Category Archives: Writers

A Helluva Life

Posted on September 1, 2021 by boz

New York auction house Bonhams will offer items from the estate of Adolph Green (1914-2002) and Phyllis Newman (1933-2019) in A Helluva Life, an online sale from September 2 to 14. Green and his collaborator Betty Comden wrote nearly 30 … Continue reading →

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In Memoriam: Micki Grant

Posted on August 23, 2021 by boz

Tony-nominated composer Micki Grant died on Sunday. Born Minnie Perkins in Chicago on June 30, 1941, Grant was encouraged in the arts by her parents. She began with the double bass in elementary school, then added piano at 8 and … Continue reading →

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Broadway Birthday: Charles Strouse

Posted on June 7, 2021 by boz

Happy Birthday to three-time Tony-winning composer Charles Strouse, born June 7, 1928, in New York, where he attended Townsend Harris H.S. After graduating from Eastman School of Music (1947), he studied with Aaron Copland and Nadia Boulanger. He met longtime … Continue reading →

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Broadway Legends: Howard Ashman

Posted on May 17, 2021 by boz

Two-time Oscar-winning writer Howard Ashman was born May 17, 1950, in Baltimore. At age 6, he discovered his passion at Children’s Theater Association. His first known writing was L’il Abner’s Poke Chops, which he also directed and starred in at … Continue reading →

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Broadway Legends: Betty Comden

Posted on May 3, 2021 by boz

Tony- and Grammy-winning writer Betty Comden was born Basya Cohen in Brooklyn to Russian immigrants on May 3, 1917. She attended Erasmus Hall H.S. and studied drama at New York University. In 1938, she met fellow aspiring actor Adolph Green, … Continue reading →

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Broadway Birthday: Sheldon Harnick

Posted on April 30, 2021 by boz

Happy Birthday to Pulitzer-winning writer Sheldon Harnick, born April 30, 1924, in Chicago. He began composing while at Carl Schurz H.S. and graduated from Northwestern (1949) with a bachelor’s in music. After working with various Chicago orchestras, he moved to … Continue reading →

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In Memoriam: Jim Steinman

Posted on April 20, 2021 by boz

Grammy-winning composer Jim Steinman died April 19 in Danbury, Conn. Born Nov. 1, 1947, in New York City, Steinman grew up on Long Island, where he attended George W. Hewlett H.S. In his senior year at Amherst College, he wrote … Continue reading →

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In Memoriam: Arthur Kopit

Posted on April 5, 2021 by boz

Three-time Tony nominee Arthur Kopit died April 2 at his home in Manhattan. Born Arthur Koenig on May 10, 1937, in New York, his parents divorced when he was 2, and he later adopted his stepfather’s surname. He studied engineering … Continue reading →

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Broadway Birthday: Elton John

Posted on March 25, 2021 by boz

Happy Birthday to award-winning composer Elton John, born Reginald Dwight on March 25, 1947, in London. He began playing piano at age 4. At age 11, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music but quit before graduating … Continue reading →

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Broadway Birthday: John Kander

Posted on March 18, 2021 by boz

Happy Birthday to EGOT nominee John Kander, born March 18, 1927, in Kansas City, Mo. After earning his bachelor’s from Oberlin (1951) and master’s from Columbia (1954), he began his career as a music director in summer stock, before making … Continue reading →

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