He was the first of our baby-boomer generation of songwriters, influenced by the full range of 1960s rock, pop, folk, and soul styles, to bring our sound and sensibility to Broadway. He had three hit shows running simultaneously on Broadway (as of 1976 when his hit Off-Broadway show Godspell moved to Broadway), plus a prestigious collaboration with Leonard Bernstein on Mass. I say daunting because, as I struggled to find my footing and make a living as a songwriter and composer, Stephen was this cultural phenomenon while still in his mid twenties. My first awareness of Stephen Schwartz came with the daunting triumvirate of Godspell, Pippin, and The Magic Show in the early 1970s. The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Prince of EgyptĪppendix A Stephen Schwartz Major Credits Wicked Worldwide and the Life-Changing Milestone Mulan and The Prince of Egypt (movies) Wickedģ0. Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (movies)ġ5. Children of Eden: Second Chances Act III - 1991 to 2003ġ4. Working: Creating a Nonfiction Musicalġ3. The Magic Show and Future Enchantments Act II - 1974 to 1991ġ0. Title.ĭedicated to the creative spirit within each of us ContentsĪuthor’s Introduction Act I - 1948 to 1974ħ. Includes biographical references and index.ġ. The Library of Congress has cataloged the 2008 edition as follows:ĭefying gravity : the creative career of Stephen Schwartz, from Published in 2018 by Applause Theatre & Cinema Booksįirst edition published in 2008 by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission, except by a newspaper or magazine reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review. The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to WickedĪll rights reserved. Revised And Updated Second Edition Carol de Giere Foreword by Alan Menken Singers, writers, fans, and anyone interested in the development of stage and film musicals will enjoy multiple insights from this backstage journey, from Godspell to Wicked, and beyond. Performers and others involved in productions of Godspell, Pippin, Children of Eden, Working, Rags, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, will discover the intentions of the shows’ creators. She rounds out the book with photographs, Schwartz’s handwritten notes, and highlighted quotations. She also drew from conversations with his family members, friends, and colleagues (librettists, composers, directors, producers, and actors) to render a rich portrait of this complex and gifted artist. The abundance of behind-the-scenes stories in this Stephen Schwartz biography came by way of the author’s unprecedented access to this legendary songwriter for interviews. Menken’s revelatory “Foreword” that introduces the second edition of Defying Gravity explores their “wonderful chemistry” and creative challenges. Movie musical fans know that Disney’s pairing of Stephen Schwartz (for lyrics) with composer Alan Menken (for music) led to award-winning movie musicals “Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted. Wicked enthusiasts are treated to a revealing, in-depth account of the show’s evolution that takes readers from developmental workshops, to the pre-Broadway tryout in San Francisco, through the arguments over changes for Broadway, and finally to productions around the world. The new edition also features an acclaimed series of “Creativity Notes” with insights about the creative process. In the revised and updated second edition of Defying Gravity, biographer Carol de Giere reveals how Schwartz’s beloved musicals came to life, adding four new chapters that shed light on the continuing Wicked phenomenon and exciting projects that include stage adaptations of The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Alan Menken and The Prince of Egypt.Ī popular feature of the first edition remains intact for the second: the story of Schwartz’s commercially unsuccessful shows, how he coped, and how he gave himself another chance. Stephen Schwartz is among the rare American composer-lyricists whose Broadway musicals have inspired passionate followings, resulting in blockbuster hits like Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin.
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