Michael A. Levine is a 2008/2009 Ovation Award Nominee for Sound Design - Intimate Theatre for his work in BATTLE HYMN presented by Circle X Theatre Company.
As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Michael the following questions:
What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?
Much like the character in A Chorus Line, at around age 10, I saw my sister in a play and said, “I can do that.”
What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?
Outstanding original writing by Jim Leonard, inspired direction from John Langs, and an all-round excellent cast, especially our lead, Suzy Hunt. And the sound design/music wasn’t too shabby, either.
What project or projects are you currently working on?
I score Cold Case for CBS, now in its 7th season. A charming comedy feature I scored called Misconceptions will be released at the beginning of the year. A screenplay I wrote, Useless, was an MPAA Nicholl Fellowship semi-finalist and I am in the process of trying to get it produced. I am writing a musical with Arthur Hamilton (Cry Me a River). Also trying to get my rave opera, Orpheus Electronica, performed.
What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?
That it exists. The economics of theater in LA are completely cuckoo. But the talent pool is oceanic. And performing talent must perform. So, despite all rational odds, theater exists. And, occasionally, even thrives.
What’s your dream project?
To time travel and be reincarnated into the minds of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim when they wrote Somewhere.
Only slightly less whimsically, I’d love to see a full-blown production of a science fiction extravaganza/musical called Worlds I wrote when I was 18. I still think it contains some of my best work.
Biography: Michael A Levine is the composer for the CBS/Jerry Bruckheimer crime drama Cold Case. Feature credits include Adrift in Manhattan, and Columbus Day. He wrote the theme for Scrat, the squirrel from Ice Age. He has also worked as a support composer and violinist for Hans Zimmer on Batman: Dark Knight and The Simpsons Movie for which he arranged the infamous choral arrangement of Spider Pig.
Michael composed the world’s first Concerto for Pedal Steel Guitar and Orchestra (2005) and Divination by Mirrors for Musical Saw and Strings (1998). His best known contribution to western culture, though, is the music for the Kit Kat Gimme a Break jingle.
For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!
Excellent article about an exceptionally talented fellow. I happen to be the sister mentioned and am still involved in theater, approximately 45 years later. More precisely, now re-involved in theater after decades of other adventures. In part my return to artistic pursuits was inspired by Michael, our brother Sam Levine, and my son Jeremy Thal, all of whom are musicians. And that third brother Elliott Levine, the judge, who also plays several instruments. An exciting recent moments was in Michael’s studio in LA watching him work with one of the world’s most accomplished erhu players. Magic.
If you like great composing, wonderful musicianship, and a writer who can compose movie scripts, operas and plays, he’s okay.
However, if you want an outstanding humanist, person of integrity, brilliant mind, one of the most considerate people in the world, you could do no better than Michael Levine.