NanKnighton.com: About Nan

Nan Knighton

Nan Knighton received a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical for The Scarlet Pimpernel, for which she also wrote the lyrics to Frank Wildhorn's music. Pimpernel ran on Broadway for three seasons, went on to two U.S. National Tours, and has been produced all around the world. It can currently be seen in local and regional productions throughout the U.S. and U.K. and on international stages, including its ongoing long run in Halle, Germany. Her most recent work with Wildhorn (apart from several songs she contributed to the new musical Rudolf - The Last Kiss which premiered in Budapest, Hungary) is Camille Claudel, for which she wrote book and lyrics, and which was produced in 2003 by Goodspeed Musicals at their Norma Terris Theater. Ms. Knighton wrote the stage adaptation for Robert Stigwood's Saturday Night Fever, which received an Olivier nomination for Best Musical in London's West End. SNF went on to play on Broadway for two seasons followed by several tours in the U.S. and U.K., a second run on the West End and major productions in Germany, Italy, Australia, Korea and Japan. SNF is currently on tour in Europe. Ms. Knighton's play Man With Two Hearts Found on Moon received its first reading at The Roundabout Theatre, starring Swoosie Kurtz and Neil Patrick Harris. It is currently in development along with her mystery play Bad Dreams.

As a lyricist, Ms. Knighton has also worked with composers Jonathan Larson (Rent), Robert Lindsey Nassif (Eliot Ness in Cleveland), and Howard Marren (Paramour). Her original musical Snapshots (with music by Mr. Marren) received its first reading at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Ms. Knighton's songs have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall and numerous Manhattan concerts and cabarets, including Nan Knighton at Eighty Eights and Storybook: The Songs of Nan Knighton, a sold-out run at Sam's Dream Street Cabaret. Ms. Knighton's song "You Are My Home" (with music by Mr. Wildhorn, recorded by Linda Eder and Peabo Bryson) reached the Top 40 A/C List. Her song "Gold" (also with music by Wildhorn) received its international debut at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Ms. Knighton has also written for public television and film (My Little Girl, starring James Earl Jones and Geraldine Page). She has been published in the Michigan Quarterly Review, and has served as a judge for both The Kleban Foundation Award and The Young Playwrights Festival. Ms. Knighton is an alumna of Harvard University and Sarah Lawrence College, from which she received her B.A. degree. She received her M.A. from Boston University, where she is proud to have studied with both novelist John Barth and poet Anne Sexton. Most recently, Ms. Knighton has completed her first volume of photography: Moody. She lives in New York City, is married to John Breglio and has two daughters, Eliza Mason and Nola Heller.

[Last updated July 2006]

Family Updates:

Nan's husband, John Breglio, is the sole producer of the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, which opened at the Schoenfeld Theatre on 5 October 2006. Bob Avian, the co-choreographer of the original production, directs. A new cast recording is available from Masterworks Broadway, and a national tour is slated to begin in May 2008. For tickets and further details, visit www.achorusline.com.

Mr. Breglio was presented with the Actors Fund Medal of Honor, in recognition of the important role he plays in the entertainment and performing arts community. The award was presented by Patti LuPone at the Fund's 125th anniversary celebration on 15 October 2007 at Carnegie Hall. See the Playbill Online article or the Actors Fund website for more details.