Winter/Spring 2020 updates from the world of composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and biographer Carol de Giere — a fan newsletter.
PHOTO: Director Scott Schwartz and his father, composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz, at the opening of The Prince of Egypt in London, February 25, 2020. Photo by Dave Benett, (used with permission of The Prince of Egypt press office).
1) Welcome from Carol
On March 6th, Stephen Schwartz turned 72, and just recently added The Prince of Egypt to the list of stage musicals featuring his music and lyrics. Following weeks of work during previews for the show playing on London’s West End, Stephen is now at home spending time with family, so he wasn’t able to write an update for this issue. However, I’ve compiled news on the London show, releases of The Prince of Egypt and Rags cast albums as well as the Godspell movie Blu-Ray edition, recent quotes from Stephen, clips, and special events. Keep reading the latest news below.
Stephen said recently, “When you’re a writer, you have to throw a lot of spaghetti at the wall because you really don’t know what’s going to stick.” He may be well past the usual retirement age, but he always has something creative and new in the works, so we can stay tuned for that later in 2020.
For future updates please LIKE our Facebook – Schwartz Scene page where I regularly post news. For those on Twitter but not Facebook, the issue link will get posted on Stephen Schwartz’s feed @composerstephen and on @caroldegiere. You can also check StephenSchwartz.com news section for updates.
2. Stephen Schwartz News
PHOTO: The Prince of Egypt in London.
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT MUSICAL
Stephen has been caught in the whirlwind of activity required for preparing The Prince of Egypt musical for its first major stage production in London. The show is an expanded adaptation of the popular 1998 DreamWorks animated feature for which Stephen wrote the songs. The new stage musical, which is directed by his son Scott Schwartz and includes ten new songs by Stephen, opened February 25th. It is scheduled to run through October at the Dominion Theatre. For tickets see ThePrinceofEgyptMusical.com
Those who can’t make it to London can enjoy the cast album that I expect will be released later this month. In a recent interview Stephen light heartedly contrasted this new score with one of his most iconic scores: “Part of the fun of this is the new instrumentation and the harmonies of the Middle East that are different from how they sing in Oz.” For dazzling production photos see Official site photos
To enjoy the trailer: The Prince of Egypt trailer on Youtube
Among the many comments about the musical when it opened were these by Stacey Williams who reviewed the show for Mirror Online: “This adaptation of the DreamWorks classic is brought to life in a truly epic fashion. The show boasts a cast and orchestra of nearly 60, and from the opening strains of ‘Deliver Us’ …you are hit with a wall of sound and vision rarely felt in stage productions …. what Philip LaZebnik and Schwartz (Senior and Junior) have managed to create is more nuanced than simply a story about two brothers finding their paths; in a show focused on two men, the strength of the women around them shines through.”
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ INTERVIEW PODCAST
Podcast Season 1 # 2 – from Club 11 London, Host: William J Connolly
https://www.buzzsprout.com/702697/2848264-s1-ep2-stephen-schwartz
The full podcast is about half an hour long. Here are a few highlights: At the beginning Stephen explains what previews are like and how every day changes are made. “…We still invite friends and colleagues and ask them what worked for you, what didn’t work for you, was there anything you didn’t understand, was there any place you were restless? Then [we] try to address those issues.”
He discusses why they re-approached the story for the musical rather than just try to put a version of the movie on stage. About the music, and whether it was fun to revisit the score, he said, “This musical world is really fun for me because the sort of middle eastern scale is different from the Western scale so it leads to different harmonization, different kind of melodies. The vocal style of singing is a little different. We’re using, more than the movie did, a lot of instrumentation of the region so musically it just has its own sound, and as a composer that is really exciting for me to explore.”
He answers questions about working professionally with his son and other questions about his response to theatre trends, including juke box musicals.
The interview ends with comments about what working on The Prince of Egypt has meant to him, and how it has helped him be more aware of other people’s points of view.
CAREER BIOGRAPHY
Just a reminder, or for anyone new here, if you want to read the behind-the-scenes stories from my interviews with Stephen Schwartz, see the 2018 Revised and Updated 2nd edition of Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked. It includes the making of The Prince of Egypt movie and stage musical, the making of Wicked, and much more. caroldegiere.com/defying-gravity/
“I devoured Defying Gravity—not only because it’s wonderfully written and tells a great story, but because it was so refreshingly honest about the vulnerability and pressure we face as artists. Each chapter has a “creativity notes” section which gives hands on insight into process, not only of songwriting, but how to navigate the mental game of show business.” — Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Academy and Grammy Award-winning songwriter (Frozen)
3. ALL GOOD GIFTS – More News and Events
PHOTO: From the Godspell production at ACT of CT on February 29th: Paul Shaffer, Katie Diamond (ACT of CT Executive Director), Stephen Schwartz, Daniel C. Levine (Artistic Director, ACT of CT). This theatre company is staging re-envisioned versions of Schwartz musicals, one a year for five years.
