An Interview with Todd Ellison
MEMORIES OF MARVIN Todd Ellison, Music Director of The Philly POPS, served as Marvin Hamlisch’s Music Director and considers the legendary composer a mentor and inspiration. How did you meet Marvin Hamlisch? The first time we met was in 2002 when I was working on the show A Class Act about A Chorus Line’s lyricist Ed Kleban. Marvin was going to write the opening number. I went to his home and he was like the Tasmanian Devil! He seemed to be in a constant rush and his mind worked faster than anybody else’s. He almost came off as brusque and I thought, as I left with song in hand, “Well, I met Marvin once and that’s great.” But, you did meet again. How did you reconnect? In 2009, Marvin was doing a version of The Nutty Professor with the brilliant lyricist Rupert Holmes (known for “The Piña Colada Song”) along with then-84-year-old Jerry Lewis directing. Marvin needed someone like me to help pull it all together. How did things go this time? Marvin and Rupert wrote a really good score with clever songs, witty lyrics, and catchy melodies. Within my first hour there, he was teaching the company a song and told me to take over teaching the parts, but there was no piano part, just a melody with chords which I’d only heard him play for a few minutes! But, I found my way through it and it turns out, he was in the back, watching, the whole time. It was a big test!
Todd Ellison, Marvin Hamlisch, Rupert Holmes, and Jerry Lewis at auditions for The Nutty Professor.
He excitedly announced to everybody: “This guy is ME, 40 years ago. I’m so glad you’re here!” Then, he wanted me on all of his projects. What came next? A musical version of the movie Queen of the Stardust Ballroom. Ultimately, the writers had it shelved, so we took The Nutty Professor to Nashville in 2012 for pre-Broadway tryout. That summer, Marvin passed away.
10 | Encore! | The Philly POPS
