BWW Preview: A Tribute to Stephen Schwartz, A LITTLE BIT WICKED Comes to the Folly Theater

The Heartland Men's Chorus honors composer Stephen Schwartz with A Little Bit Wicked at the Folly Theater in Kansas City. The program runs two nights only, Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14. The chorus if more than 120 singers pays tribute to the 40 years of work by Schwartz with songs from his Broadway and film musicals.

"Stephen is one of the rare modern Broadway composers who straddles the line between musical theatre and popular music," says Dustin S. Cates, artistic director. "Songs like 'Corner of the Sky' and 'For Good' have become popular favorites because they are so accessible, but his music and lyrics are so dramatically rich they resonate deeply with audiences."

Born in 1948 Schwartz's career as a composer and lyricist has spanned over 40 years, writing such hit musicals as Pippin, Wicked, and Godspell. His contribution to musical films include Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt (1998), and Enchanted (2007). He has been nominated for six Tony Awards and won three Grammy Awards (two for Godspell), three Academy Awards, and has won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics. In 2015, he received a special Tony Award, the Isabelle Stevenson Award, for serving artists and new talent.

During the 1976-1977 Broadway season, he had three shows (Pippin, Godspell, and The Magic Show) running on Broadway simultaneously. The blockbuster Broadway hit Wicked reached over 1900 performances in 2008 and he became the only songwriter to have three shows run on Broadway for over 1900 performances. A Little Bit Wicked will includes songs from his Broadway hits and film musicals.

The Chorus will also present a recent piece by Schwartz called "Testimony." With lyrics taken directly from videos recorded for the It Gets Better Project, which aims to prevent LGBT youth suicide, "Testimony" is a powerful composition that reflects the resilience of LGBT people in the face of harassment, violence, and discrimination.

A Little Bit Wicked is the final concert of the Heartland Men's Chorus 29th season and runs at 8 p.m. on June 13 and 4 p.m. on June 14. Purchase tickets by calling 816-931-3338 or visit the Heartland Men's Chorus website. Photo courtesy of Heartland Men's Chorus.

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