One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

#1

One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:21am

I was having a discussion with a friend about how uncommon it is for a show to have a single writer for its book, music, and lyrics. We could come up with only two examples being The Music Man and Here's Love, both by Meredith Wilson. Can anyone think of another show in which the same person wrote all three? Thanks.

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 12:21 AM

#2

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:22am

Jonathan Larson wrote RENT all on his own!




...says the Playbill.

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-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#3

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:24am

Oliver! by Lionel Bart.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#4

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:25am

THE MUSIC MAN by Meredith Willson

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#5

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:26am

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes.

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"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#6

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:26am

IN MY LIFE by Joe Brooks.

He also directed and produced it.

#7

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:26am

The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown.

Technically, yes it counts.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#8

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:27am

This is a horrible example but Joe Brooks wrote the book, music, and lyrics for In My Life.

Oh, BSoBW2 beat me to it!

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A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

Updated On: 6/8/07 at 12:27 AM

#9

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:30am

Blitz - Lionel Bart
Tick, Tick, Boom! - Jonathan Larson
1491 - Meredith Wilson
Stop the World - I Want to Get Off - Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd - Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley

A friend and I do all three in our writing.

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I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!

Updated On: 6/8/07 at 12:30 AM

#10

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:35am

Frank Loesser - The Most Happy Fella

#11

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:40am

I wasnt really sure to count something like Rent because of the fact that it doesnt have much of a book because it is sung though. Oliver!...good call. Any others people can think of? I appreciate the help!

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 12:40 AM

#12

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:43am

I think that LaChiusa does all of his shows solo, but don't quote me on it.

#13

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:44am

"I wasnt really sure to count something like Rent because of the fact that it doesnt have much of a book because it is sung though."

Book doesn't just mean dialogue. It also means the dramatic structure of the piece.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#14

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:45am

I could be completely off, but didn't Lippa do all of The Wild Party (Yes, I know it was an adaptation...)

#15

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:45am

StickToPriest - Exactly. Les Misérables won the Tony for Best Book.

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-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#16

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:45am

Andrew Lippa did all three for his version of THE WILD PARTY

#17

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:49am

Noel Coward – Sail Away (and weren’t there others?)

#18

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:53am

[Quote] Book doesn't just mean dialogue. It also means the dramatic structure of the piece. [/Quote]

I did not know that. Thanks for clearing that up!

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 12:53 AM

#19

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:54am

LaChiusa wrote . .

See What I Wanna See
Bernarda Alba
Little Fish
The Wild Party (Book w/ George C. Wolfe)
Marie Christine
Hello Again
First Lady Suite

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I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!

#20

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:59am

William Finn – In Trousers and March of the Falsettos

#21

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 1:00am

Kirsten Childs-The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin

#22

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 1:03am

I don’t know much about his individual shows, but didn’t George M Cohan generally do all three?

#23

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 1:04am

1776 was originally all by Sherman Edwards, and then Peter Stone took over the book, so that's another one.

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I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!

#24

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 1:09am

Sure. Jonathan Larson wrote it all on his own. Not ripping any of it off from Sarah Schulman.

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"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

#25

re: One Writer for Book, Music, & Lyrics?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 1:20am

[Quote] Sure. Jonathan Larson wrote it all on his own. Not ripping any of it off from Sarah Schulman. [/Quote]

I don't know this story? Could you elaborate?

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 01:20 AM