Book, Music and Lyrics by: Erik Przytulski

Erik Przytulski (pronounced “pruh-TOLL-skee), originally from Michigan, grew up in San Diego, CA with a deep passion and desire to play piano and write music that would make a mark on this world.

In 1992, Erik headed east and studied music and composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Here he produced and performed in numerous concerts, won several Berklee songwriting contests including the prestigious Songwriting Department Achievement Award in 1994, and was president of Berklee’s Songwriters’ Forum.

After Berklee, Erik moved to New Jersey and created a freelance professional music service called Pretzyl Music Productions. He began teaching piano privately, performing with several cover bands, and providing local clients with songwriting services.

In early 2000, Erik moved back to California to expand his writing and performing services in the Los Angeles area. He expanded his musical endeavors into the world of musical theater as composer for “The Golden Dream”, written by Joe Syiek. Erik went on to musically direct other productions for various Orange County theaters.

In 2006, Erik compiled his extensive library of Christmas themed music and wrote and produced his first fully original musical, “A Song for Christmas” (www.asongforchristmas.com). The show, co-written by Steve Troop and Sarah Stevens, highlights the many music influences of Erik’s playing and writing. Such influences include: David Benoit, Bruce Hornsby, Bill Evans, Billy Joel, Tori Amos, Paul Simon, Ben Folds, David Foster, and Jason Robert Brown.

In 2010, Erik’s wrote the music and lyrics for a recent musical adaptation of “The Velveteen Rabbit” (www.velveteenrabbit-themusical.com) and premiered his new original musical “Class of ’90″ (www.classof90musical.com).

In 2011, four of Erik’s shows were produced: ”The Kingdom that Couldn’t Sleep” (book by Bethany Price, music and lyric by Erik Przytulski) at the CSULB University Theatre, a second production of “Class of ’90″ at the Attic Theater in Santa Ana, CA, “Princesses”  (book & music by Erik Przytulski) with Broadway On Tour (www.princessesmusical.com), and a revival of “A Song For Christmas” also at the Attic Theater. In the fall, he began to work with the Academy of New Musical Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

As of 2012, “Princesses”, was recently presented at the 2012 ASCAP/Dreamworks Musical Theatre Workshop hosted by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pocahontas). He also premiered another new musical co-written with Bethany Price called “Adventure – The Musical!”. This summer, he will be among 5 new 15-minute musicals being presented and performed through the ANMT at the Colony Theatre in Burbank, CA.

Erik is a founding member of the critically acclaimed band, Common Kings (www.commonkings.com). worked with the Academy of New Musical Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. He is also resident music director for Costa Mesa High School and Long Beach Polytechnic High School’s theatre departments. He’s worked with many esteemed theatre production companies as Broadway On Tour, Musical Theatre Orange County, The Maverick Theatre, Orange County Children’s Theatre, Huntington Beach Playhouse, among others. For more information, visit Erik’s official website at: www.pretzyl.com