![]() ![]() Jim Steinmeyer, who has worked to create illusions with magicians including Doug Henning, Siegfried & Roy and David Copperfield, will create the magic experience in “Magic to Do.” ![]() I don’t think people realize how much freedom there is in that.” … Princess has the facilities… I don’t have to raise the capital. Schwartz noted that it’s really hard, even for someone with his pedigree, to get an original Broadway musical up and running, and the Princess Cruises deal gives him “freedom. He’ll also write a new song for the show, which debuts on the Crown Princess in the fall. The first musical is “Magic to Do,” which incorporates some of Schwartz’s most famous songs with magic – of which the composer is a lifelong fan. “Princess is a global cruise line, and Stephen Schwartz is a global brand,” he said. Princess Cruises said it is out to change the perception of ship-board entertainment, and Schwartz was crackling to get started, thrilling the guests, including screenwriter and dramatist Winnie Holzman (who wrote the book for “Wicked”) and her husband Paul Dooley, with a sampling of his work, including “Day by Day,” sung by “NCIS: Los Angeles” regular Barrett Foa and “Godspell” alum, and “Popular,” sung by Jill Whelan – the “Love Boat” actress recently revived her singing career with a one-woman cabaret show - and Liz Callaway, who also performed a medley with Schwartz.Ĭlearly, this is a deal made in heaven: Princess Cruises entertainment marketing CMO Gordon Ho noted that guests rate high-quality Broadway entertainment high on their lists when shopping for a cruise. Schwartz was in Valencia to deliver a taste of what’s to come out of his new deal with Princess Cruises, a first of its kind pact that see the three-time Oscar winner and composer of “Wicked,” “Pippin” and “Godspell” in a multiyear deal to oversee the creative development of four new musicals to debut across the line’s global fleet over the next four years. Wicked runs until April 21 in Christchurch.On the night of March 25, the Princess Cruises’ 35,000-square-foot rehearsal facility in Valencia, Calif., came alive with the sound of music – the music of Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz. “I made a vow… if I ever became partly as famous as him… I’d try to remember that’s the way one behaves towards people and I’ve tried to live up to that.” Schwartz continues to draw on Bernstein for his success and the success of others. You can spot really great talent right away,” he says. Like Bernstein, Schwartz has been open to the next generation of musical theatre composers, having worked with “genius” Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and Paul & Pasek whose compositions were featured in the film La La Land. He enormous generosity towards other people and the kindness and interest he showed in others.” “He was perhaps the most famous musician in the world. He learnt a lot from the world famous composer. In his early 20s, he worked with Leonard Bernstein, who was first a hero, then a mentor to Schwartz. He knows he’s been fortunate enough to work with some of the best people in the industry, and in turn, he’s following in the footsteps of those who have gone before him to help develop musical theatre. Schwartz is very conscious of the world around him. “It’s pretty clear that we better do something about it or we’ll be in a lot more trouble than we already are.” It’s pretty clear it’s going on,” he says. “Climate change is a controversial topic… in America. The lyrics are strongly rooted in Native American philosophy and attitudes towards ecology.Ĭlimate change is an important topic to Schwartz. During his Disney years, he wrote ‘Colours of the Wind’ from Pocahontas, with Alan Menkin. “As a writer I can get to an emotional truth for the character and also myself … that will communicate to others.” “Tell the truth and make it rhyme,” Schwartz says. There’s also no secret behind writing catchy, story-rich tunes. If it’s something you care about … are passionate about or interested in … it will translate to the audience.” “If you write about characters and subject matter that is important to you as a writer that helps a lot. Sometimes those stories fail and others, like Wicked, succeed.Īnd what’s the secret to writing a hit? “If there was a secret we all knew everyone would be writing them all the time!” he laughs. Telling interesting stories is at the heart of everything Schwartz does. Showbiz Christchurch production of Wicked Photo: Danielle Colvin ![]()
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