Updates from the world of Broadway and film composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and biographer Carol de Giere — a fan newsletter.
PHOTO taken after a demo recording session for one of the new songs for the Wicked movie. Center: Wicked composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and music director Stephen Oremus. Backup singers from left: Troy Iwata, Marissa Rosen, and Wendi Bergamini. Photo courtesy of Stephen Schwartz, June 2022.
1) Welcome from Carol
This coming October marks the 50th anniversary of Pippin, Stephen Schwartz’s first musical score that he completed at age 24. Five decades later Stephen still has more magic to do. In this Summer 2022 issue below you’ll find updates about the Wicked movie, a new English language musical adaptation Making Magic, a new book about Pippin, Disney’s Disenchanted, interviews, and more.
Ready for summer reading? Please check out my books: The Godspell Experience and Schwartz biography Defying Gravity. Both are available as paperbacks, ebooks, and signed copies ideal for gift giving. See https://caroldegiere.com/books
For future updates please LIKE our Facebook – Schwartz Scene page where I post news periodically. 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 Stephen’s official site StephenSchwartz.com news section for updates.
2. Stephen Schwartz News – 2 Wicked Movies and Disenchanted
Catching up with the Wicked Movie
First Steps for New Song(s)
It’s happening! Stephen Schwartz shared the recording studio photo above for this issue of The Schwartz Scene, so yes, he has been writing something new for the movie. This piece is in the demo phase, which means its use in the movie is not yet final. Stephen has been in “writer hibernation” for several months keeping his focus on his professional writing projects, but he did provide several comments for us.
Wicked Movie Efforts 2021-2022
Previously, for our Spring 2021 issue, Stephen reported, “The creative team has been very actively in conversation, almost daily on Zoom” while finalizing the screenplay structure. Then in the Fall 2021, after years of fan anticipation and speculation, director Jon M. Chu made the first casting announcement on Twitter, revealing that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will play Elphaba and Glinda respectively.
In April 2022 we learned that the movie won’t be just one short day in the Emerald city. Wicked will be two full movies with the first planned for release in December 2024 and the second a year later. (You can read Chu’s statement in various online publications such as Cinemablend: Jon M. Chu on 2 Wicked films)
Stephen Schwartz Comments on Two-movie approach for Wicked
What follows is Stephen Schwartz’s version of the two-movie approach, provided for fans for this issue of The Schwartz Scene: “The truth is we tried for some time to make it one movie, even if it had to be one very long movie. But we kept running into two problems. The first is that even as a very long single movie, it required us cutting or omitting things that we wanted to include and that we think fans of the show and the story will appreciate. Secondly, we found it very difficult to get past ‘Defying Gravity’ without a break. That song is written specifically to bring a curtain down, and whatever scene to follow it without a break just seemed hugely anti-climactic. So, for these two reasons, plus the excitement of doing something that’s never been done before with a musical, we have decided to do two movies. Of course, when it’s all done, if it doesn’t work that way, we’ll have to figure something out. But we strongly believe that this is what’s best for our story, our show, and our fans.”
(My book Defying Gravity includes the story of “Defying Gravity” and other songs for the Wicked stage production https://caroldegiere.com/defying-gravity/)
PHOTO: Stephen Schwartz at the Wicked curtain call, Sept 14, 2021, from our Fall issue. (Photo by Steven Skybell)
Changes to Wicked are “Additive”
The creative team’s adaptation of a stage musical into two film scripts has been a careful process. Stephen comments: “What we have discussed is that changes need to be ‘additive,’ to use Marc Platt’s term. They need to add something to the story or the characters. They can’t just be changes to do something different. I feel confident that by the time the movie is made, if we all continue to have the same degree of input, I could have a conversation with anyone who has a question about any of the changes made from the stage show and justify why I think it’s better for the movie.”
A Team for Oz
In addition to working with writers Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz, Jon M. Chu has been involved with arranging and/or announcing other team members. Early on he added cinematographer Alice Brooks with whom he worked on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical In the Heights, and who later worked on the popular Netflix film tick tick…BOOM!
As Chu mentioned in a recent video interview, Nathan Crowley (known for such films as The Greatest Showman, The Dark Knight, and Interstellar) is now attached as production designer. And Paul Tazewell, who has already spent time in Oz, has signed on for costume design. Tazewell won a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on The Wiz Live. He also received the 2016 Tony Award for Best Costume Design for Hamilton and an Academy Award nomination for his work on Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story.
