Steve Cuden (born September 25, 1955, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American screenwriter, director, lyricist, playwright, author, theater lighting designer, artist, and teacher. He is best known for his work on the Broadway musical, ''Jekyll & Hyde'', as well as his writing for numerous television series.

Biography

The eldest son of Dr. Charles L. Cuden and Helen M. Cuden, he graduated from

Taylor Allderdice High School Taylor Allderdice High School is a public high school in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It opened in 1927 and is part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools district. It was named for industrialist and Squirr ...

in 1973. Cuden attended the

University of Wisconsin-Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

from 1973–1976 and the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...

from 1976–1978, from where he graduated with a B.A. in Theater. Upon graduation from USC, he became the USC School of Theater's Master Electrician. Cuden was married to Lisa Ann Kranz from 1993–1996, but the marriage ended in divorce. Cuden received an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television in 2010. He began teaching Screenwriting at

Point Park University Point Park University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Point Park College, the school name was revised in 2004 to reflect the number of graduate programs being offered. History Beginnings The university bega ...

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2011.

Career

It was while Cuden was working as the Master Electrician at USC's School of Theatre on a musical called ''Christopher'', written by composer

Frank Wildhorn Frank Wildhorn (born November 29, 1958) is an American composer of both musicals and popular songs. His musical ''Jekyll & Hyde'' ran for four years on Broadway. He also wrote the #1 International hit song "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" for Whitne ...

, that the two met, struck up a friendship, and began to collaborate on writing musicals. Their first effort was a song cycle based on the life of

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

called ''The High and Mighty Caesar.'' They also collaborated on a musical based on the lives of

Nicholas Nicholas is a male given name and a surname. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglicanism, Anglican Churches celebrate Saint Nicholas every year on December 6, which is the name day for "Nicholas". In Greece, the n ...

and

Alexandra Alexandra () is the feminine form of the given name Alexander (, ). Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb (; meaning 'to defend') and (; GEN , ; meaning 'man'). Thus it may be roughly translated as "defender of man" or "prot ...

called ''The Last Tsar''. In 1980, Cuden and Wildhorn wrote the first two versions that they would create of a musical based on

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll a ...

's classic story, ''The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.'' The second version that they wrote, which Cuden then titled, ''Jekyll & Hyde'', was completed in 1986. The musical was nearly produced on Broadway in 1988, with

Terrence Mann Terrence Vaughan Mann (born July 1, 1951) is an American theatre, film and television actor. He is best known for his appearances on the Broadway stage, which include Chester Lyman in ''Barnum'', Rum Tum Tugger in '' Cats'', Javert in '' Les ...

set to star, but the production never came to fruition due to the financial backers withdrawing funding prior to rehearsals.

Leslie Bricusse Leslie Bricusse OBE (; 29 January 1931 – 19 October 2021) was a British composer, lyricist, and playwright who worked on theatre musicals and wrote theme music for films. He was best known for writing the music and lyrics for the films ''Do ...

replaced Cuden in 1988 as the musical's librettist. Cuden still retains both co-conceptual and co-lyrics credits on the show. ''Jekyll & Hyde'' ran on Broadway at the

Plymouth Theatre Plymouth Theatre or Plymouth Theater may refer to: * Plymouth Theatre (Boston) * Plymouth Theatre (Worcester) * Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, New York City, formerly the Plymouth Theatre * H Street Playhouse The H Street Playhouse was a black box ...

from April 1997 through January 2001 for a total of 1543 performances. Its first revival on Broadway opened in April 2013, and closed after thirty performances. Cuden and Wildhorn also co-conceived a musical based on the story of Rudolf, the last Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his death at his hunting lodge,

Mayerling Mayerling is a small village (pop. 200) in Lower Austria belonging to the municipality of Alland in the district of Baden. It is situated on the Schwechat river, in the Wienerwald (''Vienna woods''), southwest of Vienna. From 1550, it was in the ...

. Originally called ''Vienna'', the musical was not completed prior to Cuden and Wildhorn parting ways. Wildhorn later revived the idea, first with

Nan Knighton Nan Knighton is an American poet, playwright and lyricist. Biography Knighton is the daughter of physician Dr. Donald Proctor and artist Janice Proctor. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she is a 1965 graduate of Bryn Mawr School, with an unde ...

, and later with Jack Murphy. They retitled it, ''Rudolf: Affaire Mayerling.'' The musical has been produced in

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

, and

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

. Cuden still retains co-conceptual credits and co-lyrics credits. Cuden is well known for writing episodes of television animation for popular shows as: ''

The Batman Batman is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman or The Batman may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Characters * Batman (Terry McGinnis) * Batman (Thomas Wayne) * Batman (Earth-Two) * Batma ...

