Composer Stephen Schwartz Has 'MAGIC TO DO' at Maltz Jupiter Benefit Concert

You know his music from Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Perhaps you also know about his many accolades: four Grammys, three Oscars, four Drama Desk Awards, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Broadway Hall of Fame.

But the chance to see Stephen Schwartz perform his music onstage at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre for a one-night-only benefit concert? It's the kind of opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime.

The composer of Broadway's most successful musicals will show audiences how he makes magic and defies gravity on Saturday, November 12, as the Theatre's Fourth Annual Tony Award Winner Series presents He's Got Magic to Do: The Music of Stephen Schwartz.

Backed by a ten-piece orchestra and accompanied by Tony Award winner Debbie Gravitte, Broadway performer Michael McCorry Rose and Scott Coulter - one of New York's most honored vocalists - patrons won't want to miss this extraordinary experience.

"We are incredibly honored to continue the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's benefit concert series by welcoming Stephen Schwartz to our stage," said Andrew Kato, the Theatre's producing artistic director and chief executive. "Our benefit concerts have been a wonderful success in recent years with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Chita Rivera and Christine Ebersole. We know that audiences will be more dazzled than ever by the legendary musical brilliance of Stephen Schwartz."

In addition to writing the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit Wicked, Schwartz is also known for contributing music and/or lyrics to Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, Working (which he also adapted and directed), Rags and Children of Eden. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein's Mass and wrote the title song for the play and movie Butterflies are Free. For children, he has written songs for two musicals (Captain Louie and My Son Pinocchio) and has also worked in film, collaborating with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's Enchanted, as well as the animated features Pocohontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (as well as writing the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt). Schwartz' first opera, Séance on a Wet Afternoon, was produced at Opera Santa Barbara and New York City Opera. His career is detailed in the popular book "Defying Gravity," released by Applause Books.

In 2008, Wicked reached its 1,900th performance on Broadway, making Schwartz the only songwriter in Broadway history ever to have three shows run more than 1,900 performances.

Proceeds from the one-night-only concert will benefit the not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre and its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts. As part of the exclusive concert, top sponsors can attend an elegant pre-concert sit-down dinner onsite at the Theatre in The Green Room Club Level Lounge before moving to their VIP seats in the orchestra. The elegant dinner is sponsored by Roe Green and the Roe Green Foundation. After the performance, Schwartz will join the guests for dessert, coffee and cordials. A special Master Class with Stephen Schwartz and the cast is also available for students.

He's Got Magic to Do: The Music of Stephen Schwartz is sponsored by The Samuel J. & Connie M. Frankino Charitable Foundation and Kretzer Piano; sponsorships are available for a pre-show dinner and post-show meet-and-greet dessert reception.

He's Got Magic to Do: The Music of Stephen Schwartz will take place on Saturday, November 12. Showtime is 8 p.m.; Tickets begin at $50. To purchase tickets, call (561) 575-2223 or visit www.jupitertheatre.org.

The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida's preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of nearly 7,628 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence.

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