Scott Wittman
La MaMa and Krymov Lab NYC to Present UNCLE VANYA in April 2026 (Mar 2, 2026)
Marcia P. Hoffman School Of The Arts Announces Summer Camps And ROALD DAHL’S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (Feb 28, 2026)
Video: Patti LuPone Sings 'Time After Time' from MATTERS OF THE HEART Tour (Feb 27, 2026)
BIO
Wittman was raised in Nanuet, New York, graduated from Nanuet Senior High School in 1972 and attended Emerson College in Boston for two years before leaving to pursue a career in musical theatre in New York City. While directing a show for a Greenwich Village club he met songwriter and composer Marc Shaiman, and the two became collaborators and professional partners. While Shaiman wrote for television shows, including Saturday Night Live, Wittman directed concerts for such artists as Bette Midler, Christine Ebersole, Raquel Welch, Dame Edna Everage, and Lypsinka, among others.
In 2002, Shaiman and Wittman wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Hairspray, which won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, the Tony Award for Best Original Score, and a Grammy Award. In addition to Hairspray, Wittman conceived, wrote lyrics for, and directed Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and conceived and directed Matters of the Heart, a solo concert by Patti LuPone in 2000.
Shaiman and Wittman worked on Catch Me If You Can, a musical adaptation of the 2002 Steven Spielberg film, together with Terrence McNally. The musical opened on Broadway in April 2011. They again worked together on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical.
In 2011, Hairspray was performed at Nanuet Senior High School, where Wittman attended high school.
In 2013, Wittman and Marc Shaiman co-wrote the score for Bombshell, a musical about Marilyn Monroe within the context of the NBC television show Smash. A soundtrack was released later that same year.
Wittman and Shaiman collaborated in 2018 on Mary Poppins Returns where Wittman wrote the lyrics for nine of the tracks listed. He and Shaiman were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "The Place Where Lost Things Go".
In 2021, Wittman and Shaiman wrote a song entitled "Save the City" for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in-universe Broadway production, titled Rogers: The Musical featured in the first episode of Hawkeye, "Never Meet Your Heroes". It was released as a single on November 24, the day the episode became available on Disney+.
In February 2021, it was announced that Wittman and Shaiman were writing songs for a new musical adaptation of Some Like It Hot, due on Broadway in 2022, with a book by Amber Ruffin and Matthew Lopez.
Photos
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Productions
Writing
Lyricist
Awards and Nominations
winner
Scott WittmanSome Like It Hot
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Scott WittmanSome Like it Hot
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Scott WittmanSome Like It Hot
Scott WittmanSome Like It Hot
Scott Wittman, Catch Me if You Can
Scott Wittman, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
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Scott Wittman, Hairspray
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Scott Wittman, Hairspray
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Scott Wittman, Hairspray
Videos
Video: Patti LuPone Sings 'Time After Time' from MATTERS OF THE HEART Tour
by Joshua Wright - 2026-02-27 10:38:03
Video: Joshua Henry, Shaina Taub, & Ben Levi Ross Record 'He Wanted to Say' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2026-02-06 12:30:02
Video: Marc Shaiman Recalls Journey From Bette Midler Superfan to Collaborator
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-01-28 10:51:25
Video: JJ Niemann Sings 'Goodbye' in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN at Marriott Theatre
by Michael Major - 2025-10-08 15:45:37
Video: Extended Highlights from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN at Marriott Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2025-09-30 15:58:17
Video: JJ Niemann in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN at Marriott Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2025-09-03 14:49:10
Video: JJ Neimann Leads CATCH ME IF YOU CAN In Rehearsals at Marriott Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2025-08-21 16:10:26
Video: Bella Coppola Performs 'Let Me Be Your Star' in SMASH on Broadway
by Michael Major - 2025-05-28 15:59:52
Video: Watch Robyn Hurder and Cast Perform 'Let's Be Bad' From SMASH
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-22 14:02:21
Video: Robyn Hurder and SMASH Cast Perform 'Let Me Be Your Star' on THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-20 11:16:34
Video: Watch SMASH Star Bella Coppola Perform the National Anthem at the Mets Game
by Michael Major - 2025-05-19 11:38:20
Video: SMASH Cast Performs 'I Never Met A Wolf Who Didn't Love To Howl' on THE VIEW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-16 14:15:09
Video: Watch Caroline Bowman Sing 'They Just Keep Moving The Line' in SMASH
by Michael Major - 2025-05-14 15:40:23
Video: Watch SMASH Perform 'Let Me Be Your Star' on the TODAY SHOW
by Michael Major - 2025-04-28 09:57:39
Video: Robyn Hurder Talks SMASH Opening Night and 20 Years on Broadway
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-23 15:38:14
Video: Robyn Hurder Shares SMASH Pre-Show Rituals and Bringing Marilyn Monroe to Life
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-09 14:48:54
Video: Robyn Hurder and More in SMASH on Broadway First Look
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2025-04-08 12:10:38
News
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 2, 2026
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present Krymov Lab NYC's UNCLE VANYA, scenes from country life, from March 28 to April 12, 2026, at The Ellen Stewart Theatre in New York.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 28, 2026
The Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts at Ruth Eckerd Hall has announced its 2026 summer camps and summer musical, ROALD DAHL’S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, with auditions open to ages 5 and up.
