Photo by Ralf Rühmeier

NEW YORK, March 8, 2017 --ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, will present legendary composerStephen Schwartzwith its prestigious Founders Award at its32nd annual ASCAP Screen Music Awards on Tuesday, May 16. The exclusive, invitation-only gala celebrates ASCAP’s top film, television and videogame composers of 2016 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA.

In the course of his extraordinary career, Stephen Schwartz has composed iconic scores and lyrics for films includingGodspell, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt, Enchanted,and the TV movieGeppetto. On television, Schwartz’s works have been featured onGlee, The Voice, American Idol,andSaturday Night Live, among many others.  On Broadway, Schwartz began his career with the hit musicalsGodspell, Pippin,andThe Magic Show, all three of which were at one time running simultaneously. His long-running Broadway musicalWicked will be adapted for the screen. 

"Stephen’s iconic scores have thrilled audiences in multiple mediums for the last four decades,” saidASCAP President Paul Williams. “His words and music illuminate and clarify the stories being told, reveal the inner lives of the individual characters and yet somehow manage to reflect his unique light on our own hopes and dreams. On the stage and on screens large and small Stephen's wisdom and humor weave a narrative in words and song that transport the listener to worlds that exist only in the imagination.”

Among other promising talents, Schwartz has served as mentor to Oscar-winningLa La Land composer/lyricistsJustin PaulandBenj Pasek from the very start. The duo have a hit Broadway musical,Dear Evan Hansen, currently on Broadway.

 

"Stephen Schwartz is not only a giant in the world of musical theatre, he is also an incredible mentor, teacher and friend,” said Justin Paul.  “He cares so deeply about the art form, and is truly committed to nurturing and supporting future generations of musical theatre writers.” Added Benj Pasek, “We feel so lucky to have received so much support and guidance from him, and have been changed undoubtedly for the better by having him in our lives.”

 

Schwartz is the recipient of three Oscars, four Grammys, four Drama Desk Awards, one Golden Globe, and the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theater. In 2008, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a year later, was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the American Theater Hall of Fame. He has received six Tony Award nominations: for music and lyrics forWicked,Pippin, andGodspell; for lyrics forRags, and for music/lyrics and book forWorking. In 2015, he received an honorary Tony Award, the Isabelle Stevenson Award, for his commitment to serving artists and fostering new talent.

As a long-standing board member of The ASCAP Foundation, Stephen Schwartz’s contributions span far beyond what he has written for the stage and screen. For more than 20 years, he has served as artistic director for the ASCAP Musical Theatre workshop in both New York and Los Angeles, nurturing many of the young composers and lyricists working in the theatre today.

In addition to Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, Schwartz has served as a mentor to, among others, Tony award-winningLin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton,In the Heights),Andrew Lippa (Addams Family, Big Fish),Alan Zachary andMichael Weiner(First Date), and ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop alumsMarcy Heisler andZina Goldrich (Ever After,Dear Edwina),Glenn Slater (A Bronx Tale,School of Rock),Matthew SklarandChad Beguelin (Elf,The Wedding Singer,Aladdin), andSteven Lutvak (Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder). 

The ASCAP Founders Award goes to pioneering ASCAP songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Past recipients includeStephen Sondheim, Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller,Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, Smokey Robinson, Carly Simon, Patti Smith, Steely Dan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Tom Waits, Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart), Stevie Wonder andNeil Young.

Members of the press can apply for credentials for the 32nd annual ASCAP Screen Awards by contactingbobbi@bobbimarcuspr.com.

About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP's mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world's best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business - from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With 750,000 members representing more than 10 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch atwww.ascap.com, on Twitter@ASCAP and onFacebook.

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CONTACT:

Bobbi Marcus
Bobbi Marcus PR & Events, Inc.
(310) 889-9200
bobbi.marcus@bobbimarcuspr.com

Cathy Nevins
ASCAP
cnevins (at) ascap.com