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Stephen Schwartz

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born

March 06, 1948 in New York, The United States

gender

male

website

http://www.stephenschwartz.com/

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Stephen 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 Kenne...more Stephen 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.(less)

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Books by Stephen Schwartz

Average rating: 4.11 · 9,719 ratings · 143 reviews · 43 distinct works

	Wicked - Piano/Vocal Arrangement by Stephen Schwartz, Gregory Maguire (Based On Work by) 4.24 avg rating — 194 ratings — published 2004 — 16 editions	My rating:
	The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Sa'ud from Tradition to Terror 3.38 avg rating — 45 ratings — published 2002 — 7 editions	My rating:
	Pippin by Stephen Schwartz, Roger O Hirson 3.41 avg rating — 49 ratings — published 1975 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Wicked: A New Musical 4.28 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 2004	My rating:
	Godspell 3.60 avg rating — 42 ratings — published 1983 — 3 editions	My rating:
	The Other Islam: Sufism and the Road to Global Harmony 3.41 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2008 — 3 editions	My rating:
	Pippin: Complete Vocal Score 3.56 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1988	My rating:
	Children of Eden: Vocal Selections 3.50 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 1999 — 2 editions	My rating:
	The Prince Of Egypt 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings — 2 editions	My rating:
	The Perfect Peach: A Story 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — 2 editions	My rating:

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Quotes by Stephen Schwartz

“I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow
If we let them and we help them in return.”
― Stephen Schwartz

tags: broadway , for-good , friendship , goodbyes , musicals , parting , wicked

298 people liked it

“It's just life, so keep dancing through.”
― Stephen Schwartz, Wicked: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical

tags: elphaba , fiyero , galinda , glinda , nessa , nessarose , wicked , wicked-the-musical

87 people liked it

“We can't all come and go by Bubble!”
― Stephen Schwartz, Wicked [With CD (Audio)]

tags: wicked-the-musical

57 people liked it

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