James Lapine
16 Theater Books for Your Spring 2026 Reading List (Apr 26, 2026)
Lin-Manuel Miranda Will Host Fundraiser for Senator Jon Ossoff (Apr 23, 2026)
INTO THE WOODS, HAMLET, MOTHER RUSSIA & More Set For South Coast Repertory 2026–27 Season (Apr 16, 2026)
BIO
Lapine is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for Into the Woods, Falsettos, and Passion. He has frequently collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and William Finn.
Photos
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Productions
Writing
Playwright
Movies
[ 1993 ] director
[ 2011 ] writer
[ 2016 ] producer
Awards and Nominations
winner
James Lapine, Act One
James Lapine, Act One
winner
James Lapine, The 25sup>th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee
James Lapine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
James Lapine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
winner
James Lapine, Amour
James Lapine , Into the Woods
James Lapine, Into the Woods
winner
James Lapine, Dirty Blonde
James Lapine, Dirty Blonde
James Lapine, Passion
James Lapine, Passion
winner
James Lapine, Passion
James Lapine , Passion
winner
James Lapine, Falsettos
James Lapine, Falsettos
winner
James Lapine, Into the Woods
James Lapine, Into the Woods
winner
James Lapine, Into the Woods
winner
James Lapine, Into the Woods
James Lapine, Into the Woods
winner
James Lapine, Sunday in the Park with George
winner
James Lapine, Sunday in the Park with George
winner
James Lapine, Sunday in the Park with George
James Lapine, Sunday in the Park with George
James Lapine , Sunday in the Park with George
Videos
Video: Ariana DeBose Sings 'No One In Alone' From INTO THE WOODS to Honor Vanessa Williams
by Michael Major - 2026-03-25 12:23:41
Video: 'The I Love You Song' from THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Theatre Under The Stars
by Joshua Wright - 2025-10-31 16:36:44
Video: Watch 'I Speak Six Languages' from SPELLING BEE at Theatre Under The Stars
by Michael Major - 2025-10-29 14:07:20
Video: 'Magic Foot' from the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Theatre Under The Stars
by Allison Henry - 2025-10-22 13:04:27
Video: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Theatre Under the Stars
by Stephi Wild - 2025-10-21 11:30:20
Video: Lea Salonga & Arielle Jacobs Lead INTO THE WOODS in Manila
by Joshua Wright - 2025-08-11 09:37:29
Video: Nathan Lane Receives the Stephen Sondheim Award from Signature Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2024-05-13 12:03:14
Video: Vanessa Williams Releases Music Video for New Single 'Legs (Keep Dancing)'
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-04-28 14:14:07
Video: Phillips and Suskauer Sing 'Move On' from Axelrod's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-03-24 09:32:59
Video: Watch Graham Phillips & Talia Suskauer in Axelrod's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
by Nicole Rosky - 2024-03-13 09:38:34
Vanessa Williams Will Play Miranda Priestly in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Musical
by Stephi Wild - 2024-02-19 05:26:34
Video: Sara Bareilles Sings 'When You Wish Upon a Star' For Disney's 100th Anniversary
by Michael Major - 2023-05-18 10:12:22
VIDEO: Go Inside Rehearsals for INTO THE WOODS at Dallas Theater Center
by Alan Henry - 2023-03-14 17:06:39
Video: Watch 'Moments In The Woods' & 'It Takes Two' from INTO THE WOODS at Paramount Theatre
by Alan Henry - 2023-02-16 12:49:19
Exclusive: Graham Phillips & Krystina Alabado Sing 'Move On' in Rehearsal For Pasadena Playhouse's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
by Alan Henry - 2023-02-06 12:00:20
Video: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Perform 'Last Midnight' in INTO THE WOODS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-12-29 12:34:05
News
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 26, 2026
Need a great book to spring into the new season? This spring, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 16 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's Spring 2026 reading list.
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 23, 2026
Lin-Manuel Miranda will host a unique virtual event in support of Senator Jon Ossoff’s re-election campaign, featuring performances by Sara Bareilles, Betty Buckley, Rosanne Cash, and Alan Menken.
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 16, 2026
South Coast Repertory has announced its expanded 2026–27 season, featuring Into the Woods, Hamlet, and a rotating repertory of Mother Russia and The Importance of Being Earnest.
by Michael Major - Apr 14, 2026
Phillipa Soo has revealed her favorite Hamilton song – but it's not one she sang. The Tony-nominated original cast member of the hit musical recently divulged that her favorite song from the musical is 'Wait For It,' which is sung by Aaron Burr.
by - Apr 14, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 14, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 13, 2026
Houston Broadway Theatre has revealed the creatives for Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Wortham Center playing this summer with a limited three-week engagement.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 13, 2026
Marking the first West End transfer for The Bridge, the multi-award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into The Woods will run in the West End this Autumn.
