Press Release: Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama Presents Cabaret Evening With Acclaimed Artist, Alumnus Stephen Schwartz
“Schwartz on Schwartz” To Feature Drama Students Performing the Hall of Fame Songwriter’s Works
Contacts: Pam Wigley / 412-268-1047 / pwigley@andrew.cmu.edu
Dennis Schebetta / 412-268-2068 / dschebet@andrew.cmu.edu
PITTSBURGH—Carnegie Mellon University alumnus and acclaimed songwriter Stephen Schwartz (A’68) will return to Pittsburgh for “Schwartz on Schwartz,” presented by CMU’s School of Drama at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 21, at the CLO Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. Schwartz, best known for his award-winning music and lyrics for Broadway musicals like “Godspell,” “Pippin” and “Wicked,” will play the piano to accompany junior musical theatre students singing songs from his catalog of tunes.
Schwartz’s accolades include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards and four Drama Desk Awards. He has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Theatre Hall of Fame. He has written lyrics for the film scores for “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and songs for “The Prince of Egypt.”
Gary Kline, CMU associate professor of voice, frequently hosts guest artists to provide students with further insight into the art of cabaret. Kline instructs the students on microphone technique, repertoire selection, and how to build a rapport with the audience. This year, Schwartz will help students learn by exploring performances of his own work. A longtime supporter of his alma mater, Schwartz regularly returns to CMU to work with students.
Peter Cooke, head of the School of Drama, said he is delighted that such celebrated artists continue to return and help students, many of who go on to Broadway and Hollywood with tremendous success.
“Being in touch with real-world practitioners is an important focus for me as head of the school,” Cooke said, “but it’s even more important for our students, who see that their hard work will, indeed, help them to pursue great careers. We are so proud of our thriving alumni, and we are so grateful for their eagerness to return and impart their wisdom to our current students.”
The evening will be a retrospective of Schwartz’s work, featuring songs from the early years all the way up to current projects. Doors open at 6 p.m., with food and drinks available in classic cabaret tradition. Tickets for the general public are $25 each, with all proceeds benefiting CMU’s Senior Showcase, an annual spring event in which graduating School of Drama students travel to New York and Los Angeles to present their work to industry professionals.
Those planning to attend the cabaret should R.S.V.P. at http://www.alumni.cmu.edu/cabaret.
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Pictured above is Stephen Schwartz (A'68), best known for his award-winning music and lyrics for Broadway musicals like “Godspell,” “Pippin” and “Wicked.” A longtime supporter of his alma mater, Schwartz regularly returns to CMU to work with students.