Chad Beguelin

Biography

Beguelin, a native of Centralia, Illinois, received an MFA from the graduate writing program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Beguelin wrote the book and lyrics for The Rhythm Club which was produced at the [[Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia)| Signature Theatre]], Arlington, Virginia in 2000 and was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. He wrote the book and lyrics for Wicked City, which was produced at the American Stage Company and the Mason Street Warehouse, Saugatuck, Michigan, in 2004. He wrote the books for Disney's Aladdin and On the Record.

As a screenwriter, Beguelin sold a script to Grammnet Productions and also worked as a staff writer for Disney's live action film department in California.

Beguelin wrote the book and lyrics for Elf the Musical, based on the 2003 film Elf. The musical premiered at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles in 2010 before opening on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in November 2010. Originally directed and choreographed by Matt Williams, the show has since returned to Broadway for the holiday season in 2012, and 2024, the latter which starred Grey Henson as Buddy the Elf.

Casey Nicholaw directed and choreographed the stage musical Aladdin which ran at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, Washington, July 7–31, 2011. The musical uses songs from the 1992 film Aladdin, with a new book by Beguelin and new lyrics by Beguelin and Alan Menken. The musical opened on Broadway on March 20, 2014, at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Beguelin made his Off-Broadway playwrighting debut with Harbor, directed by Mark Lamos, presented by Primary Stages, from August 6, 2013, to September 8, 2013. Harbor had its world premiere at the Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut, from August 2012 to September 15, 2012, directed by Mark Lamos.

Beguelin and Bob Martin wrote the book for a new musical based on the film Gotta Dance, titled Half Time, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, with additional music by Marvin Hamlisch. Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, the musical premiered at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago on December 13, 2015, running through January 17, 2016. It had originally been expected to open on Broadway in the Fall of 2016, and then for the Spring of 2017. The musical instead opened at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey on May 31, 2018. The cast stars André De Shields, Georgia Engel, Donna McKechnie, and Lillias White.

He wrote the book with Bob Martin and lyrics for a new musical The Prom, with music by Matthew Sklar based on an original concept by Jack Viertel. The musical premiered at the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia on August 18, 2016, in previews, directed by Casey Nicholaw. The musical opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on November 15, 2018, with previews starting on October 23, 2018.

Stage credits

Awards and honors

Personal life

Beguelin currently lives in Manhattan and Bridgehampton with his husband Tom and their dog Tucker.

References

References

1. Jones, Kenneth; Ehren, Christine. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/71236-Whos-Got-Rhythm-Musical-Rhythm-Club-Still-Strummin "Who's Got Rhythm? Musical 'Rhythm Club' Still Strummin'"] {{webarchive. link. (October 19, 2012 playbill.com, August 2, 2002)
2. [http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org/WickCity.pdf "Saugatuck’s Mason Street Warehouse Presents World Premiere of 'Wicked City'"] masonstreetwarehouse.org, August 4, 2004
3. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/181617-Disneys-Aladdin-Will-Arrive-on-Broadway-in-February-2014 "Disney's 'Aladdin' Will Arrive on Broadway in February 2014"] {{Webarchive. link. (2013-09-01 , Playbill.com, August 29, 2013)
4. [http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/14037/Aladdin " ''Aladdin'' Broadway"] Playbill Vault, accessed October 15, 2015
5. Propst, Andy. [http://www.theatermania.com/connecticut-theater/news/01-2013/chad-beguelins-harbor-to-dock-in-new-york_64114.html "Chad Beguelin's Harbor to Dock in New York"] theatremania.com, January 10, 2013
6. link. (2015-12-22 lortel.org, accessed December 15, 2015)
7. Hennessy, Christina. [http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/World-premiere-comedy-sails-into-Westport-Country-3805169.php "World premiere comedy sails into Westport Country Playhouse"] ctpost.com, August 21, 2012
8. Gans, Andrew. (December 14, 2015). "Gotta Dance, Helmed by Jerry Mitchell, Extends Chicago Run; Broadway Debut Set for Fall". Playbill.
9. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-bound-gotta-dance-gets-a-new-title-and-music-collaborator# "Broadway-Bound 'Gotta Dance' Gets a New Title and Music Collaborator"] Playbill, July 13, 2016
10. Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/article/new-musical-half-time-starring-andre-de-shields-georgia-engel-donna-mckechnie-and-lillias-white-begins-paper-mill-run# "New Musical 'Half Time', Starring André De Shields, Georgia Engel, Donna McKechnie, and Lillias White, Begins Paper Mill Run"] Playbill, May 31, 2018
11. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/the-prom-from-drowsy-chaperone-and-wedding-singer-creators-begins-previews-tonight# " 'The Prom', from Drowsy Chaperone and Wedding Singer Creators, Begins Previews Tonight"] Playbill, August 18, 2016
12. McPhee, Ryan. [http://www.playbill.com/article/full-cast-set-for-broadways-the-prom# "Full Cast Set for Broadway’s 'The Prom'"] ''Playbill'', May 3, 2018
13. McPhee, Ryan. [http://www.playbill.com/article/the-prom-sets-new-broadway-start-date# " 'The Prom' Sets New Broadway Start Date"] ''Playbill'', June 13, 2018
14. McPhee, Ryan. [http://www.playbill.com/article/musical-comedy-the-prom-switches-theatres-ahead-of-broadway-premiere# "Musical Comedy 'The Prom' Switches Theatres Ahead of Broadway Premiere"] Playbill, July 12, 2018
15. "Chad Beguelin – Awards".
16. "Chad Beguelin – Awards".
17. Beguelin, Chad. [http://www.chadbeguelin.com/ Official website for Chad Beguelin]. Retrieved March 2009.