperate Measures had its limited engagement, world premiere at the Lyric Stage in Irving, Texas. The play ran from April 30-May 15, 2004. Playbill The play previewed at the York Theatre in NYC on September 19, 2017, opened on October 2 for a two-week run, which was extended until December 31, 2017.Playbill, "Desperate Measures Musical Extends for Third Time Off-Broadway" by Olivia Clement, Nov 20, 2017 http://www.playbill.com/article/desperate-measures-musical-extends-for-third-time-off-broadway
His other works include Lincoln In Love, Stunt Girl ( Front Page Girl) and Money Talks (originally titled Money The Musical), which have been read and produced regionally. On January 17, 2010, Goodspeed Opera House held a reading of Lincoln In Love as part of The Fifth Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Artists produced by the Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater. Mara Davi, Louis Hobson and John Patrick Lowrie headlined the June 7, 2010 reading of Stunt Girl, directed by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Yorkey for Manhattan Theatre Club's "7@7" reading series at New York City Center.Playbill
The Bristol Riverside Theatre staged the world premiere of his musical comedy The Rivals, based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan's farce, October 30–November 18, 2018.Playbill, "Kevin Massey, Erin Mackey, Ed Dixon, Harriet Harris Star in Premiere of The Rivals Musical" by Andrew Gans, Oct 30, 2018 http://www.playbill.com/article/kevin-massey-erin-mackey-ed-dixon-harriet-harris-star-in-premiere-of-the-rivals-musical-at-bristol-riverside The production is directed by Eric Tucker and choreographed by Jason A. Sparks. The cast was led by Tony Award winner Harriet Sansom Harris, Ed Dixon, Erin Mackey , Kevin Massey, Charlotte Maltby, Chris Dwan, John Treacy Egan, Emma Stratton, Joe Veale and Jim Weitzer.
On Friday, July 14, 2017, previews began for his musical, Money Talks, Off-Broadway at the Davenport Theatre, written alongside David Friedman. The production followed Ben Franklin telling the story of American currency and ran through September 3.Playbill, "Ralph Byers Will Be Ben Franklin in New Off-Broadway Musical Money Talks" by Andrew Gans, June 23, 2017 http://www.playbill.com/article/ralph-byers-will-be-ben-franklin-in-new-off-broadway-musical-money-talks
Kellogg wrote the book and lyrics alongside Stephen Weiner's score for the musical, Monte Cristo, adapted from The Count of Monte Cristo. The musical had a workshop premiere in 2024 at the York Theatre Company Off-Broadway, before premiering in a full production there in 2026. The production was directed by Peter Flynn and starred Adam Jacobs, Sierra Boggess and Norm Lewis amid an ensemble cast, running from March 12, 2026 to April 5, 2026.
Personal life Kellogg currently resides in Chappaqua, New York with his wife.
Works YearTitleRolePremiereRef.1992Anna KareninaBook/LyricistBroadway, Circle in the Square Theatre, New York City2002Unruly HorsesOff-West End, King's Head Theatre, London, England2004Desperate MeasuresRegional, Lyric Stage, Dallas, Texas2009Stunt GirlOff-Broadway, Village Theatre, New York City 2017Money TalksOff-Broadway, Davenport Theatre, New York City2023Penelope (or How the Odyssey Was Really Written)Regional, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Garrison, New York2024Monte CristoWorkshop, York Theatre Company, New York City
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.1993Tony AwardBest Original ScoreAnna KareninaBest Book of a Musical2006New York Musical Theatre FestivalExcellence in Musical Theatre WritingDesperate MeasuresThe New York Musical Theatre Festival 2006 awards 2018Drama Desk AwardOutstanding LyricsOutstanding Book of a MusicalOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding New ScoreOutstanding Book of a Musical
References