RIP Harold Wheeler

In a career spanning more than five decades, Wheeler received numerous accolades, including Emmy, Tony and Drama Desk nominations and a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP Theatre Awards. He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater in 2019.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Harold-Wheeler-Tony-Winning-Orchestrator-Passes-Away-at-82-20260625

What an incredible career he had. I first learned his name when he was the music director of the early seasons of Dancing with the Stars. Then I found out about his illustrious theatre career. Rest well, Maestro!

What an extraordinary, long, and varied career of accomplishments. In a short period he went from Promises, Promises, to the amazing orchestration and musical direction of the singular Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death. Condolences to the also magnificent Hattie Winston, the actor and his wife of many years.

I stand by the Overture to The Full Monty being one of the best ever on Broadway, and that's mainly because of Harold Wheeler's horn arrangements.

My first Broadway show, on Broadway, was"The Wiz" at the Majestic.

May he rest in peace.

DottieD'Luscia said: "I had no idea he was responsible for the orchestrations for Music and the Mirror."

According to David Chase, HW was responsible for the entire dance arrangement. Reposting David's social media post:



If I mention "The Cassie Dance', what names come to mind?

Michael Bennett, who choreographed it...?

Donna McKechnie, who was the first in a long line of brilliant women who performed it...?

How about the brilliant dance arranger and orchestrator Harold Wheeler who wrote it...?

Wait, you say, I thought Marvin Hamlisch wrote 'The Music and the Mirror' ?! Well, he did (along with lyricist Ed Kleban) but that dance music was by Harold, starting with that slow, sexy sax solo...

When A Chorus Line started rehearsals at the Public, Hamlisch took a stab at writing the dance music himself. (He was an experienced dance arranger in his own right - check out "Henry, Sweet Henry", "Minnie's Boys" and "Seesaw").

It didn't work.

Michael Bennett and Harold Wheeler weren't on speaking terms - they had done "Promises, Promises" together and had had a falling out. But Michael knew that he needed Harold to make the Cassie dance work. Drummer Bobby Thomas invited them each out independently to have a drink, then left the bar when they both showed up. Michael and Harold settled their differences, and the rest is history.

Remember, choreography does not exist without music.

It was so special seeing him conduct the NY Phil A Little Night Music concert a couple years ago. Him and Cynthia Erivo and Ruthie Miles stole the show. An amazing talent, rip Harold Wheeler, your work will live on forever!!