Martin Charnin is celebrating his 60th year in show business, having begun his career creating the role of Big Deal, one of the Jets, in the original company of West Side Story, and playing the part for exactly 1000 performances.

Subsequently, he has been the lyricist, director, composer, librettist, or producer for over 160 theatrical productions on Broadway, off Broadway, in regional theatres, and on television, in cabarets, and concerts,---often serving in multiple capacities.

His Broadway credits include Zenda, Mata Hari, La Strada, Nash at Nine, Two by Two, Annie, I Remember Mama, The First, Lena Horne, The Lady and Her Music, Annie Warbucks, Upstairs at O'Neal's, The No-Frills Revue, Cafe Crown, Laughing Matters, A Little Family Business, Sid Caesar on Broadway, and the first National Lampoon show, which gave birth to "Saturday Night Live" in 1975. He has directed Annie (which opened in 1977, and became the 26th longest running musical in Broadway history) 19 times, in New York, London, Amsterdam, Australia, and his latest production is now in the 3rd year of its tour in the US. Annie has also been produced by Hollywood 3 times.

He has received 4 Tony Nominations, 2 Tony Awards, 4 Drama Desk Nominations, 3 Drama Desk Awards, 6 Grammy Nominations, 2 Grammy Awards, 3 Emmy Awards, 3 Gold Records, 2 Platinum Records, the Peabody Award for Broadcasting, and the First George M. Cohan Award. He is one of the dozen or so active industry professionals who has won a Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony. He is married to Broadway and television star, Shelly Burch.