Day By Day

Grammy- and Oscar-winning composer
Stephen Schwartz performs benefit concert.

SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News

ly became Broadway's Pippin was the
essence of his junior year project. After
graduation, he moved to New York and
ocal fans of composer
introduced his other shows, eventually
Stephen Schwartz —
moving on to work with Alan Menken
Godcpell, Pippin, Prince of
on animated features.
Egypt, Pocahontas — soon
Throughout his career, biblical sub-
can experience three up-close-and-per-
jects dominate, but that was not neces-
sonal productions with his music.
sarily intended. Often, Schwartz sees the
Children of Eden, his latest show, will
pieces as explorations of ethics, morals,
be presented by the popular Stagecrafters
life choices and decisions of great impor-
troupe, which has weekend performanc-
tance. He finds no conflict with his own
es May 11-June 3.
Jewish heritage.
Godspell, his first show,
"Children of Eden takes
will be brought to life
[stories] from Genesis and
May 31-June 3 by a
looks at them from an
touring troupe at the
3entirely different point of
Macomb Center for the
view than what we're accus-
Performing Arts, where
tomed to. We come in
the staging has been
knowing something about
planned by the compos-
the characters, but there is
er's son, director Scott
something more intriguing,
Schwartz.
I think, when they're
Ahead of those two
looked at differently," says
shows, and surely the
the composer.
most heartfelt perform-
Godspell is much more
ance, will be on May 4,
Stephen Schwartz
about the philosophy of
when the composer
what Jesus was talking
himself sits at the piano and sings with
about than divinity or issues of Christian
two New York artists, Tony Award-win-
theology. It's also about the formation of
ner Debbie Shapiro Gravitte (for Jerome
a community of people around the
Robbins' Broadway) and cabaret stylist
teachings of one man. As such, I think it
Scott Coulter, at the Allen Park Civic
transcends specific religions."
Auditorium.
Schwartz is working on a new produc-
"'Stephen Schwartz and Friends' has
tion called Wicked, which is based on a
lots of variety" says Schwartz, who has
recent novel about the Wicked Witch of
done some writing in Michigan while
the West in Oz. It's her back story,
visiting the family of his wife, singer-
describing how she came to be a witch.
actress Carole Piasecki, a University of
Although it's not a children's play, it's a
Michigan alum.
show for families.
"I tend to do some of the newer songs
"I felt it would be interesting to take a
and some of the more pop stuff, while
character who is an iconic villain and
Debbie and Scott tend to do the more
actually look at things from her point of
familiar things from the shows and
view There are two sides to every story
movies. Debbie, Scott and I have a good
and things are never as simple as we like
time together. We've done some cool
to make them," Schwartz says. ❑
arrangements, and I think we're a very
good trio because we're all very different."
"Stephen Schwartz and Friends"
Schwartz's program, a benefit for the
begins 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4,
new Allen Park Civic Complex and
at the Allen Park Civic
Community Center, features his biggest
Auditorium, 16850 Southfield
hits, including "Day By Day," "When
Road. 520-530. (313) 928 9192.
You Believe," "Magic to Do" and
Stagecrafters performs Children of
"Colors of the Wind."
Eden May 11-June 3 at Royal
Schwartz, 53, a Grammy and Oscar
Oak's Baldwin Theatre. $14-16.
winner, began writing musicals for
(248) 541-6430. Godspell comes
extracurricular college shows while a
to Macomb Center May 31-June 3.
drama major at Carnegie-Mellon
$31-$35. (810) 286-2222.
University in Pittsburgh. What ultimate-

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