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Howard Ashman Headshot

Howard Ashman

Date of Death: March 14, 1991

Birth Place: Baltimore, MD, USA

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BIO

Howard Ashman followed a distinguished career as a musical comedy librettist, lyricist, playwright, and director with his animated feature film debut, Disney's critically and popularly celebrated The Little Mermaid. Ashman received the 1989 Academy Award® for Best Song for "Under the Sea," written with his longtime collaborator, Alan Menken. Ashman and Menken garnered a total of six awards for The Little Mermaid, including two Academy Awards®, two Golden Globe Awards®, and two Grammy Awards®.


Born in Baltimore, Ashman received his education at Goddard College and Boston University, and earned an MFA from Indiana University. He moved to New York in 1974 and became an editor at Grosset & Dunlap, while he wrote plays, including 'Cause Maggie's Afraid of the Dark, The Confirmation, and Dreamstuff, a musical version of The Tempest. Dreamstuff marked the start of his association with the Off-Off Broadway WPA Theatre, of which he became Art Director when it reopened in the fall of 1977. Ashman was the WPA's guiding force from 1977 to 1982. In 1979, he and Alan Menken wrote a musical version of Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.
Ashman's greatest success at WPA was the musical version of Roger Corman's film Little Shop of Horrors, also written with Alan Menken. The musical received many awards, including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for the Best Musical of 1982-83. Little Shop of Horrors became the third longest-running musical in Off-Broadway history, as well as the highest-grossing musical in Off-Broadway history. The subsequent London production received the prestigious Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, and productions of Little Shop of Horrors were seen all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Mexico, Israel, South Africa, France, Austria, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and Germany. Little Shop of Horrors is currently tied with Our Town as the most-produced play in high schools throughout America.
Little Shop of Horrors was subsequently filmed by Frank Oz for David Geffen. For the screen version, Ashman and Menken wrote two songs not included in the stage production. Ashman received his first Academy Award® nomination for Best Song, for "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space," in 1986.
Howard Ashman's unique theatrical gifts enabled him to create the book, lyrics, and direction for not only God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and Little Shop of Horrors, but also for the 1986 Broadway production of Smile, written with Marvin Hamlisch, for which he received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Book.
Ashman completed work on the animated Disney feature Beauty and the Beast, as well as Aladdin, prior to his death in March 1991.

Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2021]
Book and Lyrics
 
[St. Louis, MO (Regional), 2015]
Lyrics
 
[Broadway, 2008] [Replacement]
Lyrics[Replacement]
 
[Broadway, 1986]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1982]
Director
Director
 
[Off-Off-Broadway, 1982]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1979]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1979]
Director

Writing

Lyricist
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter

Movies

Little Shop of Horrors
[ 1986 ] book
The Little Mermaid
[ 1989 ] producer
Beauty and the Beast
[ 1991 ] songs
Aladdin
[ 1992 ] songs
Aladdin: Live from the West End
[ 2022 ] Lyrics by

Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Lyrics

Howard Ashman, Aladdin

Tony Awards - 2014 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Howard Ashman, Aladdin

Tony Awards - 2008 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Howard Ashman, The Little Mermaid

Drama Desk Awards - 1994 - Outstanding Lyrics

Howard Ashman, Beauty and the Beast

Tony Awards - 1994 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Howard Ashman , Beauty and the Beast

Tony Awards - 1987 - Best Book of a Musical

Howard Ashman, Smile

Drama Desk Awards - 1983 - Outstanding Director of a Musical

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1983 - Outstanding Lyrics

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1983 - Best Musical

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors

Olivier Awards - 1983 - Musical of the Year

Howard Ashman, Little Shop Of Horrors


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1983 - Best Score

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors

Videos

News


Review: Greater Boston Stage Company's LITTLE SHOP of Delights
by R. Scott Reedy - Jun 9, 2025

The fragrant aroma wafting through Greater Boston Stage Company these days isn’t only the scent of the nearby florist, it’s also the sweet smell of the success that the Stoneham company is having with its wondrously well done production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Photos/Video: First Look at Rehearsals for Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Tour
by Joshua Wright - Jun 4, 2025

Get a first look at rehearsals for the North American tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the first North American production of the musical presented by Disney in over 25 years.  The tour will launch in Schenectady, NY on June 25, before its official opening in Chicago in July.
Video: First Look at THE LITTLE MERMAID at Paper Mill Playhouse
by Michael Major - Jun 3, 2025

Watch a new video preview of The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse, including Hillary Fisher singing 'Part of Your World' and Haven Burton singing 'Poor Unfortunate Souls.' 
Video: ALADDIN on Broadway Meets K-Pop With New Dance From Kooyoung Back
by Michael Major - Jun 3, 2025

K-Pop star Kooyoung Back surprised Aladdin on Broadway star Don Darryl Rivera and Good Morning America host Juju Chang with a special improvised dance to a song from the hit musical. Watch the video now!
Ellen Greene Starring in New Short Film BEATRIX IS INVISIBLE
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 3, 2025

