Elizabeth Swados was a multi-talented artist who made a significant impact on the world of theater. Born in Buffalo, New York in 1951, Swados began her career in the arts at a young age. She attended Bennington College in Vermont, where she studied music and theater, and later went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Swados made her Broadway debut as a composer and lyricist for the musical "Runaways" in 1978. The show was a critical and commercial success, earning Swados a Tony nomination for Best Score. "Runaways" explored the lives of runaway children and featured a diverse cast of performers, many of whom had experienced homelessness themselves. The show's unconventional structure and use of punk rock music made it a groundbreaking work of theater.
Swados continued to work on Broadway throughout the 1980s, contributing music and lyrics to productions like "Alice in Concert" and "Doonesbury." She also wrote and directed her own shows, including "The Haggadah" and "Jerusalem."
In addition to her work on stage, Swados was also a prolific writer and composer for film and television. She wrote the score for the 1982 film "Soup for One" and contributed music to the television series "The Electric Company" and "Sesame Street."
Throughout her career, Swados was known for her commitment to social justice and activism. She used her art to explore issues like homelessness, mental illness, and political oppression. In 1989, she traveled to South Africa to work with young artists and activists as part of a cultural exchange program.
Swados continued to work in the arts until her death in 2016. In 2015, she created a musical adaptation of the novel "The 27th Man" by Nathan Englander, which premiered at The Public Theater in New York City. The show explored the experiences of Jewish writers during the Holocaust and featured an ensemble cast of actors.
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Elizabeth SwadosThe Beautiful Lady
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Elizabeth Swados, The Cherry Orchard
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Elizabeth Swados, Agamemnon
Elizabeth Swados has written 22 shows including Nightclub Cantata (Composer/Lyricist), Runaways (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), Dispatches (Adaptation), Dispatches (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), The Haggadah (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), Alice in Concert (Composer/Lyricist), The Haggadah, a Passover Cantata (Adaptation), Lullabye and Goodnight (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), Doonesbury (Composer), Rap Master Ronnie (Lyricist), Rap Master Ronnie (Composer), Agamemnon (Conceiver), Hannah Senesh (Additional Music), The Beautiful Lady (Bookwriter), Phaedra Britannica (Composer), Don Juan of Seville (Composer), The Red Sneaks (Bookwriter), Jonah (Adaptation), The Tower of Evil (Composer), Groundhog (Bookwriter), Cymbeline (Composer), The Seagull (Music).
Elizabeth Swados has been nominated for several awards throughout her career, including Hall of Fame Awards, Outstanding Original Music for "Urban Odyssey" at the IT Awards, Outstanding Director for Resident Production for "The Beautiful Lady" at the Helen Hayes Awards, Outstanding Director - Musical for "Runaways" at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Lyrics for "Runaways" at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Music for "Runaways" at the Drama Desk Awards, Direction for "Runaways" at the Obie Awards, Best Book of a Musical for "Runaways" at the Tony Awards, Best Choreography for "Runaways" at the Tony Awards, Best Direction of a Musical for "Runaways" at the Tony Awards, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for "Runaways" at the Tony Awards, Outstanding Music for "Nightclub Cantata" at the Drama Desk Awards, Best Musical Contribution for "The Cherry Orchard" at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Best Musical Contribution for "Nightclub Cantata" at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and Best Musical Contribution for "Agamemnon" at the Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Elizabeth Swados has won several awards, including Hall of Fame Awards, Direction (Obie Awards) for "Runaways," Best Musical Contribution (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for "The Cherry Orchard," "Nightclub Cantata," and "Agamemnon."
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