Defying Gravity: the Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked by Carol de Giere
Includes the real story of the making of Wicked, Godspell, and other Schwartz musicals
Defying Gravity takes readers into the creative world of Broadway and film composer Stephen Schwartz, from his experiences writing Godspell's score at age 23 through the collaborative journey for the making of the mega-hit musical Wicked.
More About Defying Gravity
- Carol de Giere captured the inside story of the challenging collaborative process for the making of Wicked. From her interviews with Schwartz, writers Gregory Maguire and Winnie Holzman, Wicked's director Joe Mantello, the producers, Idina Menzel, and others, she compiled an exciting, one-of-a-kind, 150-page narrative. "This is an honest, detailed, and well-told account of how Wicked made its journey, complete with inspirations and speed bumps. I'm delighted at how accurately Carol de Giere has captured the experience of the making of Wicked." -- Stephen Schwartz
- Defying Gravity features 50 facinating pages on the musical Godspell.
- It includes many never-before-told stories about the genesis of Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, Working, Rags, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted.
- For this first authorized career biography of Stephen Schwartz, Carol de Giere draws from eighty hours of interviews with Schwartz, as well as from over 100 interviews with his colleagues, friends, and family members. Her sympathetic yet frank narrative delves into the challenging issues of collaboration and the decisions that led to phenomenal hits as well as expensive flops.
Table of Contents, Praise and Reviews, Back Cover
Table of Contents for Defying Gravity
Back Cover for Defying Gravity
More Praise
Reviews
EVENTS: Autographs and Book Signings - Carol de Giere and (in some locations) Stephen Schwartz, composer
EVENTS PAGE: Carol de Giere and Stephen Schwartz appearances
Product Details for this Stephen Schwartz Biography
- Defying Gravity: the Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked
- Release date September 2008
- Musical Theatre
- ISBN: 978-1-55783-745-5
- 544 pages
- 7-1/2" x 9"
- Paperback Original
- Over 200 Black and White Photos and Illustrations Throughout
- HL 00314791
- US $24.95
- Book Cover Credits:
- Margo Mooney mm DESIGN, cover design
- Scott Mullin, photograph of Stephen Schwartz
- Martha Swope, photograph of Ben Vereen performing as the Leading Player in Pippin (top right)
- Joan Marcus, photograph of Eden Espinosa performing as Elphaba in Wicked
- Martha Swope, photograph of Doug Henning and Dale Soules performing as Doug and Cal in The Magic Show
- Theatre Maximus, Godspell logo
- Book Design:
- V Paul Smith Jr
-
Creativity Notes
In Defying Gravity, Carol de Giere shares Schwartz's insights for artistic life in a series of "Creativity Notes." He describes tapping the subconscious mind, overcoming creative blocks, writing for character detail, surviving countless rewrites, working with feedback, and other topics.
Defying Gravity the Book and the Song "Defying Gravity"
Carol de Giere named the book after the exhilarating first act climax of Wicked when the show's heroine sings "Defying Gravity," the book attests to Schwartz's determination to follow his vision despite setbacks and negative criticism. Defying Gravity includes a multi-page spread about the collaborative development of the "Defying Gravity" scene and song in the show.
For more about the song visit the "Defying Gravity" page at MusicalSchwartz.com: "Defying Gravity" lyrics, etc.
The Musicals of Stephen Schwartz
- Stage Musicals
- 1971: Godspell — (music and new lyrics)
- 1971: Bernstein’s Mass — (additional lyrics)
- 1972: Pippin — (music and lyrics)
- 1974: The Magic Show — (music and lyrics)
- 1976: The Baker’s Wife — (music and lyrics)
- 1978: Working — (four songs, direction and co-adaptation)
- 1985: Personals — (music for three songs)
- 1986: Rags — (lyrics)
- 1991: Children of Eden — (music and lyrics)
- 1999: Der Glöckner von Notre Dame — (lyrics)
- 2003: Wicked — (music and lyrics)
- 2005: Captain Louie — (music and lyrics)
- 2005: Mit Eventyr — (music and lyrics for eight songs)
- 2006: Geppetto & Son — (music and lyrics)
- Movie Musicals
- 1973: Godspell — (music and new lyrics)
- 1995: Pocahontas — (lyrics)
- 1996: The Hunchback of Notre Dame — (lyrics)
- 1998: The Prince of Egypt — (music and lyrics)
- 2000: Geppetto — (music and lyrics)
- 2007: Enchanted — (lyrics)
Find out more by visiting http://www.musicalschwartz.com
