Erik Della Penna (born June 2, 1965) is a Tony-nominated American composer-lyricist, songwriter, and musician. He has scored two films, composed and written the lyrics for two children’s musicals, and has written and recorded twelve albums of songs. He has also been the principal guitarist for pop singer Natalie Merchant since 2001. For co-writing the music and lyrics for the musical Dead Outlaw with David Yazbek, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics.
Early life Erik Della Penna was born in The Bronx and grew up on Long Island, New York. He is conservatory-trained, having received a degree in Classical Guitar from the Mannes School of Music.
Career In 1994, Della Penna began touring with pop singer Joan Osborne on the Mercury Records label. Later, he toured and recorded with American singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant in support of several studio albums. During this time he also toured with folk singer Joan Baez and joined the international band Hazmat Modine as a guitarist and songwriter. Della Penna also has his own band called Kill Henry Sugar, a "metropolitan folk" duo with drummer and grammy-winning producer Dean Sharenow.
In February 2024, his musical Dead Outlaw opened at the Minetta Lane Theatre. It became a New York Times critic's pick and earned eleven Drama Desk Award nominations, winning three. It opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on April 27th, 2025. This production was also designated a New York Times critic's pick and was nominated for seven Tony Awards in May of 2025.
Composer credits
Theater and film +YearTitleCreditCategoryProducerref2002Toby and the Big TopComposer, LyricistChildren's musicalWalden Media2009Remnants of a WarComposerFilm scorePinhole Pictures2015Kitty HawkComposer, LyricistChildren's musicalAdrienne Arsht CenterTree ManComposerFilm scoreJon Reiner, Brad Rothschild2024Dead OutlawComposer, LyricistMusicalAudible2025Dead OutlawComposer, LyricistMusicalLia VollackSonia Friedman
Recorded music +YearTitleArtistCreditref2000Righteous LoveJoan OsborneGuitars, Composer2001DamascusDavid YazbekGuitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar, ComposerPopular Music for Today's Active LifestylesKill Henry SugarGuitars, Vocals, Composer2003Sell This PlaceGuitars, Vocals, Composer2004Love BeachGuitars, Vocals, Composer2007Swing Back and DownGuitars, Vocals, Composer2008Evil Monkey ManDavid YazbekComposer, Guitars2009Hot MessiahKill Henry SugarGuitars, Vocals, Composer2011CicadaHazmat ModineGuitar, Vocals, Composer2016Extra-Deluxe-SupremeComposer, Guitars, Vocals2020An Evening in New YorkRachelle Garnier & Erik Della PennaComposer, Guitar, Banjo, VocalsBox of BreathHazmat ModineBanjo, Composer, Guitar, VocalsThe Mojo ManifestoMojo NixonComposer2021RainyErik Della PennaComposer, vocals, instrumentation2023BonfireHazmat ModineVocals, Guitars, ComposerStop TimeKill Henry SugarVocals, Composer, Guitars
Other credits +YearTitleArtistCreditref1997Chocolate Supa HighwaySpearheadGuitar1999Tears of StoneThe ChieftainsGuitar2001Motherland Natalie MerchantBanjo, Bazouki, Guitar (Classical), Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar, Oud2003The House Carpenter's Daughter Guitar, Lap Steel GuitarSeeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3Pete SeegerGuitar2005Bowery SongsJoan BaezBanjo, Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, VocalsDirty Rotten ScoundrelsOriginal Broadway CastGuitars, Banjo, Lap Steel Guitar20093 BalloonsStephen LynchGuitarSaints and TzadiksSusan McKeownGuitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Humming, Tres2010Leave Your Sleep Natalie MerchantGuitar2014Natalie MerchantGuitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar2021I'll Meet You HereDar WilliamsGuitar (Electric)2022Radio WavesJoan OsborneGuitar2023Keep Your CourageNatalie MerchantGuitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Awards and nominations
+YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResultRef2024Drama Desk AwardOutstanding LyricsDead OutlawOutstanding MusicOutstanding OrchestrationsNew York Drama Critics CircleBest MusicalOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding New Off-Broadway MusicalOutstanding New ScoreOutstanding Orchestrations2025Tony AwardBest Original Score
References
External links
Internet Off-Broadway Database