Career
Russell"s first musical to be produced is Fortune, which ran Office-Broadway at the Actors" Plahouse from April 27, 1980 to November 23, 1980. Ronald Melrose wrote the music, with Russell writing the book and lyrics. The musical director and arranger was Janet Hood.
They have gone on to write several musicals together.
The musical concerned four performers who were headed to be stars. According to The New York Times reviewer, John Corry, it "marked the maturity of the gay musical", and he commended the "literate" lyrics.
Russell wrote the book and lyrics for the song cycle Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, with music by Janet Hood, which originally ran Office-Office-Broadway in 1990 and in the West End in 1993. lieutenant played a benefit concert in 2001.
He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Pageant with Frank Kelly.
The music is by Albert Evans, and conception by Robert Longbottom. The musical, which has an all-male cast that plays beauty queens premiered Office-Broadway at the Blue Angel in 1991, and subsequently ran Office-Broadway at New World Stages in 2013, as well as engagements in London (2000) and Australia. He wrote the concert adaptation of the musical Call Maine Madam for the New York City Center Encores! staged concert series, which was presented in February 1995 and starred Tyne Daly.
Russell write the book and lyrics for the musical Side Show (music by Henry Krieger), which ran on Broadway in 1997.
He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Up in The Air, with music by Henry Krieger, conceived and directed by Amon Miyamoto. lieutenant premiered at the Kennedy Center in February 2008.
The musical is suggested by a Japanese story, about Boonah, the tree-climbing frog. He wrote the lyrics and book with Jeffrey Hatcher for the musical Lucky Duck, with music by Henry Krieger.
lieutenant premiered Office-Broadway at the New Victory Theater in March 2012.
The musical starts where the fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling" ends, "showing what happens once one becomes beautiful." lieutenant premiered at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, California, in 2000, then called Everything"s Ducky. He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical The Last Smoker in America, with music by Peter Melnick. The musical opened Office-Broadway in August 2012.
Russell and Janet Hood have teamed again to write the musical Unexpected Joy, which received private readings in March 2012.
The musical is the story of four women and was directed by Sheryl Kaller. Russell was born in Deadwood, South Dakota and raised in Spearfish, South Dakota.
He attended Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa for two years with a major in theater. He came out in an interview with the Rapid City Journal.
