Stephen Schwartz Videos

Today in 2003, Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it is still running. Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch of the North), who struggle through opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace. Its original stars included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard. The original Broadway production won 3 Tony Awards and 6 Drama Desk Awards whilst its cast album received a Grammy Award.

Today in 1972, Pippin opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.

The star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy It's Only A Play, by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, opened last night and BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the festivities of the evening. Richard Ridge was on the red carpet to chat with the night's biggest guests before the curtain went up. Below, check out interviews with Sarah Jessica Parker, Jerry Mitchell, Stephen Schwartz, Marin Mazzie and more!

Stars Sasha Allen (Broadway's Hair) and Matthew James Thomas (Broadway's Pippin, Spider-Man) stopped by KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area News yesterday to discuss the musical.

Emma Hunton is currently starring as 'Elphaba' in the the first North American tour of Wicked, which is currently playing at Albuquerque's Popejoy Hall. KOB Eyewitness News 4 got a behind the scenes look at the star of the show as she prepared for a show in the make-up chair. Check out her full process of getting greenified below!

Below, from the PIPPIN National Tour launch in Denver, 'In Focus' host Eden Lane brings us her full one-on-one with Sasha Allen (a finalist on the 4th season on THE VOICE) who portrays the 'Leading Player'. Click to watch the interview!

The national tour of Pippin launched in Denver this week, and host of 'In Focus' Eden Lane sat down for a one-on-one with composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz (GODSPELL, WICKED, Pippin, and more). Lane also met the director and driving force behind this re-imagined Pippin, Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus. This episode also includes highlights with cast members Matthew James Thomas as Pippin, Lucie Arnaz as Berthe, Sasha Allen (a finalist on the 4th season on THE VOICE) as Leading Player, and Tony Award-winner John Rubinstein, who created the role of Pippin in the 1972 original Broadway production. Click below to watch the interviews!

Executive Producers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) and Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Milk, Silver Linings Playbook) just presented an all-star lineup for Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality night, September 15th at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre. BroadwayWorld was on the scene for the special event, catching up with performers including Sting, Lena Hall, Stephanie J. Block, and the evening's host, Jane Lynch!

Sasha Allen and Matthew James Thomas (filling in for Kyle Selig,) Lucie Arnaz, and more lead the new national touring production of Pippin, now playing in Denver. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Click below to watch a special moment from 'In Focus' with Eden Lane's one-on-one with composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz during the PIPPIN National Tour launch in Denver. Schwartz discusses a special one-night-only event he is executive producing. 'Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality' will be hosted by Jane Lynch and features Sting, Patti LuPone, Celina Jaitly, Greg Louganis, Billy Porter, Chely Wright, and the casts of WICKED, ONCE, I AM HARVEY MILK, and more!

A cast of Broadway's brightest young talent, led by musical director Benjamin Rauhala, came together for an evening of wild mash-ups in 'sMASHed UP' on September 1st at 54 Below. Below, watch more than a dozen videos from the concert, featuring Taylor Louderman, Jason Gotay, Nic Rouleau, and more!

The Broadway cast of PIPPIN accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from Broadway's ONCE - check out their acrobatic submission below! PIPPIN has nominated the company of IT'S ONLY A PLAY, PIPPIN team member Gypsy Snider, and the cast of a show in Montreal.

Kyle Selig stars as Pippin in the new national touring production of PIPPIN that launches in Denver on Sept. 6. Kyle sent his selfie video series, JOIN US: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PIPPIN that The Denver Center for the Performing Arts put together into a vlog to show fans a fun day in the life of Kyle and his show. In this video, he meets up with castmates (including Leading Player Sasha Allen), jugglers and even some comic sleight of video hand. Get a first look into rehearsals. Enjoy the view.

The national tour company of Pippin recently took part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which has been dominating social media all week. Who'd they challenge in return? The Broadway casts of Mamma Mia!, Newsies, Newsies, and Pippin. Check out their wet submission below!

Tom Andersen , the 5-time MAC Award winner, sings 'Derek,' his musical salute to legendary Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, in'My Favorite Sings' on Saturdays, Aug. 2, 9 and 16 at 7 p.m . at Don't Tell Mama , 343 W. 46th St., NYC. In his first solo act in nearly a decade, he also will perform tunes from Tony-winning musicals and introduce a few numbers from 'Simply Sinclair,' a new show he's written with his musical director, James Followell. Cover is $15 with a two-drink minimum. Reservations: (212) 757-0788.

The company of the Tony Award winning Best Revival of a Musical PIPPIN (currently playing at the Music Box Theatre) just celebrated the caricature unveiling of current and original star John Rubinstein at Sardi's. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand for the special event and you can check out what Rubinstein had to say about the honor below!

Happy Birthday Alan Menken! For Disney, Menken has scored The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas, each of which won him two Academy Awards. He also composed the scores for The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Enchanted, and Tangled. Menken has collaborated on several occasions with lyricists including Howard Ashman,Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. On Broadway, Menken has composed for The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors, King David, Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, Leap of Faith, and Newsies. His most recent Broadway project, Aladdin, is currently playing at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Next to Normal's Alice Ripley and her fellow Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason are featured in a new music video for the song 'Mastermind,' written by Aaron David Gleason, Joanna's son.

Today in 1977, Pippin closed at the Minskoff Theatre, after having played 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.

The Marriott Theatre presents the Chicagoland premiere of the Broadway Revival of GODSPELL, opening tonight, June 11 and running through August 10 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. GODSPELL was originally conceived and directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wickedand Pippin. Director and Choreographer Matt Raftery delivers a fresh, organic, intimate production, literally 'illustrating' the parables of the New Testament and bringing its lessons to life on the Marriott stage. The brilliant recent Broadway arrangements and orchestrations will be delivered under the Musical Direction of Ryan T. Nelson. Watch highlights from the production below!