Cy Coleman was a prolific composer, songwriter, and jazz pianist who made a significant impact on American music and Broadway. Born Seymour Kaufman in 1929 in New York City, Coleman began playing piano at an early age and was soon performing in clubs and bars around the city. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, but his true education came from playing with jazz greats like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
Coleman's first foray into Broadway was with the musical "Wildcat" in 1960, which starred Lucille Ball. The show was not a critical success, ... read more
Joseph Stein was a prolific American playwright and librettist, best known for his work on the beloved musicals Fiddler on the Roof and Zorba. Born on May 30, 1912, in New York City, Stein grew up in the Bronx and attended City College of New York. After graduating, he worked as a social worker and then as a writer for the Army Air Force during World War II.
Stein began his career in theater as a writer for radio and television in the 1940s and 1950s, but it was his work on Broadway that earned him the most acclaim. His first ... read more
Jerry Adler is a veteran of more than 50 Broadway productions as producer, director, and production stage manager. He stage managed the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady. Following his work backstage, he began a new career as an actor, appearing in many television programs, including “The Sopranos,†in which he starred as Hesh throughout that award-winning HBO production’s run. Recent films include In Her Shoes and Prime. He can currently be seen in the film A Most Violent Year, and appears regularly on the CBS series “The Good Wife.†He is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of ... read more
