Artist Bio

Arnold Weinstein

(Bio as of June 2002)

Arnold Weinstein (1927-2005) wrote librettos main­ly for composer William Bolcom, including A View from the Bridge with Arthur Miller, directed by Frank Galati; McTeague, co-written and directed by Robert Altman, Lyric Opera Chicago, 1992; and A Wed­ding based on the Altman film. In 2003 Carnegie Hall presented Bolcom-Weinstein’s one-woman opera, Medusa, for Catherine Malfitano, all conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. Other works include Bolcom­Weinstein Cabaret at Joe’s Pub, New York, the Amer­ican Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia, Konzerthaus in Vienna at New York’s Lincoln Center, and White Barn Theatre in Maine. Casino Paradise, cabaret opera, Ballroom New York, AMTF Philadel­phia. The Wind and the Willows, libretto written with Paul Sills, music by Bolcom, at Northhaven, Maine and Greenwich House, New York; and Red Eye of Love, Living Theater 1961, last done in 1998 Northaven, sets by Robert Indiana. Other artists Mr. Weinstein worked with on stage are Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers, Marisol, Howard Kanovitz and Robin Wagner, and the project Dynamite Tonite! Actors Studio 1964, directed by Paul Sills with Barbara Harris, revived in 2001 at Actors Studio with Estelle Parsons. Other composers he  worked with in­clude his adaptation of the Brecht-Weill opera Ma­hagonny; Lorca NY, poems adapted by Arnold Wienstein, music by T. Greco, at the Hammerstein Theater and La Mama in New York; Shlemiel the First, lyrics by Arnold Weinstein, book by Robert Brustein, from I. B. Singer, music by Hankus Netsky and Zalman Mlatek, directed by David Gordon, at A.R.T., American Music Theater Festival and A.C.T. and the Chicago production directed by Peter Amster at Pegasus Players. His work at Columbia College Chicago includes Street Opera, with music by William Russo. He worked with Henry Threadg­ill, Oliver Lake, Elvin Jones, and on the ABC Passover Holocaust opera, Final Ingredient, featuring music by David Amram. His publications include What Did I Do? with Larry Rivers for Avalon; Lorca, Modem European Writers for Scribners; Red Eye of Love for Sun and Moon Press; and Story Theater for Applause Books, 2003, written with Paul Sills.

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