Little Shop of Horrors star Ellen Greene is leading a new short film, which will make its world premiere this month at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival.
Review: THE LITTLE MERMAID at Paper Mill Playhouse Shines Bright and Delights
by Marina Kennedy - Jun 3, 2025

Be enchanted!  Disney’s 'The Little Mermaid' at Paper Mill Playhouse (PMP) tantalizes the imagination with its star-studded cast, elaborate production quality, and fantastic story.
Video: ALADDIN's Don Darryl Rivera Connects With Korean & Japanese Casts
by Michael Major - May 30, 2025

Original Aladdin star Don Darryl Rivera took the beloved musical abroad as he went to visit the Korean and Japanese productions of the musical, honoring AANHPI Heritage Month with Disney on Broadway. Watch the Good Morning America video!
Review: ROBBIE ROZELLE: CITATION NEEDED Charms at 54 Below
by Andrew Poretz - May 27, 2025

An evening with Robbie Rozelle is an evening well-spent. It was a personal and revealing evening filled with songs and laughter.
Graham Phillips to Reunite with Elizabeth Gillies in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 27, 2025

Filmmaker and star of stage and screen Graham Phillips will join the cast of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets!
Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Red Curtain Theatre
by Theresa Bertram - May 23, 2025

If you didn’t “Suddenly, Seymour” on stage at The Red Curtain Theatre in Conway between May 2 and 11, you missed a hilariously twisted night of toe-tapping terror. Their production of Little Shop of Horrors (Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken, and based on the no-budget Roger Corman film from 1960) proved once again that this quirky cult classic still packs a punch right in the 'Dentist!' chair. 
People's Light Concludes 50th Anniversary Season with LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
by A.A. Cristi - May 22, 2025

People's Light's 50th anniversary season will culminate in a vibrant, summer-long production of the cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors. Running June 25 through August 3, 2025, on the Leonard C. Haas Stage, this production marks the first time the company has presented a musical in an extended summer engagement.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld May 20, 2025
by - May 20, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 20, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Video: ALADDIN Pays Tribute to Howard Ashman at 4000th Performance
by Stephi Wild - May 19, 2025

Disney Theatrical Group celebrated the 4000th performance of Aladdin on Broadway and honored Howard Ashman. Check out a video of the post-show tribute performance here.
Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Adelaide Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
by Barry Lenny - May 11, 2025

This is more than a musical; it is a spectacle.
Liza Minnelli and Michael Feinstein Speak Out Against Recent Attacks on LGBTQ+ Artistry
by A.A. Cristi - May 10, 2025

Broadway legend and longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ community, Liza Minnelli, has issued a powerful statement of solidarity following what she calls “a bigoted attack on the arts.”
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST North American Tour Find Full Cast
by Stephi Wild - May 8, 2025

The full cast has been announced for the North American tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the first North American production of the musical presented by Disney in over 25 years. 
Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Stray Cat Theatre
by Herbert Paine - May 5, 2025

Despite some flaws, this LITTLE SHOP, directed by Ron May, is a wild, weird, dark ride.
Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Will Host Residencies For 24 Writers Of Nine New Musicals
by Stephi Wild - Apr 29, 2025

For its 15th summer, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat is hosting 24 award-winning musical theatre writers of nine new musicals for nine consecutive weeklong residencies.
Hillary Fisher, Haven Burton and More to Star in THE LITTLE MERMAID at Paper Mill
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 28, 2025

Paper Mill Playhouse has revealed the cast and the creative team for Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the final production of Paper Mill’s 2024-2025 season. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Cast and Staff Set For LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Naperville's Summer Place Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 28, 2025

Summer Place Theatre has announced its cast and production staff for 'Little Shop of Horrors' with performances set for June. Learn more about the upcoming production here!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Howard Ashman written?

Howard Ashman has written 10 shows including Maggie May (Lyricist), God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Real Life Funnies (Conceiver), Little Shop of Horrors (Bookwriter), Diamonds (Lyricist), Smile (Bookwriter), Beauty and the Beast (Lyricist), Hundreds of Hats (Lyricist), The Little Mermaid (lyricist), Aladdin (Lyricist).

What awards has Howard Ashman been nominated for?

Howard Ashman has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. He received nominations for Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Shop of Horrors. He was also nominated for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. Additionally, he received a nomination for Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards for Smile. Ashman's work on Little Shop of Horrors earned him nominations for Outstanding Director of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards, Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Musical of the Year at the Olivier Awards, and Best Score at the Outer Critics Circle Awards.

What awards has Howard Ashman won?

Howard Ashman has won several awards for his work in the Broadway musical "Little Shop of Horrors." He received the Outstanding Lyrics award at the Drama Desk Awards, the Best Musical award at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and the Best Score award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards.

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