Harold Prince
Harold S. Prince (b.
Date of Birth: January 30, 1928
Date of Death: July 31, 2019 (91)
Birth Place: New York, NY, USA
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BIO
Harold S. Prince (b. New York City, NY, 30 January 1928), also known as “Hal” Prince, was a theater producer and director who made a significant contribution to Broadway musicals in America. In a career that spanned more than fifty years, Prince has received ten Drama Desk Awards as Outstanding Director and 21 Tony Awards® for Best Direction, Best Producer, Best Musical, and Lifetime Achievement. In addition, Prince was the Kennedy Center Honoree in 1994 and the recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 2000.
Prince received his education at University of Pennsylvania, where he enrolled in a liberal arts program and was actively involved in the student theater group, Penn Players. After graduating in 1948, he returned to New York and began working as an assistant stage manager to producer and director George Abbott. This experience led to co-production opportunities with Robert E. Griffith and Frederick Brisson, resulting in the first two musicals that won Tonys® for Prince – The Pajama Game (1954) and Damn Yankees (1955).
After several co-productions, including the classic West Side Story in 1957, Prince began to produce his own musicals. His Fiddler on the Roof (1964) enjoyed enormous success with a record-breaking run of over three thousand performances between 1964 and 1972. Meanwhile, Prince also took on the role of director. Many of the most popular musicals of the following decades were created under his direction, including Cabaret (1966), Sweeney Todd (1979), Evita (1979), and The Phantom of the Opera (1988).
Besides his achievements as a producer and director, Prince is also known for bringing innovation to the theatrical arts. In collaboration with Stephen Sondheim, he was a pioneer in the development of the “concept musical,” taking its departure from an idea or theme rather than from a traditional story. Their first project of this kind, Company (1970), was a solid success and paved the way for other innovative musicals.
Prince’s contribution to the arts extends beyond the musical theater: he has made a number of movie adaptations (Damn Yankees 1958, A Little Night Music 1977), and directed for television (Candide 1986). In addition, he has served as a trustee for the New York Public Library and on the National Council of the Arts of the National Education Association.
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STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
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Harold Prince
Connection
Movies
[ 1958 ] producer
[ 1971 ] producer
Awards and Nominations
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Hal Prince
Harold Prince, LoveMusik
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Harold Prince
Harold Prince, Parade
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Harold Prince, Showboat
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Harold Prince, Showboat
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Harold Prince, Show Boat
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Harold Prince, Show Boat
Harold Prince, Kiss Of The Spider Woman
Harold Prince, Kiss of the Spider Woman
Harold Prince, The Phantom of the Opera
Harold Prince -, Grandchild of Kings
Harold Prince, Phantom of the Opera
Harold Prince, Cabaret
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Harold Prince, The Phantom of the Opera
Harold Prince, Cabaret
Harold Prince, Grind
Harold Prince, Grind
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Harold Prince, Evita
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Harold Prince, Evita
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Harold Prince, Evita
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Harold Prince, Sweeney Todd
Harold Prince, Evita
Harold Prince, On the Twentieth Century
Harold Prince, Side by Side by Sondheim
Harold Prince, Pacific Overtures
Harold Prince, Pacific Overtures
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Harold Prince, The Visit
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Harold Prince, Candide
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Harold Prince, Candide
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Harold Prince, A Little Night Music
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Harold Prince, The Great God Brown
Harold Prince, A Little Night Music
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Harold Prince, Follies
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Harold Prince, Company
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Harold Prince, Zorba
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Harold Prince, Fiddler on the Roof
Harold Prince, She Loves Me
Harold Prince, She Loves Me
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Harold Prince, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Videos
Video: Will Swenson and Lesli Margherita Talk SWEENEY TODD at La Mirada; Full Cast Set
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2025-12-16 13:46:18
Video: Hugh Panaro & Elizabeth Stanley Rehearse with the New York Pops
by Joey Mervis - 2025-10-23 16:39:01
Video: Watch the Cast of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Tour in Rehearsal
by Michael Major - 2025-10-16 12:46:55
Video: Max Chernin & Talia Suskauer Are Getting Ready to Hit the Road in PARADE
by Nicole Rosky - 2025-01-01 15:00:20
Video: The North American Tour of PARADE Comes to The 5th Avenue Theatre
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-11-30 15:53:46
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 14, 2026
The York Theatre revealed performers including Brian d'Arcy James, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Patrick Wilson will attend the 34th Annual Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala.
by Team BWW - Oct 13, 2026
Friday, November 6, 2026 $75 Advance | $80 Day of Show [all-in pricing, no additional fees] Doors 7pm | Show 8pm JASON ROBERT BROWN is the ultimate multi-hyphenate – an equally skilled composer, lyricist, conductor…
by Linda Hodges - Oct 10, 2026
What did our critic think of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Broadway San Jose?