'', ''X-Men'', ''Iron Man'', ''

Loonatics Unleashed ''Loonatics Unleashed'' is an American Superhero fiction, superhero animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation that ran on Kids' WB for two seasons from 2005 to 2007 in the United States. The series was based/inspired on the ' ...

'', ''

Xiaolin Showdown ''Xiaolin Showdown'' is an American animated television series that aired on Kids' WB and was created by Christy Hui. Set in a world where martial arts battles and Eastern magic are commonplace, the series follows Omi, Raimundo, Kimiko, and Clay, ...

'', ''

Goof Troop ''Goof Troop'' is an American animated sitcom television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The series focuses on the relationship between single father Goofy and his son, Max, as well as their neighbors Pete and his family. ...

'', ''The Mask'', '' Bonkers'', ''

Quack Pack ''Quack Pack'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, featuring Donald Duck and his nephews. The show debuted on September 3, 1996, as a part of the " Disney Afternoon" programming block, following the succe ...

'', ''Gargoyles'', ''Beetlejuice'', ''The Pink Panther'', ''

Savage Dragon The Savage Dragon is a fictional superhero created by Erik Larsen, published by Image Comics and taking place in the Image Universe. The comic features the adventures of a superheroic police officer named the Dragon. The character first appeared ...

'', ''RoboCop'', ''

Stargate Infinity ''Stargate Infinity'' (often abbreviated as ''SGI'' or just ''Infinity'') ( French: ''Stargate: Le Dessin Animé'') is a 2002-2003 animated science fiction television series co-produced by Les Studios Tex S.A.R.L. and DIC Entertainment Corporation ...

'', ''

Exosquad ''Exosquad'' is an animated television series created by Universal Animation Studios, Universal Cartoon Studios for MCA TV's Universal Family Network broadcast syndication, syndicated programming block. The show is set in the beginning of the 22n ...

'', ''

Skeleton Warriors ''Skeleton Warriors'' is a 13-episode cartoon series created by Landmark Entertainment Group, which originally aired in 1994 on CBS. The show was created by producer Gary Goddard. Summary The story takes place on the fictional distant planet of ...

'', and '' Mummies Alive''. Cuden is also known for directing ''Lucky'', an independently produced, multiple award-winning horror-comedy feature that was released by

MTI Home Video MTI Home Video is a United States-based movie distributor in the direct-to-video market. MTI most often purchases the distribution rights to independent films and televised films that did not see a theatrical run in the U.S., for direct release to ...

in 2004. In the 1980s, Cuden won numerous awards for designing lighting of stage productions in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, including ''3 Plays of Love and Hate'', for director

John Cassavetes John Nicholas Cassavetes ( ; December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as a television and film actor, Cassavetes also helped pioneer American independent cinema, writing and dire ...

, ''Playing for Time'', for director

Mimi Leder Miriam Leder (; born January 26, 1952) is an American film and television director and producer noted for her action films and use of special effects.Hurd, Mary G. Women Directors and Their Films. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2007. She was the first f ...

, ''Piece de Resistance'', for director

Abraham Polonsky Abraham Lincoln Polonsky (December 5, 1910 – October 26, 1999) was an American film director, screenwriter, essayist and novelist. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for '' Body and Soul'' but in the early 1950s ...

, and ''Dinner and Drinks'', for director

Monte Markham Monte Markham (born June 21, 1935) is an American actor. He has appeared in films, television series and on Broadway. Early life Markham was born in Manatee County, Florida, the son of Millie Content (née Willbur) and Jesse Edward Markham Sr., ...

. Cuden was Supervisor of Ride and Show Lighting at

Universal Studios Florida Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...

from 1989-1990. In 2013, Cuden published a book titled, ''Beating Broadway: How to Create Stories for Musicals That Get Standing Ovations''. In 2015, as a companion book to ''Beating Broadway,'' Cuden published, ''Beating Hollywood: Tips for Creating Unforgettable Screenplays''. In 2017, Cuden launched a new podcast, ''StoryBeat: Storytellers on Storytelling,'' which he produces and hosts. Shows focus on in-depth interviews with artists from all disciplines regarding their creative process.''

