Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as a producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre.
His first major credit was the title song for the play BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well.
In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for GODSPELL, for which he won several awards including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's MASS, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for PIPPIN and two years later, THE MAGIC SHOW. At one point, GODSPELL, PIPPIN, and THE MAGIC SHOW were all running on Broadway simultaneously.
He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER'S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, to which he contributed four songs, and which he also adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS "American Playhouse" series.
Next came songs for a one-act musical for children, CAPTAIN LOUIE, and a children's book, THE PERFECT PEACH. He then wrote music for three of the songs in the Off-Broadway revue, PERSONALS, lyrics to Charles Strouse's music for RAGS, and music and lyrics for CHILDREN OF EDEN.
He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features POCAHONTAS, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for which he won another Academy Award for the song "When You Believe".
Mr. Schwartz provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, GEPPETTO, seen on The Wonderful World of Disney. Recently, he released two CDs on which he sings new songs, entitled RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
Mr. Schwartz's most recent musical, WICKED, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway.
Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and serves on the ASCAP board; he is also a member of the Council of the Dramatists' Guild.
“Are people born wicked, or is wickedness trust upon them?”
“I’ve heard it said, that people, come into our lives for a reason. Bringing something we must learn and we aren’t, to help us most to grow, if we let them, and we help them in return. Well I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you”
“And Goodness knows The Wicked's lives are lonely Goodness knows The Wicked die alone”
“People like the way dreams have of sticking to the soul.”
“So if you care to find me/Look to the western sky/As someone told me lately/Everyone deserves the chance to fly!/And if I'm flying solo/At least I'm flying free/Tell those who'd ground me/Take a message back from me/Tell them how I am defying gravity!/I'm flying high defying gravity/And soon I'll match them in renown./And nobody in all of Oz/No Wizard that there is or was/Is ever gonna bring me down!/”
“Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true.”
“So much of me is made of what I learned from you; you'll be with me like a handprint on my heart and now whatever way our stories end I know you have re-written mine by being my friend”
“I'm through accepting limits''cause someone says they're soSome things I cannot changeBut till I try, I'll never know!Too long I've been afraid ofLosing love I guess I've lostWell, if that's loveIt comes at much too high a cost!”
“Don't wish. Don't Start. Wishing only wounds the heart.”
“I believe if I refuse to grow old,I can stay young 'til I die.”
“Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow. ”
“Day by day, dear Lord,Of Thee three things I pray.To see Thee more clearly,Love Thee more dearly,Follow Thee more nearly,Day by day.”
“Let the green girl go!”
“GLINDA: Well,I'm a public figure now! People expect me to--ELPHABA: Lie?GLINDA: (fiercely) Be encouraging! And what exactly have you been doing? Besides riding on around on that filthy thing!ELPHABA: Well, we can't all come and go by bubble. Whose invention was that, the Wizard's? Of course, even if it wasn't, I'm sure he'd still take credit for it.GLINDA: Yes, well, a lot of us are taking things that don't belong to us, aren't we?Uh oh! The two stare daggers at each other, then...ELPHABA: Now, wait just a clock-tick. I know it's difficult for that blissful blonde brain of yours to comprehend that someone like him could actually choose someone like me!But it's happened. It's real. And you can wave that ridiculous wand all you want, you can't change it! He never belonged to you -- he doesn't love you, he never did! He loves me!”
“We can't all come and go by Bubble!”
“Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill.”
“Popular,You're gonna bePopular!I'll teach you the proper ployswhen you talk to boys!Little ways to flirt and flounce!I'll show you what shoes to wear,how to fix your hair,everything that really counts,to bePOPULAR!!”
“No, you're wrong. I'm a hundred percent callow and deeply shallow.”
“Some things I cannot change, but 'til I try I'll never know.”
“It's just life, so keep dancing through.”
“Dancing through life Swaying and sweeping And always keeping cool Life is faught less When you're thoughtless Those who don't try Never look foolish Dancing through life Mindless and careless Make sure you're where less Trouble is rife Woes are fleeting Blows are glancing When you're dancing Through life...”
“....Everyone deserves a chance to fly!”
“Cause getting your dreamsIt's strange, but it seemsA little -- well -- complicatedThere's a kind of a sort of : costThere's a couple of things get : lostThere are bridges you crossYou didn't know you crossedUntil you've crossed.”
“I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reasonBringing something we must learnAnd we are led to those who help us most to grow If we let them and we help them in return.”
“Those who don't try never look foolish.”