Stephen Schwartz

@composerstephen - 6/28/22 10:17am For the Summer 2022 of “The Schwartz Scene” Stephen Schwartz comments on efforts for two Wicked movies. Also find n… https://
@composerstephen - 1/3/22 11:23am https://
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Latest News on Stephen Schwartz
Date of Birth:
March 06, 1948 (74)
Birth Place: New York, NY, USA
Bio:
Authorized Biography: Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, by Carol de Giere) www.DefyingGravityTheBook.com
Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard ...
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Stephen Schwartz Biography
Authorized Biography: Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, by Carol de Giere) www.DefyingGravityTheBook.comStephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as a producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre.
His first major credit was the title song for the play BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well.
In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for GODSPELL, for which he won several awards including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's MASS, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for PIPPIN and two years later, THE MAGIC SHOW. At one point, GODSPELL, PIPPIN, and THE MAGIC SHOW were all running on Broadway simultaneously.
He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER'S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, to which he contributed four songs, and which he also adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS "American Playhouse" series.
Next came songs for a one-act musical for children, CAPTAIN LOUIE, and a children's book, THE PERFECT PEACH. He then wrote music for three of the songs in the Off-Broadway revue, PERSONALS, lyrics to Charles Strouse's music for RAGS, and music and lyrics for CHILDREN OF EDEN.
He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features POCAHONTAS, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for which he won another Academy Award for the song "When You Believe".
Mr. Schwartz provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, GEPPETTO, seen on The Wonderful World of Disney. Recently, he released two CDs on which he sings new songs, entitled RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
Mr. Schwartz's most recent musical, WICKED, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway.
Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and serves on the ASCAP board; he is also a member of the Council of the Dramatists' Guild.
Stephen Schwartz Awards and Nominations
Tony Awards - 2015 - Isabelle Stevenson Award ![]() |
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Stephen Schwartz | ||
Olivier Awards - 2010 - The Audience Award for Most Popular Show ![]() |
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Stephen Schwartz, Wicked | ||
BroadwayWorld Awards - 2004 - Best Original Score ![]() |
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Stephen Schwartz, Wicked | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Music ![]() |
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Stephen Schwartz, Wicked | ||
Tony Awards - 2004 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Wicked | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Lyrics ![]() |
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Stephen Schwartz, Wicked | ||
Olivier Awards - 1990 - Musical of the Year | ||
Stephen Schwartz, The Baker's Wife | ||
Tony Awards - 1987 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Rags | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 1978 - Outstanding Director - Musical | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Working | ||
Tony Awards - 1978 - Best Book of a Musical | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Working | ||
Tony Awards - 1978 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Working | ||
Tony Awards - 1977 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Godspell | ||
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1973 - Best Musical | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Pippin | ||
Tony Awards - 1973 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | ||
Stephen Schwartz, Pippin | ||
Drama Desk Awards - 1971 - Most Promising Composer ![]() |
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Stephen Schwartz, Godspell |
Stephen Schwartz News

by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 17, 2022
Audible Inc. has announced additional live events from Audible Theater at the Minetta Lane Theatre, Audible’s creative home for live performances in New York. For three nights only, from Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 2, join Jason Gotay as he brings his breathtaking vocals and gift of storytelling to the Minetta Lane Theatre.

by Michael Major - Aug 15, 2022
Black-ish creator Kenya Barris will write and direct a reimagined version of the Wizard of Oz. Plot details for the new film are currently be kept under wraps, other than that it will be a 'modern reimagining' of the classic movie musical. The deal closed last week with Sheila Walcott overseeing for the studio.

by A.A. Cristi - Aug 12, 2022
Music Theater Works, currently presenting the regional premiere of Zorro: The Musical through August 21, is proud to announce its 2023 season of productions at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd.

by BWW Special Offer - Aug 12, 2022
Special Offer: Don't miss out on PIPPIN at the Milburn Stone Theatre (8/12-8/21)

by A.A. Cristi - Aug 9, 2022
For the third production in their 2022 season of original outdoor musical revues, Transcendence Theatre Company will present THE GALA, September 9 - 18, at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA. Tickets for THE GALA are available now at bestnightever.org.

