Hugh Callingham Wheeler (19 March 1912 – 26 July 1987) was a British

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others asp ...

, screenwriter,

librettist A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...

, poet and translator. He resided in the United States from 1934 until his death and became a naturalized citizen in 1942. He had attended

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree- ...

.Hugh Wheeler profile
filmreference.com, accessed May 28, 2009. Under the noms de plume

Patrick Quentin Patrick Quentin, Q. Patrick and Jonathan Stagge were pen names under which Hugh Wheeler, Hugh Callingham Wheeler (19 March 1912 – 26 July 1987), Richard Wilson Webb (August 1901 – December 1966), Martha Mott Kelley (30 April 1906 – 2005) an ...

, Q. Patrick and Jonathan Stagge, Wheeler was the author or co-author of many

mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

novels and short stories. In 1963, his 1961 collection, ''The Ordeal of Mrs. Snow'' was given a Special Edgar Award by the

Mystery Writers of America Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is an organization of mystery and crime writers, based in New York City. The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday. It presents the Edgar Awa ...

. He won the Tony Award and the

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. For two years, in addition to the award ...

in 1973 and 1974 for his books for the musicals ''

A Little Night Music ''A Little Night Music'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film ''Smiles of a Summer Night'', it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a ...

'' and '' Candide'', and won both again in 1979 for his book for ''

Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–47). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet Stre ...

''. Wheeler is credited as "research consultant" for the film ''

Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining o ...

'', though numerous sources list him as co-writer of the screenplay.

Additional stage musical credits

*'' Irene'' (new libretto) (1973) *''

Truckload Truckload shipping is the movement of large amounts of homogeneous cargo, generally the amount necessary to fill an entire semi-trailer or intermodal container. A truckload carrier is a trucking company that generally contracts an entire trailer-l ...

'' (1975) *''

Pacific Overtures ''Pacific Overtures'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by John Weidman, with "additional material by" Hugh Wheeler. Set in 19th-century Japan, it tells the story of the country's westernization starting in 185 ...

'' ("additional material") (1975) *''

The Little Prince and the Aviator ''The Little Prince and the Aviator'' is a musical with a book by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Don Black, and music by John Barry. Based on the classic book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the musical deviates from the original in that aviator Toni, wh ...

'' (1982) *''

Meet Me in St. Louis ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' is a 1944 American Christmas film, Christmas musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Divided into a series of seasonal vignettes, starting with Summer 1903, it relates the story of a year in the life of the Smith famil ...

'' (1989)

Plays

*'' Big Fish, Little Fish'' (1961) *'' Look, We've Come Through'' (1961) *'' We Have Always Lived in the Castle'' (1966)

Screenplays

*''

Something for Everyone ''Something for Everyone'' is a 1970 American black comedy film starring Angela Lansbury, Michael York, Anthony Higgins, and Jane Carr. The film was based on the novel ''The Cook'' by Harry Kressing, with a screenplay by Hugh Wheeler. The pl ...

'' (1970) *'' Travels with My Aunt'' (1972) *''

'' (1978) *''

Nijinsky Vaslav (or Vatslav) Nijinsky (; rus, Вацлав Фомич Нижинский, Vatslav Fomich Nizhinsky, p=ˈvatsləf fɐˈmʲitɕ nʲɪˈʐɨnskʲɪj; pl, Wacław Niżyński, ; 12 March 1889/18908 April 1950) was a ballet dancer and choreog ...

'' (1980)

Novels

*''The Crippled Muse'' (1951)

Awards and achievements

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Hugh 1912 births 1987 deaths American musical theatre librettists English mystery writers Edgar Award winners Drama Desk Award winners Tony Award winners English expatriates in the United States Alumni of the University of London People from Hampstead Place of death missing 20th-century English novelists