Harvey Schmidt

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Harvey Lester Schmidt (born September 12, 1929 in Dallas , Texas , † February 28, 2018 in Tomball , Texas) was an American composer . He was known for his numerous musicals , including the one that was played longest in a row: The Fantasticks (1960–2002).

Life

Schmidt began studying art at the University of Texas in Austin , where he met the musical writer Tom Jones (* 1928). For this, Schmidt began to accompany drama students on the piano. A short time later, the two began writing musicals. The first published piece was a revue . After serving in the Army, Schmidt moved to New York City to work as an illustrator for NBC . He later also worked as an illustrator for the magazines Life , Sports Illustrated and Fortune, among others .

Schmidt wrote all of his major musicals with the author Tom Jones. His most important work is the musical The Fantasticks, which was performed 17,162 times off-Broadway between 1960 and 2002 . In 1995 Schmidt also worked on the film adaptation of this work under the same title. In 1992 Schmidt received a Tony Honors for Excellence in Theater Award for The Fantasticks .

The next successful musicals by the Schmidt / Jones team in 1963 were 110 in the Shade (330 performances, nominated for the Tony Award in the composer and lyricist category ) and I Do! I do! (1966, 560 Broadway performances, German: ... until death do us part ).

Schmidt was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame .

A CD entitled Harvey Schmidt plays Jones and Schmidt was released in 2005.

Works

Musicals

  • Shoestring '57 (1957)
  • Demi-Dozen (1958)
  • The Fantasticks (1960)
  • 110 in the Shade (1963)
  • I do! I do! (1966)
  • Celebration (1969)
  • Colette (1970)
  • Bad Company (1972)
  • Philemon (1973)
  • Colette (1982)
  • Grovers Corners (1987)
  • Mirette (1996)
  • Roadside (2001)

Others

  • Film music for the American western In Bad Company (Original Title: Bad Company) from 1972
  • "I Can See It" from the musical The Fantasticks ; later recorded by Barbra Streisand
  • "Much More" from the musical The Fantasticks ; later recorded by Barbra Streisand for The Barbra Streisand Album
  • "Soon it's gonna rain | Soon It's Gonna Rain" from the musical The Fantasticks ; later recorded by Barbra Streisand for The Barbra Streisand Album
  • "Try To Remember" from the musical The Fantasticks
  • "My Cup Runneth Over" from the musical I Do! I do! , later recorded by Ed Ames .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rosati, Nancy. "An interview with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt," talkinbroadway.com, November 29, 2001
  2. ↑ Suskin, Steven. "On the Record: 'Harvey Schmidt Plays Jones & Schmidt' and 'The Musicality of Charles Strouse'" ( Memento of the original from June 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Playbill.com, October 2, 2005 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.playbill.com
  3. ^ Roadside (2001) Synopsis " The Guide to Musical Theater, accessed October 17, 2011

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Schmidt, Harvey
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schmidt, Harvey Lester (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American composer
DATE OF BIRTH September 12, 1929
PLACE OF BIRTH Dallas , Texas
DATE OF DEATH February 28, 2018
Place of death Tomball , Texas