Works

Podcasts

*''StoryBeat with Steve Cuden''

Books

*''Beating Hollywood: Tips for Creating Unforgettable Screenplays'', 2015, Cudwerks Productions *''Beating Broadway: How to Create Stories for Musicals That Get Standing Ovations'', 2013, Cudwerks Productions

Musicals

* ''Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical'', Co-Conceived for the Stage, and Co-Lyrics **Tours: U.S., 1995-1996, 1999-2000, 2001–2002, 2012-2013 **Broadway: The Plymouth Theatre, 1997-2001, The Marquis Theatre, 2013 **Translated into more than twenty languages and produced in multiple venues around the world * ''Rudolf: Affaire Mayerling'', Co-Conceived for the Stage, and Co-Lyrics **Productions in Hungary, Vienna, Japan, and Korea

Feature films

*''Lucky'', Muddfilms/

, released 2004, director/co-producer

Television - Staff Writer - Animation

*'' Bonkers'' (1993-1994): Synd/Disney TV Animation *''

'' (1992): Synd/Disney TV Animation *''

'' (1996): Synd/Disney TV Animation

Television - Writer - Animation

* ''

Little Shop ''Little Shop'' is a 1991 animated fantasy comedy television series that aired on Saturday morning cartoon, Saturday mornings on the Fox Kids, Fox Kids TV network, about a teenager and a giant talking plant. ''Little Shop'' was based on the 1960 ...

'' (1991): Fox/Saban Entertainment * ''

Beetlejuice ''Beetlejuice'' is a 1988 American fantasy horror comedy film directed by Tim Burton, written by Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson, and Warren Skaaren, produced by The Geffen Company, distributed by Warner Bros., and starring Alec Baldwin, ...

'' (1991): Fox/Nelvana * ''

'' (1992): ABC/Walt Disney Television Animation * '' Bonkers'' (1993-1994): Syndicated/Walt Disney Television Animation * ''

'' (1994): Syndicated/Universal Cartoon Studios * ''

'' (1994): CBS/Graz Entertainment * ''

Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker, also called Creepy Crawlers, is an activity toy made by Mattel, beginning in 1964. The toy consists of a series of die-cast metal Molding (process), moulds resembling various bug-like creatures, into which is poured a liquid chemical ...

'' (1994-1995): Syndicated/Saban Entertainment * ''

X-Men The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in ...

'' (1995): Fox/Graz Entertainment * ''

Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...

'' (1995): Syndicated/Rainbow Animation Korea * ''

The Pink Panther ''The Pink Panther'' is an American media franchise primarily focusing on a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The franchise began with the release of the classic film '' The Pi ...

'' (1995): Syndicated/Wang Film Productions * '' G.I. Joe Extreme'' (1995): USA/Gunther-Wahl Animation * '' The Savage Dragon'' (1995-1996): USA/Universal Cartoon Studios * ''

Street Fighter , commonly abbreviated as ''SF'' or スト (''Suto''), is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Capcom. The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by six ...

'' (1996): USA/USA Studios * ''

'' (1996): Syndicated/Walt Disney Television Animation * ''

Wing Commander Academy ''Wing Commander Academy'' is a 1996 American animated television series produced by Universal Cartoon Studios, along with a team led by Larry Latham. The show was based on the Wing Commander franchise and loosely served as a prequel to ''Wing ...

'' (1996): USA/Universal Cartoon Studios * '' Gargoyles'' (1996): ABC/Walt Disney Television Animation * '' The Mask: Animated Series'' (1996-1997): Syndicated/Sunbow Entertainment * ''

Extreme Ghostbusters ''Extreme Ghostbusters'' is an American animated television series based on the ''Ghostbusters'' franchise. It is a spin-off to the animated series ''The Real Ghostbusters''. The series originally aired on the syndicated Bohbot Kids Network's "E ...

'' (1997): Syndicated/Columbia-TriStar * ''

Mummies Alive! ''Mummies Alive!'' is an animated series from DIC Productions L.P. and Northern Lights Entertainment. It originally aired for one season in 1997. The show was part of a general trend of "mummymania" in 1990s pop culture. Plot In ancient Egypt, an ...

'' (1997): Syndicated/DIC Entertainment * ''

Pocket Dragon Adventures ''Pocket Dragon Adventures'' (Spanish: ''Pocket Dragons'') is an animated series produced by the Spanish animation studio D'Ocon Films Productions, in co-production with Televisión Española, Bohbot Entertainment, and DIC Productions. The series ...

'' (1998), Syndicated/BKN Entertainment * '' RoboCop: Alpha Commando'' (1998-1999): Syndicated/MGM Animation * ''

Sonic Underground ''Sonic Underground'' ( French: ''Sonic Le Rebelle'') is an animated television series co-produced by DIC Productions, L.P., Les Studios Tex S.A.R.L. and TF1. It is the third ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' animated series, and the last to be produced b ...

'' (1999): Syndicated/DIC Productions * ''

Shadow Raiders ''Shadow Raiders'' is a Canadian animated television series produced by Mainframe Entertainment and syndicated by The Summit Media Group, that aired from September 16, 1998, to June 23, 1999. The show was loosely based on the Trendmasters toy line ...

