About Stephen Schwartz

Stephen Schwartz head shot

One of Broadway’s most recognized and celebrated composers, Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway hits Wicked, Pippin, Godspell and The Magic Show, and has also contributed music and/or lyrics to The Baker’s Wife, Working (which he also adapted and directed), Rags and Children of Eden. Wicked, which opened in 2003, is still running on Broadway and in several other productions around the US and worldwide. Mr. Schwartz is the only songwriter in Broadway history to have three shows run more than 1,900 performances.

He has also worked in film, collaborating with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s Enchanted, as well as the animated features Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and writing the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt.

In addition, he collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein’s Mass and wrote the title song for the play and movie Butterflies Are Free. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, Captain Louie and My Son Pinocchio. His opera, Séance on a Wet Afternoon, was produced at Opera Santa Barbara and New York City Opera, and he has released two CDs of original songs, Reluctant Pilgrim and Uncharted Territory.

During his 40-year career, Schwartz has won four Grammys®, three Academy® Awards, and last year received the Isabelle Stevenson special Tony® Award. He has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

For more information, visit Stephen Schwartz's website.