Hugh Wheeler

Hugh Wheeler was a prolific writer of plays, musicals, and novels, best known for his work in the theater. Born in London in 1912, Wheeler began his career as a journalist and worked for several newspapers and magazines before turning to writing for the stage.

Wheeler's first major success came in 1965 with the musical A Little Night Music, which he wrote in collaboration with composer Stephen Sondheim. The show, based on the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, was a critical and commercial hit and won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Wheeler and Sondheim's collaboration continued with the musicals Pacific Overtures, which premiered on Broadway in 1976, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which premiered in 1979. Both shows were critical successes and won numerous awards.
In addition to his work with Sondheim, Wheeler wrote several plays and musicals on his own. His play Big Fish, Little Fish, which premiered in 1961, was a critical success and won the Tony Award for Best Play. Wheeler's other plays include Look: We've Come Through (1961), We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1966), and Veronica's Room (1973).
Wheeler also wrote the book for the musicals Candide (1973) and Meet Me in St. Louis (1989). Candide, based on the novella by Voltaire, was a critical success but was not a commercial hit. Meet Me in St. Louis, based on the 1944 film of the same name, was a commercial success and received several Tony nominations.
In addition to his work in the theater, Wheeler wrote several novels, including The Wrong People (1967) and Good-bye, Sweet Prince (1982). He also wrote for television, including episodes of the popular series Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Bell Telephone Hour.
Wheeler's last work for the stage was the book for the musical A Little Night Music, which was revived on Broadway in 2009. The production, which starred Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury, was a critical and commercial success and won several Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.
Hugh Wheeler died in 1987 at the age of 75, but his legacy lives on through his numerous contributions to the world of theater and literature. His collaborations with Stephen Sondheim are considered some of the greatest works in the history of the musical theater, and his plays and novels continue to be read and performed today.