from Time Out NY

January 20 – 26, 2003

25 in '05
Some are new to the city; others have been honing their craft on the local scene for years. Some drizzle paint; others dribble basketballs. In every case, these New York artists, actors, activists and other players will be making some noise this year.

Michael Friedman
by Adam Feldman

During the 1930s and 1940s, songwriters such as Cole Porter and Lorenz Hart peppered their lyrics with highbrow references. In our era of Mamma Mia!, however, those craving musical wit and sophistication have had to look beyond the Great White Way — for example, to the cheeky art songs of Michael Friedman, the resident composer for the Civilians, one of Off-Broadway's most inventive troupes. "Intellectual is such a dirty word these days that I'm happy to have it applied to me," he says. "But I think of my work as having a streak of redeeming dorkiness." Friedman is working on several musicals, including a dirty lark titled God Hates the Irish, or the Ballad of Armless Johnny, which opens at the Rattlestick Theater in March. Also ahead is a Civilians show about evangelism, which has Friedman panting: "A musical based on speaking in tongues? Larry Hart, eat your heart out."

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