Michael Stewart was an American playwright and librettist born on August 1, 1924, in Manhattan, New York City. He began his career writing for television, including shows such as "The Red Buttons Show" and "The Steve Allen Show." However, it was his work on Broadway that would make him a household name.
Stewart's first Broadway credit came in 1955 with "By the Beautiful Sea," a musical comedy that he wrote the book for. He would go on to write the books for several other hit musicals, including "Carnival!" (1961), "Hello, Dolly!" (1964), and "42nd Street" (1980). "Hello, Dolly!" in particular was ... read more
Guber went into the nightclub business, and joined his childhood friend Shelly Gross and Frank Ford in creating a musical theater in Devon, Pennsylvania in 1955 called the Valley Forge Music Fair. The original tent was replaced by a permanent structure, which was subsequently razed and replaced by a supermarket.
The group was advised to open a second theater in Westbury, New York, a suburb of New York City, but Guber asked "Where's Long Island?" when told the proposed location. The original Westbury Music Fair was housed in a tent that was constructed on what had been the site of a ... read more
Highlights include Jerry Zaks' 1992 Guys and Dolls, The Boy From Oz starring Hugh Jackman, and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. As music director for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Hummel composed 3 songs for their 75th celebration in 2007. ... read more
Philip J. Lang was a musician, composer and music educator who taught at the graduate schools of music at the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado and was the orchestrator of more than 50 Broadway musicals including My Fair Lady and Camelot (with Robert Russell Bennett); Annie Get Your Gun; Applause; Hello, Dolly!; Carnival; and 42nd Street. Mr. Lang was an orchestrator for the Metropolitan Opera and a frequent musical arranger for television including Hallmark Productions, David Susskind, Radio City Music Hall and "The Tonight Show." ... read more
Theatre includes: Broadway: Ed in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Old Vic: Richard III. Tour: War Horse. BAM: The Iceman Cometh, Richard III. Shakespeare Theatre Company: Coriolanus, Antony & Cleopatra. Guthrie: M Butterfly. Studio Theater: Frozen. Rep Theatre of St Louis: Amadeus, Enrico IV. Signature Theatre: My Fair Lady, I Am My Own Wife. Hartford Stage: Hamlet, Heartbreak House.
Film includes: Blue Jasmine, NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage.
Awards: Helen Hayes Award, Will Award, Lunt-Fontanne fellow. ... read more
Charles Strouse is a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist whose contributions to the world of musical theater have left an indelible mark. Born in New York City in 1928, Strouse began playing piano at an early age and went on to study composition at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School.
Strouse's first Broadway credit came in 1960 with the musical "Bye Bye Birdie," which he co-wrote with lyricist Lee Adams. The show was a smash hit, running for over 600 performances and earning Strouse his first Tony Award for Best Musical. "Bye Bye Birdie" tells the story of ... read more