Veteran musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz spoke with members of the media on the red carpet of the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which was held on Thursday, June 12th in New York City.
In a respected career that spans over five decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals such as “Godspell, “Pippin” and “Wicked.”
Recognition for Stephen Schwartz
Schwartz’s mantel holds three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. He has received nominations for six Tony Awards, and a Laurence Olivier Award. In 2015, the Tony Awards recognized him with the Isabelle Stevenson Award, a non-competitive philanthropic accolade.
Schwartz on receiving the 2025 Johnny Mercer Award
In addition to all of these aforementioned awards, Schwartz is the recipient of the 2025 Johnny Mercer Award, which is the most coveted accolade bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Johnny Mercer Award is exclusively reserved for a songwriter or songwriting team who has already been inducted in a prior year and whose body of work is of “such high quality and impact that it upholds the gold standard set by the legendary Johnny Mercer.”
Schwartz is grateful to have received the 2025 Johnny Mercer Award, which is the highest accolade bestowed upon a songwriter. “Diane Warren earned this last year, so I am in good company,” he acknowledged.
Schwartz was initially inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame back in 2009.
Schwartz on his writing process
When asked if he writes with personal reflection in mind, Schwartz said, “Of course, I write with personal reflection in mind. Being a writer for musical theatre is basically akin to being an actor, except you are playing all the roles.”
“You have to find the part of yourself in every one of those characters, and then, try to be as truthful as possible in telling the story from that particular character’s point of view. I am a terrible actor but I get to do it behind closed doors,” Schwartz elaborated.
Schwartz on the power of songwriting
On the power of songwriting, Schwartz said, “One of the most amazing things about music as we know is that it speaks across cultures, across years, across countries.”
“You can hear a song or a piece of music that was written 300 years ago in a completely different world and it can make you cry,” Schwartz noted.
“There is something about the music, and that we all resonate together as human beings. It helps us to bridge differences and bring us together,” Schwartz concluded.
To learn more about Stephen Schwartz, check out his official website.