Chu talks briefly about the Wicked movie starting about six minutes into an interview for Cinemablend posted June 7. He mentions that over the past year he was getting to know Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. He also begins talking about other creatives as well as the themes of the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaTNhMWB9vk
Disney’s Disenchanted Scheduled for Thanksgiving 2022 Release
Disenchanted with songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz is slated for streaming on Disney+ Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022. Many of the stars of the original movie Enchanted (2007) return for the sequel Disenchanted, including Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, and Idina Menzel. This time Idina Menzel has her own song. (If you missed Stephen’s comment about songs in the Spring 2021 Issue, see issue-70-spring-2021/).
Better Nate Than Ever
The family movie Better Nate Than Ever now playing on Disney+ has several nods to Pippin and Wicked. Nate’s parents are played by Norbert Leo Butz and Michelle Federer who were Wicked’s original Fiyero and Nessarose respectively.
3. Stephen Schwartz News – Live Theatre – Making Magic
PHOTO: The creative team for the musical Making Magic discuss their show in Surrey, UK, May 2022. From left: Joanna Murray-Smith (bookwriter), Stephen Schwartz (composer-lyricist), Sir Trevor Nunn (director). Photo courtesy of Stephen Schwartz.
You may have heard of the musical Making Magic under its earlier title Schikaneder, which was the German language version. The show premiered in Vienna, Austria on September 30th, 2016, exactly 225 years after the opening night of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The story is centered around the tempestuous relationship between the famous opera’s librettist, Emanual Schikaneder, and his wife Eleonore.
For the first production Christian Struppeck developed the book, Stephen Schwartz wrote the score, and Mr. Nunn directed. Nunn and Schwartz are now working with a new bookwriter Joanna Murray-Smith who came on board for an English version. Her plays have been produced around the world, including on Broadway and the West End, the National Theatre, London and in many languages.
4. ALL GOOD GIFTS – Books, Interviews, Awards, and More
Pippin book Magic to Do
The first full book on Pippin is available for pre-order and will be released just after the 50th anniversary of the show’s opening on Broadway. In Magic to Do theater journalist Elysa Gardner dives deep into the legendary clashes, backstage drama, and incredible artistic synergy that produced one of Broadway’s most influential musicals, a show that paved the way for the pop-informed musicals that we know and love today. Gardner’s book is based in part on new interviews conducted with Stephen Schwartz and original cast members. https://amzn.to/3n2X0Up (affiliate link)
Godspell Toronto Production – 50th anniversary interview/article
A special article about the Toronto company of Godspell includes interviews with Stephen Schwartz, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Victor Garber, and others. Stephen says the show “was created anew around each of the companies. And that’s why it was so important to cast actors who were gifted in improvisation, who could do imitations, who could bring in their own comic ideas.” Godspell-toronto-martin-short-levy-radner-shaffer-garber/
PBS VIDEO: Stephen Schwartz on PBS series Articulate
PBS VIDEO: PBS series Articulate interviewer Jim Cotter talks with Stephen Schwartz in his NYC apartment. Hear his observations about Broadway, people, and second chances. Stephen’s 13-minute section comes first. articulateshow.org/videos/the-insatiables/
Stephen Schwartz Receives ASA Lifetime Achievement Award
Stephen Schwartz at the American Songbook Association gala May 9, 2022. Photo by Stephen Sorokoff.
On May 9th, The American Songbook Association held a gala concert in NYC at which Stephen Schwartz received the ASA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The concert directed by Scott Coulter featured all Schwartz songs and over a dozen performers. This included several original cast members: Kurt Peterson and Teri Ralston from The Baker’s Wife and Kelli Rabke from Children of Eden.
Arts for Autism – Stephen Schwartz was Special Guest
Stephen Schwartz performed at the annual Arts for Autism concert. The benefit held at the Gershwin Theatre raised funds to expand access to the arts for those impacted by Autism. See photos and details at Broadwayworld.com/ – arts for autism
Stephen Schwartz and Friends Concert in Pittsburgh
Stephen Schwartz & Friends September 19th trustarts.org/production/81937/stephen-schwartz-and-friends
Watch for our next issue in the Fall 2022.
BUY SIGNED BOOKS
Autographed copies of The Godspell Experience and Defying Gravity signed by Stephen Schwartz and me are available while they last from https://caroldegiere.com/signed-copies/
Previous Issues of The Schwartz Scene
If you missed previous issues, our back issue index is at Back issue archive. You’ll find news and online interviews with Stephen Schwartz.
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About this online fan newsletter: 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 and approval of his quotations. Send questions or comments by message at http://facebook.com/theschwartzscene (preferred) or by email to carol1 (at) caroldegiere (dot) com
Copyright 2022 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.
