Michael Stewart (August 1, 1924 – September 20, 1987) was an American playwright and dramatist, librettist, lyricist, screenwriter and novelist.
Michael Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Born | Myron Rubin August 1, 1924 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 20, 1987 (aged 63) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Playwright, librettist |
| Education | City University of New York, Queens (BA) Yale University (MFA) |
| Period | 1955–1985 |
| Genre | Musical theatre |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards | |
| Relatives | Francine Pascal (sister) John Pascal (brother-in-law) |
Life and career
editBorn Myron[1] Stuart Rubin in Manhattan, Stewart attended Queens College, and graduated from the Yale School of Drama with a Master of Fine Arts in 1953.[2][3]
His early work was writing sketches for the revues The Shoestring Revue (1955),[4] The Littlest Revue (1956),[5] and Shoestring '57 (1956, Barbizon-Plaza, New York).[6] He then joined the staff writers of Sid Caesar's television program, Caesar's Hour.[2]
He met Charles Strouse and Lee Adams in 1954, and several years after collaborated with them and Gower Champion on the 1960 Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie.[2] He worked again with Champion and Jerry Herman, with their musical Hello, Dolly! opening on Broadway in 1964.[2]
Stewart died on September 20, 1987, in New York City. Jule Styne said of him: "He was an extremely talented and knowledgeable man of the theater. He was one of the great musical-theater writers, and his string of hits showed that."[2] Stewart's sister was writer Francine Pascal and brother Burt Rubin.[2][7]
Theatre credits
edit- Candide (1959) — operetta (revisions for London production)
- Bye Bye Birdie (1960) — musical — bookwriter — Tony Award for Best Musical
- Carnival! (1961) — musical — bookwriter — Tony Nomination for Best Musical, Tony Nomination for Best Author of a Musical
- Hello, Dolly! (1964) — musical — bookwriter — Tony Award for Best Author of a Musical
- Those That Play the Clowns (1966) — play — playwright
- George M! (1968) — musical — co-bookwriter with sister Francine Pascal and her husband John Pascal
- Mack and Mabel (1974) — musical — bookwriter — Tony Nomination for Best Book of a Musical
- I Love My Wife (1977) — musical — lyricist and bookwriter — Tony Nomination for Best Original Score, Tony Nomination for Best Book of a Musical
- The Grand Tour (1979) — musical — co-bookwriter
- Barnum (1980) — musical — lyricist — Tony Nomination for Best Original Score
- 42nd Street (1980) — musical — co-bookwriter — Tony Co-Nomination for Best Book of a Musical
- Bring Back Birdie (1981) — musical — bookwriter
- Pieces of Eight (1985) — music — co-bookwriter, Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Canada and closed out of town.
- Harrigan 'n Hart (1985) — musical — bookwriter — Tony Nomination for Best Book of a Musical[8]
Notes
edit- ^ Mitchell Loebel, 1st cousin
- ^ a b c d e f Gerard, Jeremy. "Michael Stewart Is Dead 63; Author of Broadway Musicals" The New York Times, September 21, 1987, Section B, p.16
- ^ His name should be shown as "Myron Rubin" — edited by Mitchell Loebel, first cousin.
- ^ The Shoestring Revue. BroadWayWorld.com, accessed January 3, 2011
- ^ The Littlest Revue. BroadWayWorld.com, accessed January 3, 2011
- ^ Funke, Lewis. "Theatre: 'Shoestring '57': New Revue Arrives at the Barbizon-Plaza", The New York Times, November 6, 1956, p.31
- ^ Burt Rubin, son of William and Kate Rubin and brother to Michael Stewart. "Michael Stewart Is Dead 63; Author of Broadway Musicals", The New York Times, September 21, 1987, Section B, p.16
- ^ Rich, Frank."Stage:'Harrigan 'n Hart' Opens at the Longacre" The New York Times, February 1, 1985
External links
edit- Internet Broadway Database
- Michael Stewart at IMDb
- Michael Stewart papers, 1948-1987, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts