Stewart, Michael, 1929-1987

Michael Stewart, librettist, lyricist, playwright, and novelist was born Myron Rubin on August 1, 1924 in New York City. He attended Queens College and received a Master of Fine Arts in drama from Yale in 1953. During the 1950's he contributed sketches and lyrics to revues, among them: Razzle Dazzle (at the Edison Theater), The Shoestring Revue (1955), The Littlest Revue (1956) and Shoestring '57 . He also wrote for television, most notably for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, where he collaborated with Mel Brooks, Neil and Danny Simon and Carl Reiner. In 1954 Stewart met Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, and embarked on a career in musical theater, to which he contributed some of the major Broadway successes of the sixties, seventies and eighties. With Strouse and Adams, Stewart eventually began work on the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie (1960), which ran for 607 performances and won Stewart his first Tony as the author. It was also the start of Stewart's relationship with Gower Champion, who directed and choreographed. Later the two would work together on Carnival! (1961), Hello, Dolly! (1964) and 42nd Street (1980). Stewart's second Tony was for Hello, Dolly!, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Jerry Herman also worked with Stewart on Mack & Mabel (1974) and The Grand Tour (1979). Another frequent collaborator was Mark Bramble. Together they wrote the librettos for Elizabeth and Essex, 42nd Street, The Grand Tour and Pieces of Eight . Bramble wrote the book for Barnum, and Stewart the lyrics. Among Stewart's other collaborators were Cy Coleman, with whom Stewart worked as lyricist on I Love My Wife (1977) and Barnum (1980), Bob Merrill ( Carnival! ) and Jule Styne ( Pieces of Eight ). In addition to writing for the musical theater Stewart wrote plays ( D. and Those That Play the Clowns ). He also wrote for television, worked at times on movie projects and published one novel, Belle (1977).

Michael Stewart (nee Rubin), librettist, lyricist, playwright, and novelist, was born in 1929 in New York City, where he attended Queens College.

He received a Master of Fine Arts in drama from Yale in 1953. Prior to his work on Broadway, Stewart wrote for television and contributed sketches and lyrics to revues. His first effort on Broadway, BYE BYE BIRDIE, opened in 1960 and won Stewart his first Tony as its author. During his career in the musical theater Stewart also worked on BARNUM, CARNIVAL!, 42nd STREET, GEORGE M!, THE GRAND TOUR, I LOVE MY WIFE, and MACK & MABEL. Among his collaborators were the writers Mark Bramble, Fran Pascal and John Pascal, and the composers and lyricists, Lee Adams, Cy Coleman, Jerry Herman, Bob Merrill, Max Showalter, Charles Strouse and Jule Styne. In addition to his work on musicals, Stewart wrote plays (D. and THOSE THAT PLAY THE CLOWNS), and published one novel, BELLE. He died on Sep. 20, 1987.

Michael Stewart (1924-1987), librettist, lyricist, playwright, and novelist, was born Myron Rubin in New York City.

He attended Queens College and later received a Master of Fine Arts in drama from Yale in 1953. Prior to his work on Broadway, Stewart wrote for television and contributed sketches and lyrics to revues. His first effort on Broadway, Bye Bye Birdie, opened in 1960 and won Stewart his first Tony as its author. During his career in the musical theater Stewart also worked on Carnival! (1961), Hello, Dolly! (1964), 42nd Street (1980), George M! (1968), Barnum (1980), I Love My Wife (1979), Mack and Mabel (1974), and The Grand Tour (1979). Among his collaborators on musical theater projects were the writers Mark Bramble, Fran and John Pascal, and the composers Cy Coleman, Jerry Herman, Bob Merrill, Max Showalter and Jule Styne.

Michael Stewart, librettist, lyricist, playwright, and novelist was born Myron Rubin on August 1, 1924 in New York City. He attended Queens College and received a Master of Fine Arts in drama from Yale in 1953.

During the 1950's he contributed sketches and lyrics to revues, among them: Razzle Dazzle (at the Edison Theater), The Shoestring Revue (1955), The Littlest Revue (1956) and Shoestring '57 . He also wrote for television, most notably for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, where he collaborated with Mel Brooks, Neil and Danny Simon and Carl Reiner.

In 1954 Stewart met Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, and embarked on a career in the musical theater, to which he contributed some of the major Broadway successes of the sixties, seventies and eighties. With Strouse and Adams, Stewart eventually began work on a musical which opened on Broadway in 1960 as Bye Bye Birdie . Birdie ran for 607 performances and won Stewart his first Tony as the author. It was also the start of Stewart's relationship with Gower Champion, who directed and choreographed. Later the two would work together on Carnival!, Hello, Dolly! and 42nd Street .

Stewart's second Tony (1964) was for Hello, Dolly!, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Jerry Herman also worked with Stewart on the Grand Tour and Mack & Mabel . Another frequent collaborator was Mark Bramble. Together they wrote the librettos for Elizabeth and Essex, 42nd Street, the Grand Tour and Pieces of Eight . Bramble wrote the book for Barnum, and Stewart the lyrics. Among Stewart's other collaborators were Cy Coleman ( Barnum, I Love My Wife, Nothing But the Truth and Seesaw ), Bob Merrill ( Carnival! ) and Jule Styne ( Pieces of Eight )

In addition to writing for the musical theater Stewart wrote plays ( D. and Those That Play the Clowns ) He also wrote for television, worked at times on movie projects and published one novel ( Belle )