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 12, 2026
London theatre's biggest night returned for its 2026 ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, where Nick Mohammed hosted the Olivier Awards. Check out a full list of winners here.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 3, 2026
Ithaca College will award an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) degree to visionary theatrical producer/director/educator Robert Moss. He will be recognized at Ithaca College's 131st Commencement ceremony.
by Sidney Paterra - Apr 3, 2026
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is one of the most prestigious honors in American theater, celebrating outstanding works that have made a significant impact on the stage. Here's a closer look at what the Pulitzer Prize for Drama is, how it works, and why it matters.
by - Apr 1, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 1, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 31, 2026
Franklin & Marshall College is renaming its Green Room Theatre the James Lapine Theater in tribute to one of the college's most accomplished performing arts graduates.
by Joshua Wright - Mar 31, 2026
James Lapine, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning director and Franklin & Marshall alum, is reportedly set to direct Sarah Paulson and Pedro Pascal in a 2027 Broadway revival of The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?
by Elliot Lanes - Mar 26, 2026
Today’s subject Nick Blaemire is currently living his theatre life at Signature Theatre as the book writer for the new musical Safety Not Guaranteed. The show runs through April 12th in Signature Theatre’s MAX space.
by Michael Major - Mar 25, 2026
Ariana DeBose performed 'No One Is Alone' from Into the Woods to honor Vanessa Williams at Signature Theatre's annual Gala, where she received the company’s fifteenth Stephen Sondheim Award. Watch the video!
by David Friscic - Mar 25, 2026
I have always been tantalized by the triple threat talent of Vanessa Williams. Ever since I sat with my family and saw her on television singing “Happy Days are Here Again” to become the first Miss America of color, she has become an artistic and cultural presence in my life. At pivotal moments of life experience, her recordings, television appearances, stage appearances, and concerts have become an integral part of my artistic consciousness. As a gay person, I instinctively sensed that she would understand me if she ever met me. Little did I know that she would meet me after a concert and pose for a great picture or that I would be writing this feature story on her well-deserved Signature Theatre Sondheim Award at the Sondheim Award Gala in Washington, DC. (held at The Anthem venue on March 16, 2026).
by Stephi Wild - Mar 25, 2026
London Theatre Company has announced new cast members joining the company of Into The Woods. Learn more about the show, how to get tickets, and the new cast members here!
by Gillian Blum - Mar 23, 2026
The Omaha Community Playhouse unveiled its eagerly awaited 2026–27 season, presenting a slate of live performances designed to uplift, captivate, and resonate with audiences.
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 19, 2026
BroadwayWorld can exclusively reveal new details of two previously unknown Stephen Sondheim songs, which debut on Thursday's episode of the podcast series Loving You: The Untold Sondheim.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 17, 2026
Bucks County Playhouse has appointed director, producer and arts leader BT McNicholl as the organization’s new Producing Artistic Director. McNicholl will assume his role as producing artistic director beginning summer 2026.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
James Lapine has written 18 shows including Table Settings (Playwright), Sunday in the Park with George (Bookwriter), Into the Woods (Bookwriter), Falsettoland (Bookwriter), Falsettos (Bookwriter), Passion (Bookwriter), Luck, Pluck, and Virtue (Bookwriter), Twelve Dreams (Playwright), A New Brain (Bookwriter), The Moment When (Playwright), Dirty Blonde (Conceiver), Fran's Bed (Playwright), Sondheim on Sondheim (Conceiver), Act One (Adapter), Little Miss Sunshine (Playwright), Barbara Cook: Then and Now (Conceived by), Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing (Author), Flying Over Sunset (Book).
Best Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Act One, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Act One, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The 25sup>th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Amour, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Into the Woods , Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods, Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Dirty Blonde, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Dirty Blonde, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Passion, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Passion, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Passion, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Passion, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Falsettos, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Falsettos, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Into the Woods, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Into the Woods, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Into the Woods, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Sunday in the Park with George, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Sunday in the Park with George, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Sunday in the Park with George, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Sunday in the Park with George and Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Sunday in the Park with George.
James Lapine has received several prestigious awards throughout his career. He won Best Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards for Act One. He earned Outstanding Director of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, as well as for Amour and Dirty Blonde. In addition, he was awarded Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards for Passion and Falsettos. He also received Outstanding Book of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Into the Woods and for Sunday in the Park with George. Into the Woods won Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, a title he also received for Sunday in the Park with George.
Videos