The Schwartz Scene Blog

This January, Stephen Schwartz and I will be reprising our presentation from October 30th in two new locations: Chicago and San Francisco. See details below.

PHOTO:

Wearing lime green on Wicked’s 5th Anniversary October 30th, 2008, Stephen Schwartz came out to Barnes and Noble in New York City near Lincoln Center to talk about his songwriting process. The gathered audience of about 220 people listened to him play “Corner of the Sky” and “For Good.”

That’s me, the bird perched on the stool. I prompted Stephen with questions related to things that he and I discussed over the years I was writing Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked.

I managed to catch a corner of Stephen’s busy schedule to fit in the two upcoming events.

I’ll put the details in here in press release form. Note that the Skokie event is early evening so you can still make it to Wicked or another show that night. Stephen himself plans to attend Wicked that evening - the last time he’ll see the Chicago production before it closes on January 25th.

Meet Wicked’s Stephen Schwartz in Skokie Illinois

Two weeks before Wicked closes after its long run in Chicago, the show’s composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz will appear in Skokie on January 10, 2009, with host Carol de Giere, author of Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked. Schwartz will discuss his work, answer questions and perform several of his songs at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 55 Old Orchard Center in Skokie at 5:30 pm. He will join Ms. de Giere in autographing the book, and will also sign other memorabilia for those who purchase the book.

Defying Gravity takes readers behind the scenes for the making of Schwartz-related musicals from Godspell in 1971 through Wicked in 2003. The Wicked section of the book spans 150 pages and covers the story of the show’s developmental stages.

Schwartz, whose hit musicals Pippin, The Magic Show, and Wicked have each run more than 1900 performances on Broadway, also holds three Academy Awards. He recently received a Grammy Award nomination for songs for Disney’s Enchanted, which he wrote with Alan Menken.

Stephen Schwartz In Conversation and Song in San Francisco

Monday, January 26, 2009 at 7:00 pm

Stephen Schwartz, composer-lyricist of the international blockbuster musical Wicked, will appear for an evening of conversation, song, and book signing at the Museum of Performance & Design (MPD) as Wicked returns home to San Francisco on January 27 for an open-ended engagement at the Orpheum Theatre. In conversation with host Carol de Giere, author of the new biography Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked, Schwartz will describe some of his songwriting methods, answer questions about his work and the making of Wicked, and perform several of his popular pieces at the piano. Following the presentation, he will join Ms. de Giere in autographing the book.

The event takes place on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Museum of Performance & Design (MPD), located on the Fourth Floor of the Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue (@ McAllister) in San Francisco. Admission is free, but space is limited and reservations are recommended — call 415-255-4800, ext. *810. For more information, visit the Museum’s website, www.mpdsf.org. Book sales for this event are courtesy of Books, Inc. in Opera Plaza (www.booksinc.net).

Defying Gravity takes readers behind the scenes for the making of Schwartz-related musicals from Godspell in 1971 through Wicked in 2003. The Wicked section of the book spans 150 pages and covers the story of the show’s developmental stages. More information is available on the book’s website at www.defyinggravitythebook.com

In 2008 at age sixty, Stephen Schwartz reached a new threshold. In July, Wicked passed Pippin and The Magic Show in number of continuous performances on Broadway. All three have run over 1900 performances, making Schwartz the only songwriter in Broadway history with three shows that have reached this milestone. He also holds three Academy Awards. He recently received a Grammy Award nomination for songs for Disney’s Enchanted, which he wrote with Alan Menken. Come meet this living legend.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, had its world premiere at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre on May 28, 2003. This opening followed a long development process during which the entire creative team and cast immersed themselves in the brand-new material at the Curran Theatre to launch a spectacular phenomenon that has since redefined theatrical pop culture. Since having its official Broadway opening at the Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003, Wicked has been sold out at virtually every performance, breaking house records with box office receipts of over $1.4 million per week. It has been called “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” by the New York Times and “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety. Wicked returns home to San Francisco on January 27 for an open-ended engagement at the Orpheum Theatre.

MORE ABOUT WICKED

Read all about Wicked on my Stephen Schwartz fan site Wicked pages!

http://www.musicalschwartz.com/wicked.htm

Stephen Schwartz, songwriter for Wicked, Godspell, and other musicals, helped launch the new book Defying Gravity at Barnes and Noble in October 2008. Photo by Terence de Giere

Meet Stephen in Los Angeles - Star-filled Event Monday November 24th, 2008

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL with STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, an Actor’s Fund benefit event in the lobby of the Pantages Theatre with an opportunity to meet and mingle. Starring: Stephen Schwartz, Jason Alexander, Susan Eagan, Jason Graae, Debbie Gravitte,Karen Morrow, Hila Plitmann, plus a few surprises!

Moderated by Michael A Kerker, Musical Director Georgia Stitt

7:30 pm Cocktail reception
8:30 pm Performance
Post show dessert reception with the performers

Tickets: $125 per person

www.actorsfund.org/performances/current/musicalmondays_10-2008

Schwartz Opera Reading November 21 and 22, 2008 in New York

New Yorkers get early listen of first opera by Stephen Schwartz, Séance on a Wet Afternoon American Opera Projects hosts New York workshop November 21 & 22. Opera Santa Barbara to present world premiere in 2009.

After each performance, audience members who make an additional donation of $100 dollars will be given the opportunity to attend a reception with the composer and cast of Séance on a Wet Afternoon. Find out more about the opera and any opera events on www.musicalschwartz.com/schwartz-opera.htm

Defying Gravity events coming up in San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC

I’ve been lucky to have Stephen Schwartz contribute songs and stories as part of book signing events with me in Los Angeles and New York for my new book Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked. I’m currently planning 2009 events for San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington DC. These will also include a chance to say hello to Stephen and hear him play some of his tunes. To stay current, please consider subscribing to The Schwartz Scene newsletter or check here or the events page on www.defyinggravitythebook.com/

Defying Gravity autographed copies for holiday gifts

I’m selling a limited number of autographed copies of this first authorized career biography of Schwartz signed by both of Stephen Schwartz and myself (as author). Did you know that the book also includes over 200 photographs and illustrations, such as handwritten music from “The Wicked Witch of The East” song from Wicked, a new music for a segment of Godspell, and more? Please write to carol@defyinggravitythebook.com if you’re interested and visit the “About the Book” section of the book site: www.defyinggravitythebook.com/ to learn more.