Mark Saltzman

Mark Saltzman is an American writer and composer with an impressive career in both theater and television. Born in 1951 in Los Angeles, Saltzman grew up with a love for music and theater, which led him to pursue a degree in drama at the University of California, Irvine. After graduation, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in theater.
Saltzman made his Broadway debut in 1983 as a composer and lyricist for the musical "The Song of Singapore." The show, which was a spoof of old Hollywood films, received mixed reviews but was praised for its catchy tunes and witty lyrics. Saltzman's work on the show earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Lyrics.
In 1989, Saltzman wrote the book for the musical "Romance/Romance," which was based on two short stories by Arthur Schnitzler. The show received critical acclaim and was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical for Saltzman. The show's score, which was composed by Keith Herrmann, featured lyrics by Saltzman and was also well-received.
Saltzman continued to work in the theater throughout the 1990s, writing the book and lyrics for the musical "The Tin Pan Alley Rag," which premiered Off-Broadway in 1997. The show, which was about the rivalry between composers Scott Joplin and Irving Berlin, received positive reviews and was nominated for several Drama Desk Awards.
In addition to his work in the theater, Saltzman has also had a successful career in television. He began writing for the children's television show "Sesame Street" in the 1980s and has since written for several other children's shows, including "The Magic School Bus" and "The Puzzle Place." Saltzman also wrote for the popular sitcom "Murphy Brown" in the 1990s, for which he won an Emmy Award.
Saltzman's most recent work includes the musical "The Red Shoes," which premiered at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in 2019. The show, which was based on the classic fairy tale, featured music and lyrics by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn, with a book by Saltzman. The production received mixed reviews, but Saltzman's work on the show was praised for its clever adaptation of the story.