VISIT MY WEBSITE AT www.joepatrickward.com
There you can hear more music from "Sordid Lives: The Series", as well as songs from a few of my stage musicals!
For the past two decades, I've been a busy theatrical and television composer/lyricist in both L.A. and New York. I recently finished scoring the entire first season of the new TV series "SORDID LIVES", based on Del Shores' popular film and play. The show can currently be seen on the LOGO Channel, and stars Olivia Newton-John, Rue McClanahan, Caroline Rhea, Leslie Jordan, and Beth Grant. (Also, look for my cameo appearances in the series. I play "Marshall", the pajama-clad lunatic running the halls of the mental institution with Brother Boy!)
Next year, I'll score the movie version of Del's hit play "SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES". I was involved with the stage production of "Sissies" from its conception in 2000, not only designing the musical narrative but also appearing in the show. In addition to composing the filmscore, I'll appear onscreen in the dual roles of Brother Chaffey and Houston the Bar Pianist (the roles I created onstage).
This continues a very long and rewarding relationship with my good friend Del. In addition to "Sissies", I wrote the songs for Del's multiple award-winning play with music, "THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A TRAILER TRASH HOUSEWIFE" (starring Beth Grant). I toured the U.S. in stage revivals of "SISSIES" (starring Delta Burke and Leslie Jordan) and the play version of "SORDID LIVES" (for which I scored original music).
In New York, I wrote the music and lyrics for Leslie Jordan's Off-Broadway musical "HYSTERICAL BLINDNESS AND OTHER SOUTHERN TRAGEDIES". The show ran for seven months at the Soho Playhouse, then played in Los Angeles, Richmond and Fort Worth (in a production I directed).
I also wrote the songs for the perennial cult musical "JUDY'S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS", which has enjoyed successful runs in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Des Moines and other cities across the United States. The Original Cast Recording of "JUDY'S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS" is available on CD. I wrote the book, music and lyrics for another cult favorite, "THE GRAVE WHITE WAY", which played at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in L.A. following a successful run at The Cinegrill in Hollywood's famed Roosevelt Hotel. My current musical, "FOOLS FOR BROADWAY", is currently being workshopped in NYC by the acclaimed Director's Company.
In addition, I wrote several songs for two full-length animated features in development at Warner Brothers. And I was the songwriter (and head comedy writer) for the National Public Radio comedy show "Propaganda Radio".
A reluctant product of the Deep South, I left my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana in 1985, moved to Los Angeles, and have never looked back (well, maybe a glance or two). Critics from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Theatreweek Magazine and The New Yorker have called my songs "outlandishly funny", "clever and sophisticated", "shockingly amusing", "joyous and delicious", and "hilariously memorable".
My original songs have been sung by a variety of well-known theatre, television and cabaret performers, including John Raitt, Loretta Devine, Stephen Schwartz, Billy Porter, Susan Egan, Harry Groener, Debby Holiday, Jason Graae, Davis Gaines, Ken Page, Stephanie J. Block, Mary Bond Davis, Sharon McNight, Yeardley Smith, Richard Kline, Isabel Keating, Gregory Jbara, Valarie Pettiford, Suzanne Blakeslee, Roxie Lucas, Patrika Darbo, Mark Baker, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Robert Mandan, Jan Maxwell, Billy Barnes, Camille Saviola, Guy Haines, Kelli Bishop, Marilyn Sokol, Kristine Zbornik, Seth Rudetsky, Kaitlin Hopkins, Connie Champagne, and Kay Cole.
