Bruce Howard Sussman | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1949-07-12)July 12, 1949 (age 76) Jackson Heights, Queens, New York |
| Education | Franklin and Marshall College (1971) |
| Occupation(s) | Lyricist, librettist |
| Spouse | |
Bruce Howard Sussman (born July 12, 1949) is an American lyricist andlibrettist. Though he has collaborated with numerous composers, he is probably best known for his work with his long-time collaborator,Barry Manilow. Together, they have written over two hundred songs for numerous recording artists, films,stage musicals and television programs.[1]
Sussman was born inJackson Heights, Queens, New York and was raised onLong Island, where he graduated fromSanford H. Calhoun High School inMerrick, New York.[2] He then graduated fromFranklin and Marshall College inLancaster, Pennsylvania.[3]
Upon his return to New York, he was accepted into theBMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. During this period, he met Barry Manilow, and they began writingjingles and songs together. Among their first successes was "Copacabana (At the Copa)" which became Sussman's firstgold record as well as aGrammy Award-winning, international hit.[4] It would later become the source material for a made-for-television film musical of the same title, a one-act casino show, and then a two-act stage musical for which he co-authored the book and lyrics with Manilow andJack Feldman. The show ran for two years at thePrince of Wales Theatre on London's West End before extensive tours of Britain and the United States.[5]
Also for the stage, he co-authored with Feldman the song scores forTed Tally’sComing Attractions—which starredChristine Baranski,Jonathan Hadary andGriffin Dunne—andWendy Wasserstein’s first musical,Miami—which starredPhyllis Newman,Marcia Lewis,Fisher Stevens, andJane Krakowski. Both shows were produced byAndré Bishop atPlaywrights Horizonsoff-Broadway. He also contributed a song to Howard Crabtree's off-Broadway and London productions ofWhoop-Dee-Doo! Most recently, he is the author of the book and lyrics forHarmony: A New Musical about theComedian Harmonists. The show had developmental productions at theLa Jolla Playhouse, theAlliance Theatre, and theAhmanson Theatre.[6] It made its New York debut, in a production directed byWarren Carlyle, at the National Yiddish TheatreFolksbiene in March 2022.[7] It opened on Broadway on November 13, 2023. Sussman is the 2022 recipient of theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical forHarmony.
With Manilow, he also wrote song scores for the animated filmsThumbelina andThe Pebble and the Penguin, as well as a song forDisney'sOliver and Company.
In 1994, Sussman met entertainment columnist,Rob Shuter, inEdinburgh, Scotland. They were married on October 29, 2011.[8]
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