Michael Stewart (August 1, 1924 – September 20, 1987) was an American playwright and dramatist, librettist, lyricist, screenwriter and novelist.

Life and career

Born Myron Stuart Rubin in Manhattan, Stewart attended Queens College, and graduated from the Yale School of Drama with a

Master of Fine Arts A Master of Fine Arts (MFA or M.F.A.) is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, dance, theatre, other performing arts and in some cases, theatre management or arts admi ...

in 1953.Gerard, Jeremy
"Michael Stewart Is Dead 63; Author of Broadway Musicals"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', September 21, 1987, Section B, p.16 His early work was writing sketches for the revues ''The Shoestring Revue'' (1955), ''The Littlest Revue'' (1956), and ''Shoestring '57'' (1956, Barbizon-Plaza, New York). He then joined the staff writers of Sid Caesar's television program, '' Caesar's Hour''. 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''. He worked again with Champion and Jerry Herman, with their musical ''Hello, Dolly!'' opening on Broadway in 1964. 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." Stewart's sister was writer Francine Pascal and brother Burt Rubin.

Theatre credits

*''

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'' (1959) — operetta (revisions for London production) *'' Bye Bye Birdie'' (1960) —

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

— bookwriter — Tony Award for Best Musical *''

Carnival! ''Carnival'' is a musical theatre, musical, originally produced by David Merrick on Broadway in 1961, with the book by Michael Stewart (playwright), Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The musical is based on the 1953 film ''Lil ...

'' (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 Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

— 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 A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...

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 Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

, Canada and closed out of town. *''Harrigan 'n Hart'' (1985) — musical — bookwriter — Tony Nomination for Best Book of a MusicalRich, Fran
"Stage:'Harrigan 'n Hart' Opens at the Longacre"
''

'', February 1, 1985

Notes

External links

Internet Broadway Database
*
Michael Stewart papers, 1948-1987
held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts {{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Michael Tony Award winners American musical theatre librettists American musical theatre lyricists American male screenwriters Broadway composers and lyricists David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University alumni 1924 births 1987 deaths 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights American male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century American male writers Screenwriters from New York (state) 20th-century American screenwriters