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Oscar Brand

OSCAR BRAND

  (1920 - )
Nationality:    Canadian
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    Robert A Freedman Dramatic Agency  

OSCAR BRAND was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, (07 Feb 1920) and grew to six feet tall. Having been graduated from Brooklyn College, he joined the U.S. Army in time for World War II and was cited for his work as Section Chief of a psychology unit and, later, as Editor of a newspaper for psychiatric patients. In 1945, having won the war, he began presenting what is now the oldest continuous radio show in history, the award-winning "Folk-song Festival" on New York Public Radio. His name is to be found among the credits of seventy-five documentary films, such as Gulf's "Invisible Journey", Ford's "Highway By the Sea", Bell's "Ballad To The Fair", and many others for which he has garnered Venice, Edinburgh, Golden Reel, Valley Forge, Freedoms Foundation, Scholastic, and Golden Lion Awards. He has collected Peabody, Ohio State, Edison, and Emmy Awards for his hundreds of television shows, and was for four years host of Procter and Gamble's top-rated Canadian series, "Let's Sing Out". He was Music Director of NBC-TV's "Sunday Show", "Exploring", "Treasure Chest", and others, and was host and composer for "The First Look" and NBC's syndicated "Spirit of '76". As a leading performer for children on TV, records, and films, he was on the advisory panel which created the series known as "Sesame Street". He has scripted and scored ballets for Agnes DeMille and John Butler, commercials for Rival, Log Cabin, Maxwell House, Oldsmobile, etc. and was responsible for the songs in the films "The Fox", "Sybil", "The Long Riders" and "Blue Chips". He created music for the critically-acclaimed "In White America" and the score for "How To Steal An Election". With Paul Nassau he wrote the lyrics and music for the Broadway shows, "A Joyful Noise" with John Raitt, directed by Dore Shary, and "The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N" with Hal Linden and Tom Bosley, directed by George Abbott. He also wrote and scored the Kennedy Center's Bicentennial musical, "Sing America Sing". Brand is the Curator of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, author of seven best-selling books, has recorded 90 LPs, written songs for Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, the Smothers Brothers, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He has been on the faculty of The New School, New York University, and Hofstra University. He has a BS in Psychology from Brooklyn College, a Laureate from Fairfield University, and an honorary Doctorate from the University of Winnipeg. In his long association with the National Public Radio Network, he has been host of "Voices In The Wind", arts interviewer for "Morning Edition", and co-host of the five-hour "Sunday Show". For CBC he was the "U.S." for Canada's CTV. He was host of "Brand New Scene" and composed the Canadian anthem, "Something To Sing About". His concerts for adults and children have earned him such accolades as this from the NY Times: "One of America's best".

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)

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below is a list of Oscar Brand's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Bridge, The         Education Of Hyman Kaplan, The         How To Steal An Election         In White America         Joyful Noise, A         Second Scroll, The         Sing America Sing         Thunder Rock

Bridge, The

Synopsis:
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1st Produced:
Greenwich Mews Theatre, NYC    -

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Education Of Hyman Kaplan, The

Education Of Hyman Kaplan, The
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Notes:
Music And lyrics by Oscar Brand; Paul Nabbeau; book by Benjamin Zabel. Based on the novel by Leo Rosten

1st Produced:
Broadway    -

Organisations:
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1st Published:
Dramatic Publishing Company 1968   -

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Genre:
adaptation

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How To Steal An Election

Synopsis:
sends up the current belief that charisma would help a candidate win.

Notes:
music And lyrics with John Gerstad

1st Produced:
Pocket Theater, NYC    -

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In White America

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1st Produced:
Sheridan Square Playhouse, NYC    -

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1st Published:
Samuel French, NY,    -

Music:
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Genre:
music

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Joyful Noise, A

Joyful Noise, A
a travelling musician, Shade, arrives at a remote village. all the young women are fascinated by him and one, Jenny falls in love with him. Jenny is engaged to the local clergyman and when Shade gives her a locket, Jenny's Father orders him to leave the village. at that moment someone arrives looking for Shade and he is offered a recording contract. Shade leaves to become famous and Jenny marries the clergyman

Notes:
Music by Oscar Brand And Paul Nassau; Lyrics by Oscar Brand And Paul Nassau; Book by edward Padula; Based on "the Insolent Breed" by Borden Deal

1st Produced:
Mark Hellinger Theater, New York    24456

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1st Published:
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Music:
Original cast recording: Blue Pear (1018) 1966

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
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Further Reference:
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Second Scroll, The

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Sing America Sing

Synopsis:
the Story of America as told by its people in letters, manuscripts and songs

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1st Produced:
Kennedy Center, Wash., D.C.    1975

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1st Published:
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To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
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Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  6            Other:  -

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Thunder Rock

Synopsis:
Musical version of Robert ardrey's prize winning 1939 play about a man living in a world of ghosts because the real world is too frightening

Notes:
music And lyrics with John Gerstad

1st Produced:
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1st Published:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical adaptation

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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