The Featured Composers Series

Showcasing New York-based musical theatre/cabaret songwriters,

   the Big Night Out Featured Composers Series includes MAC Award winners, BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop students, up-and-coming composers, performance artists, and bands.  Past Composers who have graced the Big Night Out stage include Nicholas Levin, Sarah Wordsworth, Kathy Hart, David Caldwell,

John Meyer, Robert Rokicki, Brad Ross, Hector Coris, Eric March, Ritt Henn, Crystal Skillman, Bomi Lee,

and Lance Horne.


The featured artist is invited to present and perform their songs past and present and discuss their songwriting process.  In addition, the series often features special performances by singers from the Broadway, Cabaret, and Jazz communities invited by the songwriter

to participate in the evening.


Are You A Talented Composer or Lyricist?

We are now completely booked through 2009!


If you are interested in being a Featured Composer at Big Night Out,

you can submit two song demos (mp3’s only, please)

and a short biography to Jennifer and Bill.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL BIG NIGHT OUT

OR

You can can on down to our open mic at The Reprise Room and show us what you got.

OR

You can invite us to see your work presented by yourself or a talented artist.

The_Featured_Composers_Series_files/prigano.

Accidental Productions presents:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PHOTO GALLERY

MEDIA GALLERY

BIG NIGHT OUT HOME

JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 19th

For The Wonderful Music Of Mario Sprouse

ABOUT US/CONTACT US

PRESS

MARIO SPROUSE BIO COMING SOON!



MARIO SPROUSE Mario E. Sprouse has been active in the arena of music, theater and film for over 45 years. He has written over 200 songs and orchestrated/arranged hundreds more for a variety of film, theatre and cabaret projects. During the 1980’s Mario worked as an assistant with Bennie Benjamin (“I Don’t Want To Set the World On Fire,” “Jet”, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”) at Chappel-Intersong Music. Mario also worked as songwriter in residence for Wrap It Up Productions owned by Jon Grossbard at Planet Sound in NYC. During this same time, he was the musical director for Lockhart & Pettus Advertising Agency and wrote music for Con Edison as well as “Dark and Lovely” hair products commercials.


Mario has written original music and been the musical director for a number of theatrical productions, including “Black Nativity – a Gospel Song Play” by Langston Hughes  (Obie Award winner) – directed by Jesse Wooden Jr., “Lena Calhoun Horne – the Civil Rights Journey of a Negro Woman”  - written by Wendi Franklin, directed by Lillie Marie Redwood.   (Invited to the 2003  National Black Theater Festival in Winston-Salem,  N. C.) and “The Dark Star from Harlem” – a tribute to Josephine Baker at La Mama Theater in New York City – directed by Glynn Borders. In addition, he arranged and orchestrated the Off-Broadway musical “Take It Easy” written by Raymond Fox and performed at the Judith Anderson Theater.  He also produced the original cast album.  In 2005 Mr. Sprouse won an award for as the Best Musical Director from Spotlight On Productions for the play with music  “…from the front porch” written and performed by Renee Flemings.


Mario has provided original music for several short films, including “Beer Nuts,” directed by Lynn Ancona,

  “Mr. Dangle,” directed by Mary Gregory, and most recently, “The Bally Master,” directed by Gary Beeber.  Clips of “The Bally Master,” winner of the 7th Annual Coney Island Film Festival for Best Documentary Short, can be seen on YouTube.


Mario has been involved with cataloging the massive music/media collection of the for late, legendary, modern Renaissance man Gordon Parks, for whom he was the musical assistant for over 20 years.  He performed at Mr. Parks’ funeral at The Riverside Church in 2006 and for each of the Gordon Parks Foundation Fundraising Dinners in 2007 and 2009. In addition, Mario was the Music Supervisor for three of Parks’ films:  “Moments Without Proper Names”, “Martin – a film ballet” and the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary “Half-Past Autumn: the Life and Works of Gordon Parks.” He also produced Gordon Parks’ first CD of original classical music created to accompany his new book “A Star for Noon.” Recently, Mario has been named to the Advisory Board of the Gordon Parks Foundation.


Carmen McRae, Hubert Laws, Cornell Dupree, Buster Williams, Freddie Hubbard and Grover Washington, Jr. are some of the jazz artists who have recorded his musical arrangements.  Orchestrations and original songs written by Mario have been performed live by Gregory Hines and Phylicia Rashaad.


Most recently, Mario has been the musical director for the band Circular Time (www.circulartime.com.) They have performed in New York City, Martha’s Vineyard and abroad in Paris, Monte Carlo, Tangier, Casablanca and Senegal.