Stephen Schwartz Musicals News
Updates from the world of Broadway and film composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and biographer Carol de Giere — a fan newsletter.
1) Welcome from Carol
In this issue of The Schwartz Scene we look beyond the public news to give you inside stories and new comments from Stephen Schwartz. Read below about The Queen of Versailles new musical, find updates on the Wicked movie recording sessions, enjoy a wonderful podcast, and more.
For future updates please LIKE our Facebook – Schwartz Scene page where I post news periodically. You can also check Stephen’s official site StephenSchwartz.com news section for updates.
If you haven’t already read my books Defying Gravity and The Godspell Experience you can find out more here: https://caroldegiere.com/books
2) Stephen Schwartz Stage Musicals: The Queen of Versailles
As announced February 24th, Stephen Schwartz is working on another new musical, this one based on Lauren Greenfield’s 2012 documentary The Queen of Versailles. It centers around the Florida couple Jackie Siegel and David Siegel who have tried to build the largest private home in America, inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France.
The project involves Kristin Chenoweth attached in the lead role of Jackie Siegel and as a producer (through her production banner Diva Worldwide Entertainment). This will be the second time Chenoweth has teamed with Schwartz to lead a Stephen Schwartz musical. Stephen had Chenoweth in mind for the role of Glinda in Wicked, a role for which she was later nominated for a Tony Award.
The stage musical will feature a book by Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies the Bone, Amy and the Orphans) and direction by Tony nominee Michael Arden (Parade, Once on This Island).
The project, which goes beyond the original documentary, is described as “a new musical exploring the true cost of fame, fortune, and family.” The Queen of Versailles musical is produced by Bill Damaschke, along with Chenoweth’s company. A reading is scheduled for March 24 in New York City, in preparation for an out-of-town engagement.
Why The Queen of Versailles?
Here is a snippet from my recent preliminary interview with Stephen about The Queen of Versailles new musical:
Carol de Giere: What was your interest in the documentary and this story?
Stephen Schwartz: As with Wicked, there are thematic issues that I think are raised by the story that are of interest to me, politically and culturally. I think it has some things to say about America, and what we value and what we don’t in this country.
Carol de Giere: I’m trying to figure out your angle. It shows people struggling with a desire – maybe that’s part of what interests you?
Stephen Schwartz: I’m not saying much about this, because as you know I don’t like to do fortune cookie shows which tell you exactly what you’re supposed to think and what you’re supposed to feel. I try to work on shows where I have an interest in the themes being explored within the story.
Field Trips to France and Florida
Whenever Stephen develops a musical, he engages in a research phase that usually includes a field trip to a related location. In this case, he traveled to the source of the Siegel family’s inspiration for their home, the Palace of Versailles in France. He had previously visited Paris before writing lyrics for The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Stephen has also toured the unfinished Versailles mansion in Florida and has been to the Siegel’s current home as well as the Westgate Resort business.
He has said that during the research and field trip phase of his work, he makes notes of specific details that would help give “verisimilitude and visual evocativeness to the lyrics.” The biography Defying Gravity includes other examples of his special preparations before writing, such as a trip to Egypt for The Prince of Egypt, and Jamestown for Pocahontas.
Picasso Musical
Stephen expects to make progress this year on the Picasso musical described in our Fall 2022 issue. Further updates will be forthcoming.
3) Stephen Schwartz Movie Musicals – Wicked and Disenchanted
Wicked movie recording news
While Stephen spends most of his time working from home in Connecticut, he has been flying back and forth to the UK for Wicked pre-recording sessions. He and his music team are using a recording studio built as part of Universal’s new movie studio near London.
For The Schwartz Scene, he commented about the first session held in November 2022: “We did the pre-recording for almost all of Ariana and Cynthia’s solos. They were both fantastic. They have developed a wonderful chemistry, and when they had songs that they sing together, they were in the studio at the same time so they could play off one another… Both women were extremely prepared, and very good to work with, so it was very enjoyable.” As he previously explained, their performances will also be recorded live during the shoots, so the final result may be a mix.
With additional sessions in 2022 and 2023 so far, they have recorded many of the other stars. For the ensemble pre-records, it was easiest to do them at the Power Station Studios in New York City. Stephen explains, “We used a group of really good singers who have been in Wicked, so they knew all the harmonies already. We only used three guys and three women. Ultimately of course it will be a larger group, the specific size dependent on what’s on screen. But those six people really nailed it – then we tripled their voices, so it sounds big enough for when they use it to film to.”
Wicked and Creativity
Spark and Fire Podcast
In the new “Tell a Universal Truth” podcast episode for Spark and Fire, Stephen Schwartz explores his creative process. He explains what he means by his songwriting advice, “Tell the truth, and make it rhyme.” The episode also covers some of the key steps in the development of the musical Wicked. He speaks about his first spark of interest, meeting Wicked novelist Gregory Maguire, some of the collaboration concerns over the subsequent years, and more.
I recommend that you go to https://sparkandfire.com/stephenschwartz/. Here you’ll find links for listening, as well as a transcript enriched by special images. This includes some of Stephen’s handwritten lyric drafts for Wicked.
For the full story of the making of Wicked, read Defying Gravity.
Disenchanted – Villain Song “Badder” and Others
The Disney+ movie Disenchanted features songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, including “Badder” that has become quite popular. When I heard “Badder” and watched the scene with Maya Rudolph and Amy Adams, I was inspired to ask Stephen about writing villain songs. You can read the published interview on Musicalwriters.com: Writing “Badder” and other songs for Villains.
4. Magic to Do – Pippin News
Pippin Anniversary
The 50th Anniversary of Pippin event at 54 Below proved to be a grand celebration. The special concert series produced by Walter Willison (himself an original company member) brought together many original cast members for songs and stories. It included a video clip with Stephen Schwartz who was in California at the time. You can see photos and read about it on BroadwayWorld.
Pippin book podcast
David Armstrong’s Broadway Nation included a two-part podcast interview with Elysa Gardner, author of Magic to Do, a new book about Pippin. See Episode 91 and Episode 91.
All Good Gifts: Godspell News
Godspell is returning home to Carnegie Mellon University where it was conceived and directed by John-Michael Tebelak. It plays at CMU this March. Godspell at CMU.
Read about the colorful development of Godspell, Stephen Schwartz’s first professional musical, in The Godspell Experience. The book also includes a song-by-song section for performers and fans of the show. Copies signed by Stephen are available.
Previous Issues of The Schwartz Scene
If you missed previous issues covering Schwartz’s comments about the Wicked movie and many other topics, please visit our Back issue archive.
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About this online fan newsletter: The Schwartz Scene is an independent publication written for musical theater and film enthusiasts who appreciate the work of American composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Although it does not formally represent Mr. Schwartz, Carol de Giere is in regular contact with the Schwartz office for updates and approval of his quotations. Send questions or comments by message at http://facebook.com/theschwartzscene (preferred) or by email to carol1 (at) caroldegiere (dot) com
Copyright 2023 by Carol de Giere. Journalists are asked to cite “The Schwartz Scene” newsletter if quoting, in brief, from this issue. Carol de Giere has exclusive rights, unless otherwise specified, for all materials included in the newsletter. Permission must be secured in writing before any part of it may be reprinted, except for the printing of one copy for the subscriber’s private use. Editor: Carol de Giere, 10 Library Place #909, Bethel CT 06801-0909.
