Kevin Murphy (screenwriter)

Last updated
Kevin Murphy
NationalityAmerican
Education Drew University
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • television producer
  • lyricist
  • composer
Notable work

Kevin Murphy is an American screenwriter, television producer, lyricist and composer. He wrote the book and lyrics of the musical Reefer Madness , as well as its television adaptation. For television, he has worked as a writer and producer for many series, most notably Desperate Housewives . He also wrote the stage musical Heathers: The Musical .

Contents

Television

Murphy's television career began as a writer for the family sitcom Big Brother Jake . He went on to write for the animated series Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog , Sabrina: The Animated Series and Phantom Investigators ; the science fiction-themed family programs Weird Science , Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show and So Weird ; the action series Martial Law ; the romantic comedy-dramas Jack & Jill and Ed ; and the family dramas Get Real and The O'Keefes . From its premiere in 2004 to 2007, he worked as head writer and co-executive producer for the hit comedy-drama Desperate Housewives. [1] Desperate Housewives was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2005, when Murphy was its head writer. [1]

In 2007, Murphy wrote and produced an original TV movie titled Nobody. In the same year, he worked as a writer and co-executive producer for the supernatural-themed comedy-drama Reaper . He also contributed original songs to Nobody and Reaper. In 2008, Murphy created the short-lived comedy-drama Valentine . In October 2009, Murphy joined the staff of the Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica . [2] A month later, he became the showrunner for the Syfy drama, taking over from Jane Espenson. [3]

As of 2009, Murphy has been working with Tom Welling to develop the September 2010 series Hellcats television series for The CW, based on the book Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders by Kate Torgovnick. [2] He was also working on a drama titled Velvet Hammer for USA Network. [2]

Murphy was the producer for the Syfy series Defiance . [4]

From 2017 to 2019, he was the showrunner and writer of The Son on AMC, which ran for two seasons. [5]

Stage

Murphy wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the book for the musical Reefer Madness . It was his third collaboration with writer-composer Dan Studney, but the first to be professionally produced. For the off-Broadway production of Reefer Madness, Murphy was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Lyrics". [1] In 2005, Murphy and Studney adapted their stage musical for television for Showtime. The song "Mary Jane/Mary Lane", which they composed for the television adaptation, won an Emmy Award for Music and Lyrics. [1]

In 2009, Murphy began developing a musical adaptation of the 1988 film Heathers . [2] Murphy wrote the book and lyrics, and the score was written by Laurence O'Keefe, composer of Legally Blonde: The Musical . [6] Three staged readings of Heathers: The Musical took place, with Kristen Bell in the starring role; the creators hoped for a regional production in 2010, to be followed by a Broadway run in 2011. [2] [6] In 2013, the musical began a run September 21 at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles. [7] The musical then began an Off-Broadway run in March 2014 and closed in August 2014. The musical later had a run at The Other Palace in London from June 2018 to August 2018, before transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a run from September 2018 to November 2018.

Personal life

Murphy is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Authors". Reefer Madness. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Schneider, Michael (October 7, 2009). "Kevin Murphy joins 'Caprica'". Variety . Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  3. ↑ Anders, Charlie Jane (November 16, 2009). "Jane Espenson Explains Caprica's Change Of Showrunner". io9 . Gawker Media . Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Kevin Murphy". IMDb. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  5. ↑ Otterson, Joe (February 9, 2019). "'Into the Badlands,' 'The Son' to End on AMC". Variety. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  6. 1 2 Bierly, Mandi (March 12, 2009). "'Heathers' musical starring Kristen Bell?". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  7. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (September 21, 2013). "Heathers The Musical Begins Sold-Out L.A. Premiere Engagement Sept. 21". Playbill. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
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