L-R: At the Raimund Theatre in Vienna, Austria; Music from WICKED; ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Stephen Schwartz’s Fall 2019 update for fan newsletter “The Schwartz Scene” features news of a new movie project MARLEY, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT musical, and more. The newsletter includes podcast links, concert dates, photos, and DEFYING GRAVITY biography news. https://www.theschwartzscene.com/quarterly-newsletter/issue-66-fall-2019/
The Prince of Egypt is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Philip LaZebnik. Based on the 1998 film of the same name, the musical follows the life of Moses from being a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The musical will begin its U.K. bow in February 2020.
Follow this link for the Playbill.com announcement
for more information:
Stephen Schwartz and biographer Carol de Giere joined Leonard Lopate on December 17th at the WBAI studio for an hour-long interview about Stephen’s career and the updated second edition of DEFYING GRAVITY. Stephen answered questions about his career launch, GODSPELL, PIPPIN, WORKING, WICKED, his latest projects, collaborating with Alan Menken, and much more. Stephen and Carol discussed his writing process. You can find the recorded interview in several places. Here . https://tinyurl.com/y84lrb7j or https://tinyurl.com/ybtrjj7h or look for “Leonard Lopate at Large” on iTunes podcasts.
“Orphaned Songs for Orphaned Starfish” Concert with Stephen Schwartz
On Monday evening, November 19, Stephen Schwartz will participate in an evening of his “unsung,” new, and familiar songs. The concert benefits the Orphaned Starfish Foundation and celebrates the release of the Defying Gravity biography 2018 edition. This musical evening will have performances by Mr. Schwartz and stars of Broadway and Broadway Tours, and be held at the Cutting Room in Manhattan. Please visit https://www.osf.org/events to register for seats or tables, or for more information.
Carol de Giere’s career biography of Stephen Schwartz DEFYING GRAVITY: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked, Revised and Updated Second Edition (Applause Books, October 2018) is available from online sellers Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and others. Copies signed by Stephen Schwartz may be purchased from the author https://caroldegiere.com/defying-gravity/
This new edition features a Foreword by Alan Menken and four new chapters covering Schwartz’s more recent projects like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt, and Wicked after Broadway. DEFYING GRAVITY Second Edition includes additional “Creativity Notes” with comments from Schwartz about overcoming creative blocks, collaboration, and the artistic life. 512 pages with photographs and handwritten notes.
Stephen Schwartz is featured in this episode of Broadway’s Backbone at BroadwayWorld.com. Interested parties can follow this link: Stephen Schwartz on BroadwayWorld.com
Stephen Schwartz’s new tribute to Leonard Bernstein, ‘Anniversaire for Lenny,’ is featured on the new @Lara Downes album ‘For Lenny,’ out February 9 on Sony Classical. You can listen to the piece and learn more about it at the special preview link below!
http://www.laradownes.com/for-lenny-episodes/2017/11/14/for-lenny-episodes-7mh9n
Stephen Schwartz’s TESTIMONY was inspired by the It Gets Better Project. Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA (EVUSA), led by conductor Judith Clurman, performed the world premiere of the mixed chorus version, at Carnegie Hall, in 2013. Judith’s Essential Voices USA recorded “Testimony” in the spring of 2017, with James Cunningham at the piano. Four of her students from the Manhattan School of Music MT Vocal Ensemble joined members of EVUSA on the recording. Proceeds from the sales of this recording will enable EVUSA to present anti-bullying workshops in NYC public schools.
PURCHASE: Broadway Records, Amazon, ITUNES
https://www.broadwayrecords.com/testimony