Artist Biographies

Susan J. Vitucci is best known as librettist/puppet designer/performer of the acclaimed puppet operetta LOVE’S FOWL, composed by Henry Krieger, featuring the puppet star La Pulcina Piccola and the Clothespin Repertory Theatre. LOVE’S FOWL enjoyed a successful run at New York Theatre Workshop (Hewes Design Award nomination) and toured the U.S. to Spoleto Festival USA, the Hopkins Center, PICA’s TBA festival, and other venues. La Pulcina gained wide recognition from a popular feature story on public radio’s “This American Life.” Susan edited “52 Pick-up, A Practical Guide to Doing Theater with Children,” by Willie Reale, (Dramatist Play Service). A member of Dramatists Guild, Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Playwrights Unit, and a NY Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect, Susan performs with the Secret City Singers in New York City. She also writes and produces events and conferences for corporate clients, and teaches her “Junk Drawer Drama Workshop” at colleges and universities across the country.

Henry Krieger composed the score for the legendary 1981 Broadway musical DREAMGIRLS, for which he received a Tony nomination, and a Grammy Award for the show’s original cast album. One song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" became a top hit. He also garnered three Academy Award nominations for his music in the 2006 DREAMGIRLS feature film, and “Love you, I Do” received a Grammy Award for Best Song in a Motion Picture. In 1998 he received a Tony Award nomination for his score of SIDE SHOW; the work was revived on Broadway in 2014. Also for Broadway, he composed the score for the Tony Award-winning THE TAP DANCE KID (1984). Among his other work, he wrote “Santa's Gonna Rock And Roll,” the opening number of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular for over a decade, and “Take The Flame,” for the opening and closing ceremonies of Gay Games IV.  He is composer of the puppet operettas LOVE’S FOWL and SMALL FISH, both with libretti by Susan J. Vitucci.