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Cynthia Weil

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Cynthia Weil BIO

Weil was born in New York City on October 18, 1940. She grew up on the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side of Manhattan in a Conservative Jewish family. Her father was Morris Weil, a furniture store owner and the son of Lithuanian-Jewish immigrants, and her mother was Dorothy Mendez, who grew up in a Sephardic Jewish family in Brooklyn. Weil trained as an actress and dancer, studying theater at Sarah Lawrence College, but soon demonstrated a songwriting ability that led to her collaboration with Barry Mann, whom she married in August 1961. The couple had one daughter, Jenn Mann. Weil became one of the Brill Building songwriters of the 1960s, and one of the most important writers during the emergence of rock and roll.

Weil and her husband went on to create songs for many contemporary artists, winning several Grammy Awards as well as Academy Award nominations for their compositions for film. As their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame biography put it, in part: "Mann and Weil's... [works went from] epic ballads ('On Broadway', 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'') to outright rockers ('Kicks', 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place') [and they also] placed an emphasis on meaningful lyrics in their songwriting. With Weil writing the words and Mann the music, they came up with a number of songs that addressed such serious subjects as racial and economic divides[,] 'Uptown', ...and the difficult reality of making it in the big city ('On Broadway'). 'Only in America'... tackled segregation and racism, making it rather too controversial for the Drifters, who were the intended artists. 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place' became an anthem for [the] Vietnam soldier, antiwar protesters, and young people who viewed it as an anthem of greater opportunities."

In 1987, she was inducted with her husband into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1988, Weil won two awards at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards for co-writing "Somewhere Out There" from the animated film An American Tail: Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media.

In 2004, Mann and Weil's They Wrote That? a musical revue based on their songs, opened in New York. In it, Mann sang and Weil related stories about the songs and their personal history. Weil and Mann were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 in the Ahmet Ertegun Award category. "From the bottom of my heart and with the greatest humility," Weil said in her acceptance, "I thought you guys would never ask." In 2011, Mann and Weil received the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Weil published her first novel, I'm Glad I Did, a mystery set in 1963.

Weil died at home in Beverly Hills, California, on June 1, 2023, at age 82.

Cynthia Weil Photos

Cynthia Weil STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Broadway]
2004
Herself

Writing

Lyricist
Composer/Lyricist
Composer/Lyricist

Cynthia Weil Videos

Cynthia Weil News


Review: BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at the Arvada Center

You're not too late, baby, to catch Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, now taking the main stage at the Arvada Center.

Wilmington's Opera House Theatre Company Announces 2024 Season

Opera House Theatre Company has announced its 2024 season, celebrating 39 years of producing live theatre in Wilmington, North Carolina at Historic Thalian Hall featuring a variety of titles including some classics and Wilmington premieres!

The North Carolina Theatre Announces Cast of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

NCT announces cast for BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical in Raleigh, NC. Broadway's Elena Ricardo stars as Carole King. Tickets available at nctheatre.com.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre Reveals Summer 2024 Season Lineup

Pitlochry Festival Theatre has announced its lineup of world premieres, smash-hit musicals, and acclaimed returning productions for its 2024 summer season. Learn more about the full lineup here and find out how to get tickets

Photos: The Cast of John W. Engeman Theater's BEAUTIFUL Celebrates Opening Night

Check out opening night photos from John W. Engeman Theater's production of BEAUTIFUL: THE Carole King MUSICAL here!

Photos: BEAUTIFUL THE CAROL KING MUSICAL Takes Opening Night Bows

Check out photos of the opening night curtain call of John W. Engeman Theater's production of BEAUTIFUL: THE Carole King MUSICAL here!

Review: BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Omaha Community Playhouse is Some Kind of Wonderful

BEAUTIFUL, The Carole King Musical previewed at the Omaha Community Playhouse September 14th. Making its Broadway debut in 2014, BEAUTIFUL was nominated for an array of theater awards, winning several including Best Musical Theater Album and a Grammy Award.

Tidewater Players Presents The Tony And Grammy Award Winning BEAUTIFUL- THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

Tidewater Players is performing the Tony and Grammy award winner, Beautiful, The Carole King Musical at the Cultural Center at the Opera House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from September 22nd to October 1st, 2023.

MCCC's Kelsey Theatre to Open New Season With BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

Get ready to be inspired by the incredible true story of Carole King in 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre. Experience the rise of a teenage songwriter to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Don't miss this high-energy production filled with chart-topping hits. Tickets available now!

Cast Announced For BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL At The John W. Engeman Theater

The John W. Engeman Theater announces the cast and creative team  of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. Performances begin on Thursday, September 14, 2023,  and run through Sunday, October 29, 2023.  

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Comes to New Stage Theatre in 2024

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical comes to New Stage Theatre in 2024. With a book by Douglas McGrath, words and music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, the show runs May 28 – June 9, 2024.

The Carnegie Announces 2024 Season After Record-Breaking KINKY BOOTS

This weekend, The Carnegie's 2023 Summer Series will see the curtain close after one of the most successful runs in the theatre's history. A fan favorite, KINKY BOOTS, smashed Carnegie records and earned the spot as the best-selling production in the organization's history. 

Tony Award-Winning JERSEY BOYS Opens At Theatre By The Sea August 9

In celebration of 90 years of Theatre By The Sea, owner and producer Bill Hanney presents the Tony Award-winning smash hit Jersey Boys, which will be presented from August 9 – September 10, 2023.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Comes to Theatre Tulsa in September

Theatre Tulsa will bring a string of top charting hits wrapped in an inspiring story with its upcoming production of 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.'

Discover the Cast and Creative Team of BEAUTIFUL at The REV Theatre Company

Get all the details about the cast and creative team of BEAUTIFUL at The REV Theatre Company. Find out who will be bringing this beloved musical to life and get ready to be wowed by their incredible talents. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of BEAUTIFUL on stage.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Comes to Theatre Tulsa

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical comes to Theatre Tulsa in September. Performances run September 15 - October 1, 2023.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Comes to the Segal Centre in October

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical comes to the Segal Centre in October. Performances run October 15, 2023 - November 05, 2023 in the Sylvan Adams Theatre.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Takes The Stage At The New London Barn Playhouse MainStage, August 6

Witness the inspiring true story of Carole King at the Award-winning New London Barn Playhouse' production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, now running July 19th - August 6th.

Video: Watch an All New Trailer For BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical at La Mirada Theatre

Watch an all new trailer For BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical at La Mirada Theatre! Performances run at La Mirada Theatre November 10 - December 3, 2023. Check out the video here.

Review: BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Garden Theatre

What did our critic think of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Garden Theatre? Thanks to an amazing catalog of songs, a powerhouse cast and the tight orchestration, the musical, which closes July 30 , is one of the “can’t be missed” shows this summer.

Cynthia Weil FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cynthia Weil has written 5 shows including Dancin' (Composer/Lyricist), Just Once (Composer/Lyricist), They Wrote That? (Songs), Mask (Lyricist), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Composer).

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