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Stephen Schwartz BIO

Note that his name is correctly spelled Stephen Schwartz, not Steven Schwartz, although in his earlier years he was called "Steve Schwartz."

Songwriter extraordinaire, Stephen Lawrence Schwartz was born in 1948 in New York City. He grew up on Long Island in Roslyn Heights, NY. As a child he auditioned for the Juilliard School of Music's preparatory division piano and composition lessons, and was admitted. He studied there on weekends for four years. Not destined to be a piano prodigy, he loved to improvise his own songs even from an early age. He attended Carnegie Mellon Unversity where he received a BFA in drama in 1968. While at Carnegie, he co-wrote four musicals for the extracurricular Scotch 'n' Soda club that were produced in the spring, including Pippin, Pippin, an early version of his future hit musical Pippin.

After finding an agent, Shirley Bernstein, Stephen Schwartz started his career in 1969 by writing a song for Butterfies Are Free. In 1971, he wrote music and new lyrics for Godspell. Next came his music and lyrics for Pippin and The Magic Show. When Godspell moved from off-Broadway to Broadway in 1976, Schwartz then had three successful shows running on Broadway at the same time.

Schwartz's songs on the cast albums for The Baker's Wife helped keep the show in motion ever since it failed to reach Broadway in 1976. Children of Eden is his second most popular show for regional theatres. He co-adapted Working and wrote lyrics for Rags before transferring some of his creative energy to Hollywood.

Stephen Schwartz wrote lyrics for the film scores for Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, songs for The Prince of Egypt.

Schwartz's musical Wicked is a hit on Broadway, on tour, in Chicago, in London, Los Angeles, and Japan Read all about Wicked.

In 2006, Schwartz worked in collaboration with Alan Menken for Enchanted. Disney's Enchanted, and he completed Geppetto and Son, a stage version of his Disney TV movie Geppetto. He is now writing an opera to be performed in 2009. Schwartz's opera project.

Other work includes songs for a Hans Christian Anderson celebration--a musical called My Fairy Tale, and more: See More Schwartz songs. His family musical, Captain Louie ran twice Off-Broadway, toured the USA, and is now being made available for local groups to perform.

He lives in Connecticut with his wife Carole Schwartz, and has two grown children, Jessica Schwartz and Scott Schwartz.

STAY INFORMED: Don't miss free newsletter/e-zine: The Schwartz Scene and please visit TheSchwartzScene.com/blog [opens new browser window]

People Pages

WICKED: Stephen Schwartz + Winnie Holzman + Gregory Maguire 1, Maguire p. 2 + Kristin Chenoweth + Idina Menzel + Joel Grey + Norbert Leo Butz

Selected artists - some pages include interviews: John Barr-- Norbert Leo Butz -- John Bucchino --Liz Callaway -- Kristin Chenoweth-- Scott Coulter -- Debbie Gravitte -- Joel Grey -- Kevin Koelble -- Idina Menzel -- James Taylor -- Lynne Thigpen

Visit the official Stephen Schwartz site at StephenSchwartz.com [new browser window]

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More Songs by Stephen Schwartz

Albums: Reluctant Pilgrim, Uncharted Territory,

Songs: Butterflies are Free theme song, Life with Mikey "Cold Enough to Snow" (lyrics) (on Uncharted Territory, Personals (Music for several songs), A My Name is Still Alice (one song), "Manchild Lullaby" (music), and "Rewriting History" (music) See recordings list.

Features of this independent Web site include:

Stephen Schwartz bio, awards, Schwartz interviews, and all about his musicals

• lists of recordings and videos
• links to useful sites
• licensing information
• sheet music sources
• contributed pages with photos, reviews, etc.

Email Feedback or Questions

ABOUT STEPHEN'S MUSIC: David Gauci, a Cabaret performer in Australia who helped create a Stephen Schwartz show, praises the range of Stephen's music. "While most cabaret performers cram their shows with Sondheim songs, which challenge your brain, Stephen Schwartz' songs feature powerful lyrics with strong and memorable melodies that directly engage your heart. His music crosses many styles, from traditional Broadway foot-tappers to tender ballads and contemporary pop, drawing on universal themes that make you smile, cry and laugh."

About Wicked

From Noah B. of Oregon: For me, Wicked has been an incredibly eye-opening musical. I have felt so many of the songs impact me in an emotional profoundness I never expected. I can feel Elphaba's excitement in the prospect of acceptance in "The Wizard and I", I can tap into my own formula for sociability while singing "Popular" with Galinda, I can feel the liberty of Elphie's first flight in "Defying Gravity", and I can cry with the agony of separation in "For Good".

All in all, Stephen Schwartz's music has become a frame to the world I look at daily, giving everything an accent of beauty, poignancy, and just a little bit of beautiful, green-tinted, enchantment.

A truly astounding musical, Wicked will always hold a special place in my heart.