GODSPELL MOVIE BLU-RAY
The Godspell movie comes out on Blu-ray format for the first time on March 24. In addition to the standard movie filmed in New York City in 1972 and released in 1973, the Blu-Ray offers new bonus material including audio interviews with Stephen Schwartz, Robin Lamont, Katie Hanley, Jerry Sroka, and Edgar Lansbury, commentary by film historian Lee Gambin, and a short audio piece by me. Godspell Blu-ray at Amazon.com (Affliate link). This will be a world-wide release.
My book The Godspell Experience includes a full chapter on the movie, as well colorful behind-the-scenes stories on the show. It has a Foreword by Stephen Schwartz. The Godspell Experience (unsigned or signed copies)
De Giere’s “The Godspell Experience” is wonderfully informative, entertaining, and insightful. Her book was an invaluable resource for me when directing the show. It truly became my bible!” –Daniel C. Levine, Artistic Director, ACT of CT.
RAGS – New Cast Album
Ghostlight Records will release an album of the London cast of Rags the Musical, which played in its newly revised incarnation at the Park Theatre this winter. This will be the first recording of the show since Sony’s 1991 album with the Broadway cast. The album will be executive produced by Stephen Schwartz. In a statement Schwartz said, “I could not be more pleased that this beautifully sung production of Rags is being recorded by this group of terrific actors and musicians. I and my fellow authors consider ourselves lucky indeed!” Rags has a book by Joseph Stein, revised by David Thompson, with lyrics by Schwartz, and music by Charles Strouse. The musical was produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre, in association with Knockhardy Productions, Edward Prophet, People Entertainment Group, and Park Theatre.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Stephen Schwartz is involved with two upcoming events for the public: Lyrics and Lyricists in New York City and Children of Eden on Chicago’s west side.
Lyrics & Lyricists: Stephen Schwartz and Broadway’s Next Generation
Apr 18-20, 2020, the long-running American Songbook event series at NYC’s 92nd Street YMCA celebrates the illustrious career of Stephen Schwartz through his songs and anthems. Schwartz will share the stage with some of the brilliant young talents he has championed through the ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop and describe why he is so invested in nurturing the next generation of musical theater lyricists, composers and librettists.With Special Guests Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich, John Bucchino, and Khiyon Hursey with additional artists to be announced. Kaufmann Concert Hall at the 92nd Street YMCA. Lyrics and Lyricists – Note: Stephen’s work will be showcased but he may not be present at every performance due to other obligations. https://www.92y.org/event/l-l-stephen-schwartz
Children of Eden in the Chicago area
Tony nominee Norm Lewis will star as Father in a special limited engagement of Children of Eden at the historic Arcada Theatre outside of the Chicago area, which runs August 7 and 8 in the evening with an August 8th matinee. This professional production, with an award-winning Chicago artistic team, will feature some updates and a cast of over 50 actors from Chicago and New York stages. Joining the cast, Grammy Award-winning gospel artist, David Phelps, will be taking on the role of Adam/Noah, and America’s Got Talent’s Brian Justin Crum (Next to Normal, Disney’s Tarzan), will be taking on the role of Cain/Japheth. What will be especially pleasing to Stephen Schwartz is that the production will use a full orchestra, with performers and choir under the musical direction of Jermaine Hill and choral direction of Tom Vendafreddo.
Children of Eden (music and lyrics by Schwartz and book by John Caird) will be produced by the Chicagoland Theatre Fund, through a special arrangement with Chicagoland producer and presenter, Onesti Entertainment, manager of the Arcada. See childrenofedenthemusical.com/ for more information and updates.
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FOR THE ARCHIVES see The Schwartz Scene Back Issue Archives
About The Schwartz Scene: The Schwartz Scene is an independent publication written for musical theater enthusiasts who appreciate the work of American composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz. It does not formally represent composer Stephen Schwartz, although the editor, Carol de Giere, is in regular contact with the Schwartz office for updates. Send questions or comments to Carol through CaroldeGiere.com contact page. Copyright 2020 by Carol de Giere. Carol de Giere has exclusive rights, unless otherwise specified, for all materials included in the newsletter. Permission must be secured in writing before any part of it may be reprinted, except for the printing of one copy for the subscriber’s private use. Editor: Carol de Giere, 10 Library Place #909, Bethel CT 06801-0909.