'' (1999): Syndicated/Mainframe Entertainment * '' Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles '' (1999-2000): Syndicated/Columbia-TriStar * '' Godzilla: The Series'' (2000): Fox/Columbia-TriStar * ''

NASCAR Racers ''NASCAR Racers'' is an animated television series by Saban Entertainment which features two rival NASCAR racing teams, Team Fastex and Team Rexcor, competing against each other in the futuristic NASCAR Unlimited Division. The series ran from 19 ...

'' (2000-2001): Fox/Saerom Animation * ''

'' (2002-2003): Fox/DIC Entertainment * ''

'' (2004-2006): WB/Warner Bros. Animation * ''

Biker Mice from Mars ''Biker Mice from Mars'' is an American science fiction action animated series created by Rick Ungar. The series premiered in syndication the week of September 19, 1993. It consists of three seasons of 65 episodes, with the final episode airing ...

'' (2006-2007): Syndicated/Brentwood TV Funnies * ''

'' (2006-2007): WB/Warner Bros. Animation *''

'' (2007), WB/Warner Bros. Animation * ''

World of Quest ''World of Quest'' is a sci-fi comedy animated television series based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Jason T. Kruse. The series was produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment, in association with Teletoon and Kids' WB!. It appears to ...

'' (2008): WB/Cookie Jar Entertainment * ''

Xiaolin Chronicles ''Xiaolin Chronicles'' is an animated/CG television series presented as a continuation of ''Xiaolin Showdown''. The series premiered on August 26, 2013, with three back-to-back episodes serving as a preview. The full series premiered on September ...

'' (2014): Disney XD/Genao Productions

Teaching

, Assistant Professor, Screenwriting, 2011–2020

Awards

Feature films

''Lucky'' (Director/Co-Producer) *Winner - Best Director -

Nodance Film Festival Based in Park City, Utah, the Nodance Film Festival was founded as an alternative to the Sundance Film Festival and celebrates the alternative digital film culture, with an emphasis on first-time filmmakers and digital filmmaking. Held annually i ...

, 2002 *Winner - Best Feature -

New York City Horror Film Festival The New York City Horror Film Festival is an international film festival based in New York City that screens films from the horror genre. It was founded by Michael J. Hein in 2001. It takes place each year in New York City for a week in November ...

, 2002 *Winner - Best Feature - MicroCineFest, Baltimore, 2002 *Winner - Best Feature - Shriekfest Film Festival, Los Angeles, 2003 *Winner - Fan Favorite - Shriekfest Film Festival, Los Angeles, 2003 *Winner - Best Feature - Weekend of Fear, Nuremberg, Germany, 2003

Lighting design

Dramalogue Drama Critics Awards *''

In Trousers ''In Trousers'' is a musical theatre, musical, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1979, with book, music and lyrics by William Finn. It is the first in a trilogy of musicals, followed by ''March of the Falsettos'' and then ''Falsettoland''. Concept ...

'', 1984 *''Strider'', 1983 *''Love Streams'', 1981 L.A. Weekly LAWEE Awards *''

'', 1984 *''Livin' Dolls'', 1984 *''3 Plays of Love and Hate: Knives, Love Streams, The Third Day Comes'', 1981 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards *''

'' - Nomination, 1984Los Angeles Times - Critics Pick Best Drama Candidates
/ref>

Memberships

Writers Guild of America, West The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. It was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, including the Screen Writers Guild. It has around 20,000 m ...

Writers Guild of Canada The Writers Guild of Canada is an organization representing more than 2,500 professional writers working in film, television, radio, and digital media production in Canada. Members of the Guild write dramatic TV series, feature films, Movies of th ...

Dramatists Guild The Dramatists Guild of America is a professional organization for playwrights, composers, and lyricists working in the U.S. theatre market. Membership as an Associate Member is open to any person having written at least one stage play. Active Mem ...

Animation Guild The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 is a professional guild and union of animation artists, writers and technicians. It was formed in 1952. In 2002, the organization changed its name from Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists. The full name of the ...

ASCAP The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...

Boards of directors

* Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre (PICT), 2012–2017 *The Denis Theatre Foundation, 2011–2017 * Academy for New Musical Theatre, Los Angeles, 2008-2011 *Front Porch Theatricals, Pittsburgh, PA, 2019–Present

References

External links

Steve Cuden - Official WebsiteStoryBeat - Official WebsiteBeating Broadway - Official WebsiteBeating Hollywood - Official Website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cuden, Steve 1955 births Living people American male screenwriters American television writers American television producers American male television writers University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni UCLA Film School alumni Screenwriting instructors