Stephen Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972), and Wicked (2003). He has contributed lyrics to a number of successful films, including Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt (music and lyrics), and Enchanted. Schwartz has won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and has been nominated for six Tony Awards. He received the 2015 Isabelle Stevenson Award, a special Tony Award, for his commitment to serving artists and fostering new talent.

I first met Stephen when we started putting together the revival of Godspell and was immediately blown away by his ability to get to the heart of any musical moment and mine it for all that it’s worth . . . but at the same time he had an innate understanding of the business of Broadway. I remember thinking one day during a meeting that if he wasn’t composing Broadway megahits like Wicked and Pippin or writing Academy Award-winning tunes like “Colors of the Wind,” this guy would have made a helluva Producer.
And thankfully, he sat down with me once again . . . and this time, I turned on the recorder, and got this podcast, where Stephen and I talk about all things including Broadway and beyond, like:

The big shock Stephen got when he started his 2nd show on Broadway.

Why he won’t tell you what his favorite song is . . . and what Stephen Sondheim has to do with it.

The moment he knew Wicked had to be a musical.

How he can work for a year on a show without writing one note of music . . . and why that is so important.

What he tells every single one of his collaborators before they start working together on a show.

Enjoy this master class in writing and producing and surviving in the business of Broadway.

Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway
www.theproducersperspective.com 
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