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 9, 2026
Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA celebrated its 40th anniversary in London's West End today, October 9, with a special gala performance at His Majesty's Theatre, featuring an appearance by original Phantom Michael Crawford. See photos and video from the celebration.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 7, 2026
Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will be filmed for the first time at its original London home, His Majesty's Theatre, in front of a live audience, and released internationally in cinemas in 2027.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2026
Det Norske Teatret will present a new production of the musical Cabaret on the theater's Main Stage in Oslo, Norway. Learn more about the upcoming production here.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2026
Jake Broder's award-winning play about Canadian painter Dr. Anne Adams and composer Maurice Ravel, both affected by frontotemporal dementia, launches its East Coast premiere at the Harold Prince Theatre. The production will be accompanied by a free brain health festival featuring art exhibitions, workshops, and community outreach.
by Michael Gioia - Oct 5, 2026
When 'The Phantom of the Opera' opened 40 years ago at His Majesty’s Theatre in the West End, there were quite a few elements that may have been different from the show we all know today.
by Joshua Wright - Sep 29, 2026
Ramin Karimloo helped launch The Phantom of the Opera's 40th Anniversary Shanghai Farewell Season with a heartfelt curtain speech, celebrating both the veterans and the newcomers who make up the production's company.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 29, 2026
Director Richard Linklater has provided an update on the film adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along, which will be filmed over 20 years, sharing that the fourth section, out of nine total, will begin filming soon. Learn more here!
by Rachel Stone - Sep 28, 2026
Diamond Head Theatre will present an additional performance of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the nine-time Tony Award-winning musical about a poor milkman and his daughters navigating love, faith, and tradition.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 28, 2026
Big Noise Theatre will open its 2026-2027 season with Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, featuring a full 24-piece orchestra and original orchestrations near Chicago.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 26, 2026
The Smith Center will present major Broadway productions including PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (October 21–November 1), ELF THE MUSICAL (November 24–29), and OH, MARY! (October 6–11), with tickets on sale now.
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 25, 2026
Palo Alto Players continues its 96th season with THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Based on the beloved characters created by Charles Addams, THE ADDAMS FAMILY is filled with eccentric characters, catchy music, and plenty of laughs. When Wednesday Addams falls in love with a “normal” young man, she must introduce her boyfriend and his family to the delightfully kooky Addams clan—with hilariously unexpected results.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2026
Jake Broder's UNRAVELLED will make its East Coast premiere at Penn Live Arts, followed by performances at The Miller Theatre. The production focuses on creativity and hope rather than typical dementia narratives.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 23, 2026
Actor's Express announced its 39th season lineup featuring a world premiere, a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, and an additional show to be revealed later.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 22, 2026
Tickets are now on sale for Cameron Mackintosh's new production of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, running Feb. 17-28, 2027. The tour features Isaiah Bailey as the Phantom and marks the musical's return to North America.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 22, 2026
Community theater group Fairfield Center Stage will present the Tony-winning musical with a cast of 40 local performers and a live orchestra at City Wide Church in Bridgeport.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 18, 2026
Tickets for Cameron Mackintosh's revitalized production of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA go on sale for a Des Moines Performing Arts engagement at the Civic Center March 3-14, 2027. The new North American tour features the acclaimed London production direction by Seth Sklar-Heyn.
by Michael Gioia - Sep 19, 2026
'Evita' is making its way back to Broadway, but it’s been more than four decades since Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Tony Award-winning musical first arrived in New York City. BroadwayWorld looks back at the original cast.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Harold Prince has appeared on Broadway in 2 shows.
Harold Prince has not appeared in the West End
Harold Prince has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of the notable nominations include the Harold Prince Award for Outstanding Director of a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for LoveMusik, the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Parade, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director - Musical for Showboat, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Director - Musical for Show Boat, the Olivier Award for Best Director of a Musical for Kiss Of The Spider Woman, and the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical for Kiss of the Spider Woman. He has also been nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Director, Non-Resident Production for The Phantom of the Opera and Cabaret, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Director for Grandchild of Kings, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director - Musical for Phantom of the Opera and Cabaret, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for The Phantom of the Opera, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Grind, and the Tony Award for Best Musical for Grind. Other nominations include the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical for Evita, the Tony Award for Best Costume Design for Evita, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Evita, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Sweeney Todd, the Olivier Award for Director of the Year for Evita, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for On the Twentieth Century, the Tony Award for Best Musical for Side by Side by Sondheim, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director - Musical for Pacific Overtures, and the Tony Award for Best Musical for Pacific Overtures. He has also been nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director for The Visit and Candide, the Obie Award for Distinguished Direction for Candide, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Candide, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director for A Little Night Music and The Great God Brown, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for A Little Night Music, the Tony Award for Best Musical for A Little Night Music, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Follies, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director for Follies, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Company, the Tony Award for Best Musical for Company, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director for Company, the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Zorba and Cabaret, and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for She Loves Me. Additionally, he has received nominations for the Tony Award for Producer (Musical) for Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Harold Prince has won several awards throughout his career in the theater industry. Some of the notable awards he has received include the Harold Prince Award at the Drama Desk Awards, the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at the Tony Awards, and the Outstanding Director - Musical award at the Drama Desk Awards for his work on Showboat. He has also won awards for his direction of other musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Sweeney Todd, and A Little Night Music. In addition, he has received recognition for his work as a producer on shows like Fiddler on the Roof and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Harold Prince's contributions to the theater industry have been widely celebrated and acknowledged through these awards and honors.
Harold Prince has written 1 shows including Parade (Source Material).
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