Michael J. Moritz Jr. is a Grammy Award nominee, Tony Award winner, an Emmy Award winner, American theatrical producer, record producer, music supervisor, music director, arranger, Broadway music supervisor, performer and pianist. Michael's work as a pianist, music director and arranger is featured on many recordings in the pop and musical theatre genres. Michael is on the Board of Directors for The Angel Band Project.
Early life Michael is originally from Youngstown, Ohio.
Career Most recently, Michael received the 2019 Tony Award for Best Musical as a co-producer for Broadway's Hadestown and the 2017 Emmy Award for Audio for his work on From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando. He also received both TONY and Olivier award nominations as a co producer for Broadway/West End's Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Other notable Broadway producing credits include Big Fish, A Night With Janis Joplin, On The Town, and The Velocity of Autumn. Michael has musically directed 200+ theatrical productions throughout the US and UK. Known as the ‘Musical Director to the Stars,’ Michael has received high praise for his music direction and performance piano work in both Broadway and Pop arenas. Michael was seen on the Broadway stage as on-stage piano and vocals in A Night With Janis Joplin. In 2017, Michael was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work as audio engineer for the DVD release of the show. Michael has music directed, produced and performed with notable performers including Stephen Schwartz, Sara Bareilles, Carole King, Bernadette Peters, Audra McDonald, Sean Hayes, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Matthew Broderick, Andrea Martin, Rosie O'Donnell, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Alice Ripley, Sarah Jessica Parker, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Porter, Len Cariou, Tommy Tune, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jessie Mueller, Kimiko Glenn, Orfeh, Rosie Perez, Kelli O'Hara, Lillias White, Carmen Cusack, Andréa Burns, Keala Settle, Marc Shaiman, Frank Wildhorn, Micky Dolenz, Tituss Burgess, Ace Young, Diana DeGarmo, Michael Cerveris, Norbert Leo Butz, James Monroe Iglehart, Aaron Tveit, Tiffany, Brandi Carlile, Richard Kind, Lena Hall, Robin DeJesus, Andrea McArdle, Chip Zien, Billy Magnussen, MacKenzie Mauzy, Lilla Crawford, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Laura Osnes, Lesli Margherita, Michael Cerveris, Christopher Sieber, The Muppets, Sesame Street, Ahrens and Flaherty, Linda Eder, Mary Testa, Julia Murney, Nikki Blonsky, Claybourne Elder, Melissa van der Shyff, Bobby Steggert, Capathia Jenkins, Christine Ebersole, Mimi Bessette, Phillip Boykin, Vince Oddo, Ben Hope, Randy Rainbow and Krystal Joy Brown.
Broadway productions Big Fish, 2013 - 2013 Producer A Night With Janis Joplin, 2013 - 2014 Producer Beautiful the Carole King Musical, 2013 - Producer The Velocity of Autumn, 2014 - 2014 Producer On the Town, 2014 - 2015 Producer Hadestown, 2019 - Producer
West End productions Beautiful the Carole King Musical, 2015 - 2017 Producer
Australian productions Beautiful the Carole King Musical, 2017 - Producer
Touring productions Evita North American Tour, 2013 Producer Beautiful the Carole King Musical First National Tour, 2015 Producer A Night With Janis Joplin, 2016 Music Supervisor
Awards and nominations Stephen Schwartz's Snapshots: 2022 Grammy Award Nomination for Best Musical Theater Album Hadestown: 2019 Tony Award for Best Musical Hadestown: 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando: 2017 Emmy Award for Audio Beautiful the Carole King Musical (Broadway): 2014 Tony Nomination for Best Musical Beautiful the Carole King Musical (Broadway): 2014 Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Musical Beautiful the Carole King Musical Original Broadway Cast Recording: Won Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album Beautiful the Carole King Musical (West End): Olivier Nomination for Best New Musical On the Town: 2015 Tony Nomination for Best Revival of a Musical On the Town: 2015 Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue
