Nicest Composers

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:00pm

There are multiple threads on performers, but who are the best and worst composer's you've met?

[ShuQ]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:04pm

Alan Menken is the greatest!!!

[gustof777]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:08pm

I know that people say things but Jason Robert Brown is one of the most down to earth guys you'll EVER meet

[leefowler]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:09pm

Nicest: John Kander
Meanest: Jason Robert Brown

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:12pm

JRB's lightened up a bit. I think getting married and having a child changes you. Ricky Ian Gordon, Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guettel and Stephen Flaherty are all grand fellows.


I haven't heard of too many composers being real jerks. I think most of them are about the work and they're just glad people enjoy what they do.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:13pm

I've met a handful and for the most part they are shy and perfectly pleasant. I met Jerry Herman once and he was genuinely affable and sweet. Jason Robert Brown was, by far, the most conceited and surliest.

TT

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:15pm

As much as I love Jason Robert Brown's work, judging by his internet blogs he seems to be very pretentious. The Avenue Q team is terrific.
Updated On: 5/21/06 at 06:15 PM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:19pm

Bobby Lopez and Jeff Marx- nicest ever!
Ahrens and Flaherty- great conversationists, just casual and talkative
Can't forget Jeanine Testori- Just really kind and a sweetheart!

Updated On: 5/21/06 at 06:19 PM

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:25pm

Nicest: Stephen Schwartz
Meanest: Anyone who provides lush scores for the broadway community is not mean.

Could anyone tell me why JRB is so mean? What has he done that has earned him worthy of the meanest composer?

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:30pm

Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk are amazing! Both personality wise and musically!

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:46pm

I think that people mistake Jason Robert Brown's sense of humor for him being rude or pretentious. I've exchanged a message or two with him and he has been so kind. I also find his blogs hysterical, and people need to stop taking others so seriously and just see some of the things he types as a joke, nothing more.

I've missed you all, you should know that. You may think it's a carefree life I lead, flying around the world on my private jet, carousing until the wee hours at Bungalow 8, panhandling on Sunset Blvd., waking up in a jail cell with twenty guys who keep referring to me as "Brittany," but I find time in my busy schedule to think of you, my loyal fans, and when I think of you, my heart smiles and my soul sings and I forget Julio and the intensity of his gaze.

And how can you not love him for that one paragraph alone? It may be one of the funniest things I've ever read in my life. Bravo, Mr. Brown!

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:53pm

I have not met Stephen Schwartz, but he and I had an e-mail conversation about the recording of Wicked and the following week I opened my mailbox and found a signed copy. That was really nice of him. Now I have 2 copies.

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:56pm

Then you probably haven't read this:
http://davidyazbek.com/about/biography.html.

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:56pm

Double post.


Updated On: 5/21/06 at 06:56 PM

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 6:56pm

Triple post.


Updated On: 5/21/06 at 06:56 PM

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:00pm

I'v ehard talking to Sondheim is very difficult

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:00pm

Michael John LaChiusa is definitely one of the nicest.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:02pm

I never answered the original question, OOPS!

A few years ago, my 8th grade class took a trip to see the original cast of WICKED. We all loved it, and Stephen Schwartz came to our school and did an hour long Q&A, sang music, signed autographs, and posed for pictures. He was incredibly nice, and very chatty.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:14pm

Stephen Sondheim is a gentleman in every single sense of the word. I cannot express how amazing it is that a man so legendary in my mind is so humble and so composed to someone he doesn't even know. A class act genius.

Jason Robert Brown has been great whenever I've written with him and very supportive of every question I've asked!

Michael John LaChiusa has been a genuine gem and especially when there was that blow up with Marc Shaiman here, he was very composed and dignified in his responses with me.

Marc Shaiman has been extremely nice and very responsive whenever I have had a question or request. He has strived to help me out!

Jeff Marx has been great and funny and helpful each time I've e-mailed him with an odd request or question.

Jeanine Tesori is very polite, very generous and even sent me a Violet CD when I couldn't find one!

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:23pm

Stephen Sondheim is very nice and very funny.

[gustof777]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:37pm

Couldn't agree more about Sondheim. I wanted to write him before I graduated. We were also doing a production of Into the Woods and I was the Baker and so I felt like I should at least try to send him a letter and thank him for his music and told him that it got me through some rough times when I was younger and he sent back a very nice letter...one of my best HS memories.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:47pm

Sondheim's a very kind and gracious man.

Had a lovely conversation with Adam Guettel. Really nice guy.

But byfar, Michael John LaChiusa is a wonderful man. He gave me his e-mail address and we've chatted about theater ever since. He's responded to every e-mail I've sent him and we've kept in touch for a good few months. Really great guy.

Updated On: 5/22/06 at 07:47 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 7:47pm

Updated On: 5/21/06 at 07:47 PM

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 9:14pm

stephen flaherty and lynn harens are just as personable and as nice as can be

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 9:33pm

Stephen Schwartz is a doll.

JAson Robert Brown seems nice.