Songwriter, Adam Schlesinger passes away of COVID

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 6:47pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Award-Winning-Songwriter-Adam-Schlesinger-Passes-Away-Due-to-COVID-19-Complications-20200401

Another tragedy. 

Schlesinger only had a few theatre credits, but he has contributed a lot to the musical theatre community, and the musical-theatre-adjacent community (such as his work on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). Gone far too soon.

It should also be noted that he was slated to have his Off-Broadway debut this month, writing the songs for Sarah Silverman's new musical at the Atlantic. Obviously the show won't be going on as scheduled because of the theatre shut-downs, but I do hope we will still get to see the show in some form next season. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 6:49pm

JBroadway said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Award-Winning-Songwriter-Adam-Schlesinger-Passes-Away-Due-to-COVID-19-Complications-20200401

Another tragedy.

Schlesinger only had a few theatre credits, but he has contributed a lot to the musical theatre community, and the musical-theatre-adjacent community (such as his work on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). Gone far too soon.

It should also be noted that he was slated to have his Off-Broadway debut this month, writing the songs for Sarah Silverman's new musical at the Atlantic. Obviously the show won't be going on as scheduled because of the theatre shut-downs, but I do hope we will still get to see the show in some form next season."

He was also working with Rachel Bloom on songs for The Nanny musical.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 6:52pm

He is pictured here next to Rachel (left) when they won an Emmy last year for their song in Crazy ExGirlfriend. Devastating. 

[Back Row]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 7:17pm

He wrote the title song for the movie, “That Thing You Do”

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 7:25pm

He also wrote several songs for Tony Awards broadcasts. RIP.

[Tag]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 8:04pm

So sad.  Bloom just had a baby and was posting about Adam earlier today (on instagram).

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 8:20pm

What a talented man. Awful, just awful news.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 8:31pm

Holy ****, this is a big one for me. I have been a fan of Fountains of Wayne for a long time. I find it eery that, just as I saw this post, one of their songs popped up while listening to my iTunes on shuffle. 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 9:37pm

This is heartbreaking. He's one of my biggest influences of a songwriter. I've been listening to Stacy's Mom and That Thing You Do since I was in high school.

[ImaginaryManticore]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 7:12pm

This is devastating. He was a songwriting genius. What's more, as well as his work in his band and for TV and film, it seemed like he was only just getting started in his contributions to musical theatre. His work on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend alone was groundbreaking. As well as co-writing the 150+ songs, he composed the background music and integrated the whole score like, well, a Broadway show. As far as I'm concerned, he was instrumental in creating the first successful long-form musical comedy, and also probably the longest non-jukebox musical ever written.

I saw him perform in one of the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Live concerts. This song is just one example of his brilliance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdmH6PSrQPs

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 9:52pm

Both he and Terrence McNally were at the Atlantic Theatre Gala a couple weeks back. Who else was there and are they okay? 

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 10:11pm

Uh oh, a  VERY stellar lineup :  https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-Go-Inside-Atlantic-Theater-Companys-Couples-Choice-Gala-20200303

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 1:59am

Boy, in a thread about Adam Schlesinger, I'm surprised no one so far has mentioned his terrific, Tony-nominated score (co-written with David Javerbaum) to ''Cry-Baby: The Musical'' (2008 ). I loved that show and that cast of James Snyder, Elizabeth Stanley, Christopher J. Hanke and Alli Mauzey. I especially adored Adam and David's delightfully demented songs, like ''Girl, Can I Kiss You With Tongue?'' and ''Screw Loose.'' For anyone who missed this zany show on Broadway, you can watch clips on YouTube or catch excerpts from their 2015 ''Cry-Baby'' reunion concert at 54 Below, featuring the original stars. Meantime, here's a video of Adam and David on ''Theater Talk'' performing ''Screw Loose.''

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn7qkkKirmQ&t=84s

Updated On: 4/3/20 at 01:59 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/3/20 at 3:04am

Cry-Baby is ridiculously amusing. It took far too long to get a (mostly) original cast recording but I’m glad we finally did. I remember the album dropped digitally the same day the Hamilton cast album was released and I was probably one of a handful of people who listened to Cry-Baby first.

Updated On: 4/3/20 at 03:04 AM