by Joshua Wright - Feb 27, 2026
Watch Patti LuPone perform Time After Time from her MATTERS OF THE HEART tour. The concert plays the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco on March 1, 2026.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 24, 2026
OBIE and NYIT Award-winning Peculiar Works Project returns to La MaMa ETC's Downstairs Theatre for the world premiere of Antigone in Analysis, written by Barbara Barclay and directed by Ralph Lewis, running March 20 - April 5, 2026.
by Rebecca Kaplan - Feb 9, 2026
Patti LuPone celebrated the 25th anniversary of her moving concert, all about love, at Carnegie Hall, warming the frigid NYC winter night with her simple message that love does have the power to change the world
by Michael Major - Feb 6, 2026
Ragtime has released a video of Joshua Henry, Shaina Taub, and Ben Levi Ross recording 'He Wanted to Say' from the acclaimed revival. The track is featured on the recently released cast recording, which dropped in January.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 6, 2026
La MaMa will present Jane Comfort and Company with a new world premiere and two landmark works, marking their first return in over eight years. The event, set for March 19-22, 2026, will feature a blend of dance and theater addressing America's cultural and political issues.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 3, 2026
La MaMa will present the world premiere of FOOTNOTES, a multi-media puppetry show exploring the profound aspects of walking, from February 27 to March 15, 2026.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2026
The Muny has selected the seven teams of directors, choreographers, music directors and lead designers whose creative visions will shape the Tony Award-winning theatre’s 2026 season in Forest Park.
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 28, 2026
During a visit to Late Night with Seth Meyers, Tony Award‑winning composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman recalled how he went from being a Bette Midler superfan to working with her after moving to New York. Check out the interview now.
by R. Scott Reedy - Jan 28, 2026
To say that the Tony Award-winning 2022 musical “Some Like It Hot,” which Broadway in Boston is presenting at Citizens Opera House through February 8, has quite a pedigree is putting it mildly.
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 27, 2026
Tony Award‑winning composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman visited The View on Tuesday to preview his new memoir. Check out the segment, where he speaks about some of his projects, and plays tunes from Sister Act, The American President, and more.
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 22, 2026
The Cape Playhouse will present its 2026 summer season from June 3 through September 19 at the historic Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts. The season, unveiled by Artistic Director Eric Rosen, will include five musical theater productions as the organization approaches its centennial in 2027.
by R. Scott Reedy - Jan 21, 2026
As an actor, musical theater performer, and cabaret artist, Robert Saoud is used to getting all kinds of reactions from all types of audiences.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 7, 2026
GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, has revealed the nominees of the 37th GLAAD Media Awards.
by Oliver Oliveros - Jan 7, 2026
The gates to the world's most famous chocolate factory are finally opening in Manila!
by Stephi Wild - Dec 22, 2025
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present the workshop production of The Thousand and One Nights, a reimagining of the epic from Lebanese-American director and playwright Ghina Fawaz and Turkish dramaturg and artist Begüm 'Begsy' Inal.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 17, 2025
This Winter, Janice McCune will reprise her solo cabaret debut Let's Start Tomorrow Tonight! The musical director and pianist is John Fischer, with Chris Bonner on bass, Zachary Eldridge on drums, and Lennie Watts serving as director.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 16, 2025
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present the workshop production of ألف ليلة وليلة (The Thousand and One Nights), a bold reimagining of the legendary epic from Lebanese-American director and playwright Ghina Fawaz and Turkish dramaturg and artist Begüm 'Begsy' Inal.
by Stephi Wild - Dec 16, 2025
The Mac-Haydn Theatre has announced its 2026 season, kicking off next summer. Tickets are now on sale. The lineup will feature The Addams Family, 9 to 5, and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Scott Wittman has written 7 shows including Hairspray (Lyricist), Livin' Dolls (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), Patti LuPone: Matters of the Heart (Conceiver), Catch Me If You Can (Lyricist), Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (Conceiver), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Composer), Some Like It Hot (Lyricist).
Best Original Score (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Some Like It Hot, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Some Like it Hot, Outstanding New Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Some Like It Hot, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Some Like It Hot, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Catch Me if You Can, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Hairspray, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Hairspray and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Hairspray.
Scott Wittman has won several prestigious awards throughout his career. He received the Best Original Score award at the BroadwayWorld Awards for Some Like It Hot. He earned the Outstanding Lyrics award at the Drama Desk Awards for both Some Like It Hot and Hairspray. Additionally, he won the Outstanding New Score award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Some Like It Hot. Wittman also received the Best Musical award from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Hairspray. Furthermore, he was honored with the Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Hairspray.
Videos