About.
After graduating in 2015, Peter began his regional theatre work in 2015, serving as the Music Director and Conductor for a production of CARRIE (d. Chris Betts) on Cape Cod. The following summer brought him home to California, as the Music Director for Missouri Street Theatre’s production of LITTLE MERMAID. His various work with Missouri Street Theatre earned him a 2016 Arty Award for Best Music Direction.
Returning to New York, Peter worked on back to back projects – BROKEN BRIDE (NYMF 2016, based on the music by Ludo), and the original production THE BAD YEARS (2016, Kerrigan & Lowdermilk), an immersive musical theatre experience. Later that year, he completed original orchestrations for selections of BIRDIE AND THE MAN and GUN AND POWDER. Peter continued his work with up and coming artists, producing and arranging tracks through Moon Studios, based in Brooklyn.
In the summer of 2017, Peter served as a music assistant to award-winning writers Tom Kitt (NEXT TO NORMAL) and John Logan (RED) on their premiere workshop of their new musical, SUPERHERO. It was here where he met conductor Ian Eisendrath.
Peter Hodgson hails from Sacramento, California, where he began playing music at an early age. After completing the Advanced Placement Music Theory exam with top scores while in High School, pursuing a musical education was a no-brainer. He was accepted to New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music where he received his BM in Music Theory and Composition. By then, Peter had realized his love of music fit in squarely with his passion for theatre, and so began music directing for student musicals. While in school, Peter’s music direction of WEST SIDE STORY (Tisch New Theatre) was produced at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, notable as being the largest theatre in New York South of 42nd Street/the Broadway Theatre District. After completing his four years of undergrad, he was accepted to the Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, receiving a full scholarship to attend. During these rigorous two years, Peter was exposed to every part of the writing process, trained by esteemed theatre professionals such as Mel Marvin and Michael John LaChuisa. Through these relationships, Peter was able to work on his first professional Broadway show, PIPPIN (2013 Broadway Revival), as a music intern. The culmination of the grueling program consisted of the development of a full length musical. From this, Peter’s premiere musical LADY MERCY (w. Sarah Fiete) was developed and given a 29-hour Equity reading. Songs from this show have been performed at multiple Cabarets around New York City, including Gallatin, Tisch, and the esteemed 54 Below.
After the completion of the workshop, he quickly transitioned into Music Directing the Cape Rep production of BILLY ELLIOTT. The production marked the beginning of Peter’s relationship with the company, which continued later that year with the company sponsoring the development and the premiere production of his new musical, BOUNDLESS (w. Alison Weller), a documentary musical using found text, interviews, and historical research to bring to light the difficulties of being in the Cape Cod fishing community and the effects is has on the community. The production was a commercial and critical success, and will continue to receive financial support from the company as the project further develops.
At the close of 2017, Peter was asked by Ian Eisendrath to join the music team of A CHRISTMAS STORY LIVE! ON FOX. The broadcast was derived from the musical, an adaptation of the beloved holiday classic, starring Matthew Broderick, Maya Rudolph, and Jane Krakowski. Original music and lyrics for the production were provided by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Academy Award Winners for LA LA LAND. The broadcast premiered on December 17th to wide commercial success.