George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898, and began his musical training when he was 13. At 16 he quit high school to work as a "song plugger" for a music publisher, and soon he was writing songs himself. "Swanee," as introduced by Al Jolson, brought George his first real fame and led to his writing a succession of 22 musical comedies, most with his older brother, Ira. The Gershwins' shows include Lady Be Good, Oh, Kay!, Strike Up the Band, Girl Crazy, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Of Thee I Sing. From his early career George ... read more
Ira Gershwin, the first songwriter to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, was born in New York City on December 6, 1896. In 1917 The Evening Sun published his first song ("You May Throw All The Rice You Desire But Please Friends, Throw No Shoes"). Four years later Ira enjoyed his first major stage success, Two Little Girls in Blue, written with another Broadway newcomer, Vincent Youmans. In 1924 Ira and his brother, George, created the smash hit Lady Be Good and went on to continue their remarkable collaboration through a dozen major stage scores, producing such standards as "Fascinating Rhythm," ... read more
George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898, and began his musical training when he was 13. At 16 he quit high school to work as a "song plugger" for a music publisher, and soon he was writing songs himself. "Swanee," as introduced by Al Jolson, brought George his first real fame and led to his writing a succession of 22 musical comedies, most with his older brother, Ira. The Gershwins' shows include Lady Be Good, Oh, Kay!, Strike Up the Band, Girl Crazy, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Of Thee I Sing. From his early career George ... read more
Ira Gershwin, the first songwriter to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, was born in New York City on December 6, 1896. In 1917 The Evening Sun published his first song ("You May Throw All The Rice You Desire But Please Friends, Throw No Shoes"). Four years later Ira enjoyed his first major stage success, Two Little Girls in Blue, written with another Broadway newcomer, Vincent Youmans. In 1924 Ira and his brother, George, created the smash hit Lady Be Good and went on to continue their remarkable collaboration through a dozen major stage scores, producing such standards as "Fascinating Rhythm," ... read more
Mark Lamos is a celebrated American director, actor, and writer with an illustrious career spanning over four decades. Born in 1946 in Illinois, Lamos grew up in Connecticut and went on to study at Northwestern University, where he earned a degree in theatre. After completing his education, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in the arts.
Lamos began his career as an actor, performing in numerous stage productions throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He made his Broadway debut in 1974 in the play "The National Health" and went on to appear in several other productions, including "The ... read more
Mel's long career as a composer includes scores for 30 musicals, 47 plays, and 3 operas. His musical Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas returned in 2019 for its yearly national tour, with two companies playing 11 cities in the U.S. and the U.K. Canceled for 2020 by the pandemic, The Grinch, which appeared on Broadway during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, was last seen in New York for a month-long run at Madison Square Garden Theater in 2018. It has also been running for 21 consecutive sold-out seasons at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. ... read more