Bob Martin
Martin in 2023
Born	Robert Martin (1962-12-08)December 8, 1962 (age 62) London, England
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation(s)	Librettist Actor
Known for	Writer and Actor,The Drowsy Chaperone Writer and Actor,Slings & Arrows
Website	http://bobmartincreative.com

Robert Martin (born December 8, 1962) is a Canadian television andmusical theatre actor andlibrettist.

Martin began his career as an actor and director atThe Second City inToronto in 1996. He served as Second City Toronto's artistic director from 2003–2004.^[1]

In 2005, he made hisBroadway debut starring as "Man in Chair" in the musicalThe Drowsy Chaperone, which he co-wrote withDon McKellar (book), andLisa Lambert andGreg Morrison (music and lyrics). He was nominated for theTony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and won theTony Award for Best Book of a Musical with Don McKellar.^[2] He reprised his role inLondon'sWest End production ofThe Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received anOlivier nomination. Martin then kicked off the show's North American tour on its first stop in Toronto.^[3][4]

Martin wrote the book for the musicalMinsky's, which premiered at theAhmanson Theater inLos Angeles in 2009.^[5]

He returned to Broadway as co-bookwriter ofElf withThomas Meehan, lyrics byChad Beguelin and music byMatthew Sklar.Elf had two limited engagements for the holiday seasons of 2010 and 2012.^[6]

Martin wrote the book for amusical adaptation of the 1973 filmThe Sting, with music and lyrics byMark Hollmann, lyrics byGreg Kotis, and direction byJohn Rando, who had previously collaborated onUrinetown. Additional music and lyrics were provided by the show's starHarry Connick, Jr.The Sting premiered atPaper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ.^[7]

He collaborated with Beguelin and Sklar again forHalf Time atPaper Mill Playhouse, which had premiered inChicago in 2015 under the titleGotta Dance.^[8]

Martin reunited once more with the team of Sklar, Beguelin, and directorCasey Nicholaw onThe Prom which has its world-premiere at theAlliance Theatre in Atlanta in 2016.The Prom opened on Broadway at theLongacre Theatre on November 11, 2018.^[9]The Prom received sevenTony nominations includingBest Musical andBest Book of a Musical for Martin and Beguelin.

In 2020, Netflix released a film adaptation ofThe Prom, which was directed byRyan Murphy and starredMeryl Streep,James Corden,Nicole Kidman,Andrew Rannells, andKeegan-Michael Key.^[10]

Martin has written the book for a musical adaptation ofThe Princess Bride withRick Elice, a sequel toThe Drowsy Chaperone, and a musical adaptation ofNight at the Museum withShawn Levy.^[11][12]

Martin's latest projects include writing the books for two new musicals,Smash, based on the television series, andBoop! The Musical, a new musical aboutBetty Boop.^[13] He is also writing the book for the world premiere ofMillions at theAlliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA. The show is directed byBartlett Sher with music and lyrics byAdam Guettel.

Martin co-created the award-winning seriesSlings & Arrows (TMN/Sundance), a TV show about a Canadian theatre company struggling to survive while a crazy genius director haunted by his dead mentor helps the actors find authenticity in their acting.^[14] Martin also served as a writer (alongside fellow writers and co-creatorsSusan Coyne andMark McKinney) and a creative producer.^[15] Martin played the role of Terry in two episodes.

His first foray into writing for television was for theCBC Television seriesThe Industry (formerly titledMade in Canada), in which he also acted.

Martin was also a writer of and starred in the Canadian television sitcomMichael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, which had its debut onCBC Television in fall 2011.^[16][17]

He provided the voice ofCuddles the comfort doll on the Canadian TV showPuppets Who Kill, aired onThe Comedy Network.

Martin's improv background carried over to television with acting credits includingImprov Heaven and Hell andThe Second City Project. For the latter, Martin also served as writer and producer.

Martin was married to Canadian actressJanet van de Graaf.

• The Drowsy Chaperone (2006,Marquis Theater, Broadway) – Music and lyrics byLisa Lambert andGreg Morrison; book by Martin andDon McKellar; directed byCasey Nicholaw
• Minsky's (2009,Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles) – Music byCharles Strouse; lyrics bySusan Birkenhead; book by Martin; directed byCasey Nicholaw
• Elf (2010,Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway; 2012,Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway; 2024,Marquis Theatre, Broadway) – Music byMatthew Sklar; lyrics byChad Beguelin; book by Martin andThomas Meehan; directed byCasey Nicholaw
• Half Time (previously titledGotta Dance) (2015,Bank of America Theater, Chicago; 2018,Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey) – Music byMatthew Sklar; lyrics byNell Benjamin; book by Martin andChad Beguelin; directed byJerry Mitchell
• The Prom (2016,Alliance Theatre, Atlanta; 2018,Longacre Theatre, Broadway) – Music byMatthew Sklar; lyrics byChad Beguelin; book by Martin and Beguelin; directed byCasey Nicholaw
• The Sting (2018,Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey) – Music and lyrics byMark Hollmann,Greg Kotis, andHarry Connick Jr.; book by Martin; directed byJohn Rando
• Boop! The Musical (2023,CIBC Theatre, Chicago; 2025,Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway) – Music byDavid Foster; lyrics bySusan Birkenhead; book by Martin; directed byJerry Mitchell
• Smash (2025,Imperial Theatre, Broadway) – Music byMarc Shaiman; lyrics byScott Wittman; book by Martin andRick Elice; directed bySusan Stroman
• Millions (2025,Alliance Theatre, Atlanta) – Music and lyrics byAdam Guettel; book by Martin; directed by Bartlett Sher

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Martin's theatrical works are often directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. He often partners with the music and lyrics team of Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar, sometimes co-writing the book with Beguelin. Martin's first three musicals that premiered on Broadway includedBeth Leavel in the cast. He has collaborated withDon McKellar,Mark McKinney, andSusan Coyne onSlings & Arrows andMichael: Every Day, and with McKellar onThe Drowsy Chaperone.

• Bob Martin atIMDb
• Bob Martin at theInternet Broadway Database
• Bob Martin -Downstage Center XM radio interview atAmerican Theatre Wing.org, June 2006
• New York Magazine interview, May 28, 2006

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