Discography Release date Title Role January 15, 2013Norbert Leo Butz - "Memory and Mayhem: Live at 54 Below" Music Director, Pianist, Vocalist, Producer, Arranger July 26, 2013"When I Grow Up Broadway's Next Generation: Live at 54 Below" Music Director, Pianist, ProducerSeptember 5, 2013Aaron Tveit - "The Radio In My Head: Live at 54 Below" Producer, Mixer September 26, 2013"Matilda the Musical" Original Broadway Cast Recording Associate ProducerNovember 15, 2013Bebe Neuwirth - "Stories In NYC...: Live at 54 Below"Producer, Mixer December 6, 2013Sierra Boggess - "Awakening Live at 54 Below"Producer, Mixer February 7, 2014"From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook"PianistMarch 25, 2014Jarrod Spector - "A Little Help From My Friends: Live at 54 Below" Producer, Mixer June 3, 2014 Ahrens & Flaherty - "Nice Fighting You: Live at 54 Below"Producer, Mixer September 9, 2014Shapiro Sisters - "Live Out Loud: Live at 54 Below"Music Director, Pianist, Producer October 19, 2014"The Angel Band Project: An Evening With Norbert Leo Butz"Music Director, Pianist, VocalistDecember 15, 2014"Peter Pan Live!"Executive Producer March 3, 2015"On the Town" New Broadway Cast RecordingProducer, Mixer May 5, 2015"Liberty: A Monumental New Musical" Original Off Broadway Cast RecordingProducer, Mixer May 19, 2015"Side Show Added Attractions: Live at 54 Below"Producer June 23, 2015Danielle Hope - "Bring the Future Faster: Live at 54 Below"Producer, Mixer September 18, 2015Isabela Moner - "Stopping Time"Music Director, Pianist, Arrangements, Producer September 25, 2015Micky Dolenz - "A Little Bit Broadway A Little Bit Rock and Roll Live at 54 Below"Producer, Arranger, Piano, Musical Direction, VocalistOctober 23, 2015Melissa Errico - "What About Today: Live at 54 Below"Producer, Mixer January 13, 2016"The Wiz Live!"Executive Producer June 3, 2016"Bonnie and Clyde and a Whole Lot of Jazz" - Frank Wildhorn and Friends Live at 54 BelowProducer, Mixer June 17, 2016 "Arlington" Original Cast Recording Producer June 17, 2016Broadway for Orlando, "What The World Needs Now Is Love"ProducerJune 17, 2016 Emily Skinner & Alice Ripley - "Unattached: Live at 54 Below" Producer September 9, 2016Norbert Leo Butz - "Girls Girls Girls Live at 54 Below" Music Director, Pianist, Vocalist, ArrangementsNovember 18, 2016"You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown" 2016 Off Broadway Cast RecordingProducer, Mixer December 2, 2016Carmen Cusack - "If You Knew My Story: Live at Feinstein's/54 Below" Producer, Mixer December 2, 2016Charles Busch - "Live at Feinstein's/54 Below" Producer, Mixer December 16, 2016"From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando" (CD/DVD/Blu-Ray)Producer, Music Director, Conductor, Mixer, Editor December 6, 2016 "I Have A Voice: Broadway Kids Against Bullying" - Charity Single Producer, Music Director, Mixer January 20, 2017"A Dog Story" Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording ProducerJanuary 27, 2017Shapiro Sisters - "Time Reveals" (EP) Producer, Mixer March 23, 2017Artists for the Arts - "With A Little Help From My Friends" (Single) Producer, Mixer, Choral Arrangements, Pianist August 18, 2017Orfeh & Andy Karl - "Legally Bound: Live at 54 Below" Producer, MixerSeptember 29, 2017Patti LuPone - "Don't Monkey With Broadway" Producer, MixerMay 11, 2018Lesli Margherita - "Rule Your Kingdom"Producer, MixerSeptember 28, 2018"Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera" Concert Cast RecordingProducer, MixerSeptember 28, 2018"Session Girls" Concert Cast RecordingMusic Director, Producer, MixerMarch 1, 2019Mimi Bessette - "Lullabies of Broadway: Act II"PianoAug 20, 2021My Marcello - concept recordingProducer
Philanthropy Michael is active with The Angel Band Project, a non-profit organization that supports victims of sexual assault through music therapy and outreach, both as a music director and board member. He is also active with the No Bully Organization. Michael also produced the track "What the World Needs Now Is Love" for Broadway for Orlando. He played the piano during the live performance of the song on "Maya and Marty" on June 21, 2016. In 2018, Michael served as music director and conductor for "From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Parkland," a benefit concert following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
References
External links
Michael J. Moritz Jr. at AllMusic