by Team BWW - Aug 9, 2022
See all new photos of the cast of WICKED on Broadway in action! The current company includes Talia Suskauer as Elphaba, Brittney Johnson as Glinda, Sharon Sachs as Madame Morrible, Jordan Barrow as Boq, Tony Award winner Cleavant Derricks as The Wizard, James D. Gish as Fiyero, Tony Award nominee Clifton Davis as Doctor Dillamond, and Broadway newcomer Mikayla Renfrow as Nessarose.

by Stephi Wild - Aug 9, 2022
Award-winning Broadway playwright Theresa Rebeck will write the book for the Broadway-aimed Working Girl. While she's had more plays produced on Broadway than any female playwright of our time, Working Girl would mark Rebeck's Broadway debut as a book writer for a musical.

by Juan-Jose Gonzalez - Aug 9, 2022
Como cada año, vamos calentando motores ya que en breve llega la nueva temporada de teatro musical. Repasamos los espectáculos que llenarán las carteleras en nuestro país en 2022/2023. ¡Echa un vistazo a todos estos títulos!

by Nancy Grossman - Aug 8, 2022
The second and final production of Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston’s 2022 season is Stephen Schwartz’s PIPPIN, originally produced on the Broadway stage in 1972 with direction and choreography by Bob Fosse, and revived/reimagined in 2013 by Diane Paulus at the American Repertory Theater before going to Broadway. Undaunted by following in those two very large sets of footsteps, RMT Artistic Director Rachel Bertone forges her own path to stage a version that leads with an enlarged heart and a healthy helping of fun and whimsy.

by BWW Special Offer - Aug 8, 2022
Special Offer: Come See PIPPIN at Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston!
Stephen Schwartz Videos

by BroadwayWorld TV - Jun 22, 2022
Get a first look at photos and videos from Arts for Autism, an annual Broadway benefit held at the Gershwin Theater, with over $35,000 raised to expand access to the arts for those impacted by Autism.

by Stephi Wild - Apr 5, 2022
Liz Callaway was recently joined by her son, Nick Callaway Foster, at 'To Steve with Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim' to perform Sondheim's 'Move On' from Sunday in the Park with George.

by BroadwayWorld TV - Feb 14, 2022
Thank goodness! This evening Brittney Johnson took her first bow as Glinda in Wicked on Broadway! Ms. Johnson is the first Black actress to assume the iconic role.

by Stage Tube - Jan 28, 2022
What does it take to bring Wicked to cities across the country? Go inside the load-in process for the Wicked national tour, filmed at Tucson's Centennial Hall!

by Backstage With Richard Ridge - Jan 2, 2022
Watch as Richard Ridge chats with Broadway composer extraordinaire, Stephen Schwartz!

by Stephi Wild - Nov 24, 2021
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Girl From the North Country was among the nominees for the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.

by Michael Major - Nov 23, 2021
During an appearnace on The Tonight Show, Kristin Chenoweth commented on the recent news that Ariana Grande would be playing Glinda in the new film adaption of Wicked. When asked about the possibility of making a cameo in the film, Chenoweth shared her idea of how she and original Elphaba Idina Menzel should make an appearance in the film.

by BroadwayWorld TV - Nov 11, 2021
The video features cast members Liam Tamne, Adam Pearce, Soophia Foroughi, Natalie Green, Jessica Lee and Christopher Short with the team from The Show Shanties who delighted musical theatre fans by producing video collaborations with musicals such as Hamilton over lockdown!

by Team BWW - Sep 15, 2021
Last night, Wicked was one of four beloved musicals to resume performances on Broadway, following a 18-month hiatus. To celebrate the occasion, composer Stephen Schwartz and original Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth, were on hand at the Gershwin Theatre. Watch as Kristin speaks to the crowd, the cast performs their opening number, and takes their first bows since March 2020.

by Stage Tube - Sep 12, 2021
Correspondent Tracy Smith talked with Maguire and composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, and with the original Glinda and Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, about a show that has become a beacon for anyone who doesn't fit a conventional mold.