Stephen Schwartz Comments on Winning Special Tony Award Honor

Composer Stephen Schwartz, best known for his hit musicals PIPPIN and WICKED, will be the recipient of the Isabelle Stevenson Award at Sunday night's Tonys. The award recognizes a representative of the theater community who has made a contribution through humanitarian, charitable, or social services.

In a new interview, the 67-year old, who has never won a Tony Award, speaks to the Associated Press about what the honor means to him. "This is a really nice award because it has to do with the things that one has done that aren't on a stage within the 15 blocks of Broadway," shares Schwartz, who donates much of his time mentoring young writers, holding musical theater workshops throughout the country, and leading the Dramatists Guild.

He adds, "I've won a few professional resume awards in my time, probably lost more of them that I've won. But the point is that none of them felt quite as good as this, to be honest about it. What we do in our lives is what gives us contentment and serenity and makes us feel like we are doing some kind of contribution."

Asked which of his shows embodies his strong belief in helping others, Schwartz selects one of his lesser known works. "I think 'Children of Eden' is the most obvious one because that's what that one is all about," he says. "Though I've been accused by some critics of sermonizing and being preachy."

Speaking on the success of his more well-known musicals such as WICKED, now celebrating 12 years on the Great White Way, Schwartz shares, "I try to write about these things in way that are theatrical and dramatic and entertaining, but I do care about these things and that's what I like to talk about in my work."

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Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos