Marc Shaiman

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Marc Shaiman
Shaiman at the Drama League All Star Benefit Gala, February 7, 2010
Shaiman at the Drama League All Star Benefit Gala, February 7, 2010
Background information
Born (1959-10-22) October 22, 1959 (age 61)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)
  • Composer
  • lyricist
Websitewww.marcshaiman.com

Marc Shaiman (/ʃeɪmən/; born October 22, 1959) is an American composer and lyricist for films, television, and theatre, best known for his collaborations with lyricist and director Scott Wittman. He wrote the music and co-wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical version of the John Waters film Hairspray. He has won a Grammy, an Emmy and a Tony, and been nominated for seven Oscars.

Personal life[]

Shaiman was born to a Jewish family[1] in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Claire (née Goldfein) and William Robert Shaiman.[2] He grew up in Scotch Plains, New Jersey and attended Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, but got his GED and left school at age 16 to start working in New York's theaters.[3] He lives in both Manhattan and upstate New York.

He is openly gay.[4] Shaiman married Lieutenant Commander Louis Mirabal on March 26, 2016.[5]

Career[]

Shaiman started his career as a theatre/cabaret musical director. He started working at SNL as an arranger/writer and also became vocal arranger for Bette Midler, eventually becoming her musical director and co-producer of many of her recordings, including "The Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From a Distance." He helped create the material for her performance on the penultimate The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His work with both Bette Midler and Billy Crystal led to his involvement on their films.

His film credits include Broadcast News, Beaches, When Harry Met Sally..., City Slickers, The Addams Family, Sister Act, Sleepless in Seattle, A Few Good Men, The American President, The First Wives Club, George of the Jungle, In & Out, Patch Adams, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Team America: World Police, Hairspray, Flipped, Mary Poppins Returns and HBO's From the Earth to the Moon and 61*. He frequently works on films by Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner. He also appeared in many of these films.

Shaiman has earned seven Academy Award nominations, a Tony Award and a Grammy Award for his work on the musical Hairspray, and an Emmy Award for co-writing Billy Crystal's Academy Award performances. He has also been Grammy-nominated for his arrangements for Harry Connick Jr.'s recordings When Harry Met Sally... and We Are in Love as well as Hairspray and Smash and Emmy-nominated for his work on Saturday Night Live and Smash. In 2002, he was honored with the "Outstanding Achievement in Music-In-Film" award at The Hollywood Film Festival, and in 2007 he was honored with ASCAP's Henry Mancini Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the music of film and television.[6] He is the first recipient of the Film & TV Music Award for Best Score for a Comedy Feature Film.

On Saturday Night Live, Shaiman portrayed Skip St. Thomas, the accompanying pianist for The Sweeney Sisters, a singing duo played by Nora Dunn and Jan Hooks, which earned him an Emmy nomination.[7] He began his professional relationships with Billy Crystal and Martin Short during his tenure at Saturday Night Live. He wrote and sang the song "Yes" for his agent's film Finding Kraftland. He co-wrote (with partner Scott Wittman) songs for Neil Patrick Harris when Harris hosted the 63rd Tony Awards (2009) and the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (2009), and was Emmy-nominated for musical directing and co-writing the 82nd Academy Awards (2010).

Shaiman co-produced and co-wrote cuts on Mariah Carey's 2010 Christmas album Merry Christmas II You.

Shaiman & Wittman wrote original songs for the musical-based television show for NBC, Smash, and served as Executive Producers. For their song "Let Me Be Your Star," Shaiman and co-lyricist Wittman were nominated for both an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award, and as Executive Producers they were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical.

Shaiman co-wrote Billy Crystal's farewell to Jay Leno which featured Carol Burnett and Oprah Winfrey among others. He collaborated on the final performances for Johnny Carson's Tonight Show (with Bette Midler), Conan O'Brien's Late Night (with Nathan Lane), both of Jay Leno's final Tonight Show broadcasts, and Nathan Lane's farewell to David Letterman called "Dead Inside."

Shaiman & Wittman were honored on April 28, 2014, by The New York Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.[7]

Shaiman produced Bette Midler's CD It's the Girls, which had the highest debut of Midler's recording career on the Billboard Album charts.

Shaiman appeared on The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special, having co-created Martin Short and Maya Rudolph's salute to musical sketch characters.

Jennifer Hudson sang Shaiman & Wittman's Smash song "I Can't Let Go" at the 87th Academy Awards, which they revised to fit the In Memoriam section.

Shaiman & Wittman's latest Broadway musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ran on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, after finishing a four-year run on London's West End at The Royal Drury Lane Theater. Shaiman was Tony-nominated for his orchestrations for their previous Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can.

Shaiman & Wittman are currently writing a new musical version of "Some Like It Hot, coming to Broadway in 2022.[8]

Activism[]

In 2008, a controversy erupted nationwide when California Musical Theatre's then artistic director Scott Eckern[9][10] resigned over the revelation of his personal donation of $1000 to a political campaign to support California proposition 8, which was an amendment to change the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. After the amendment was passed, donor information became public. Shaiman and other Broadway artists who had previously worked with the director became critical and called for a boycott of the theatre by all gay artists and performers, ending in the director's resignation days later.

To protest the passage of California Proposition 8 in November 2008, Shaiman wrote a satiric mini-musical called Prop 8 — The Musical. The 3-minute video was distributed on the internet at FunnyOrDie.com, beginning on December 3, 2008. It was written and produced in just a few days. The cast includes Jack Black (who plays Jesus), Neil Patrick Harris, John C. Reilly, Allison Janney, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Margaret Cho, and Rashida Jones. Shaiman plays the piano and appears briefly in the video. It received 1.2 million internet hits in its first day.[11][12]

Filmography[]

Films[]

Year Title Director Notes
1988 Big Business Jim Abrahams songs only; first collaboration with Jim Abrahams
1988 Beaches Garry Marshall music supervisor
1989 When Harry Met Sally... Rob Reiner First collaboration with Rob Reiner
1990 Misery Rob Reiner Second collaboration with Rob Reiner
1991 Scenes from a Mall Paul Mazursky N/A
1991 City Slickers Ron Underwood N/A
1991 The Addams Family Barry Sonnenfeld First collaboration with Barry Sonnenfeld
1991 Hot Shots! Jim Abrahams actor; second collaboration with Jim Abrahams
1991 For the Boys Mark Rydell songs only
1992 Sister Act Emile Ardolino N/A
1992 Mr. Saturday Night Billy Crystal First collaboration with Billy Crystal
1992 A Few Good Men Rob Reiner Third collaboration with Rob Reiner
1993 Sleepless in Seattle Nora Ephron Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("A Wink and a Smile")
Nominated for a BAFTA for Best Original Music
1993 Heart and Souls Ron Underwood Second collaboration with Ron Underwood
1993 Life with Mikey James Lapine N/A
1993 Addams Family Values Barry Sonnenfeld Second collaboration with Barry Sonnenfeld
1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Bill Duke N/A
1994 City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold Paul Weiland N/A
1994 North Rob Reiner Fourth collaboration with Rob Reiner
1994 Speechless Ron Underwood Third collaboration with Ron Underwood
1994 That's Entertainment! III Bud Friedgen and Michael J. Sheridan N/A
1995 Stuart Saves His Family Harold Ramis N/A
1995 Forget Paris Billy Crystal Second collaboration with Billy Crystal
1995 The American President Rob Reiner Fifth collaboration with Rob Reiner
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical or Comedy Score
1996 Bogus Norman Jewison N/A
1996 Mother Albert Brooks N/A
1996 The First Wives Club Hugh Wilson Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical or Comedy Score
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Rob Reiner Sixth collaboration with Rob Reiner
1997 George of the Jungle Sam Weisman First collaboration with Sam Weisman
1997 In & Out Frank Oz N/A
1998 My Giant Michael Lehmann N/A
1998 Simon Birch Mark Steven Johnson N/A
1998 Patch Adams Tom Shadyac Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical or Comedy Score
1999 The Out-of-Towners Sam Weisman Second collaboration with Sam Weisman
1999 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut Trey Parker First collaboration with Trey Parker
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Blame Canada")
1999 The Story of Us Rob Reiner With Eric Clapton; seventh collaboration with Rob Reiner
2000 The Kid Jon Turteltaub N/A
2001 Get Over It Tommy O'Haver songs only
2001 One Night at McCool's Harald Zwart N/A
2001 The Wedding Planner Adam Shankman First collaboration with Adam Shankman
2003 Down with Love Peyton Reed N/A
2003 Alex & Emma Rob Reiner Eighth collaboration with Rob Reiner
2003 The Cat in the Hat Bo Welch songs only
2003 Marci X Richard Benjamin songs only
2004 Team America: World Police Trey Parker Second collaboration with Trey Parker; song only, score was rejected and replaced by Harry Gregson-Williams
2005 Rumor Has It... Rob Reiner Ninth collaboration with Rob Reiner
2007 Hairspray Adam Shankman Second collaboration with Adam Shankman
2007 The Bucket List Rob Reiner Tenth collaboration with Rob Reiner
2007 Bee Movie Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner song in end credits only
2010 Flipped Rob Reiner Eleventh collaboration with Rob Reiner
2012 The Magic of Belle Isle Rob Reiner Twelfth collaboration with Rob Reiner
2012 Parental Guidance Andy Fickman N/A
2014 And So It Goes Rob Reiner Thirteenth collaboration with Rob Reiner
2016 LBJ Rob Reiner Fourteenth collaboration with Rob Reiner
2017 The Star Timothy Reckart Nominated with Mariah Carey for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song ("The Star")
2018 Mary Poppins Returns Rob Marshall Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("The Place Where Lost Things Go")
Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music
Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score

Television[]

† = Emmy nominee

†# = Emmy winner

* = Golden Globe nominee

Theatre[]

Internet[]

  • Prop 8 - The Musical (2008) (composer, lyricist, pianist) - 2009 "Webby" winner for Best Comedy: Short or Individual Episode
  • (The End Titles song) † (2020)

† = Emmy nominee

Discography[]

Concert/cabaret work[]

  • Peter Allen
  • Jack Black & Will Ferrell
  • Kristin Chenoweth
  • Rosemary Clooney
  • Harry Connick Jr.
  • Billy Crystal
  • Christine Ebersole
  • Ellen Foley
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Annie Golden
  • The Harlettes
  • The High-Heeled Women
  • Lauryn Hill
  • Jennifer Holliday
  • Allison Janney
  • Laura Kenyon
  • Nathan Lane
  • Ute Lemper
  • Jenifer Lewis
  • Darlene Love
  • Patti LuPone
  • Lypsinka
  • Ann Magnuson
  • Andrea Martin
  • Lonette McKee
  • Bette Midler
  • Catherine O'Hara
  • Sarah Jessica Parker
  • Zora Rasmussen
  • Ann Reinking
  • Debbie Shapiro Gravitte
  • Martin Short
  • Barbra Streisand
  • Donald Trump
  • Tracey Ullman
  • Luther Vandross
  • Bruce Vilanch
  • Steven Webber
  • Raquel Welch
  • Robin Williams

References[]

  1. ^ Bloom, Nate (February 2, 2012). "Jewish stars: Whales, ghosts and 'Smash'". Cleveland Jewish News. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018.
  2. ^ Marc Shaiman Biography (1959-) Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine filmreference.com
  3. ^ Fowler, Linda. "N.J. native Marc Shaiman drops in on Paper Mill's production of his Broadway hit 'Hairspray'" Archived 2015-10-03 at the Wayback Machine, NJ.com, December 23, 2010. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Joking with fans during this fall production, Shaiman refers to his Scotch Plains hometown as exit 135.... Reluctant but supportive, his parents let him drop out of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School at 16 — he later earned a GED — to work in Manhattan’s fringe theaters."
  4. ^ Itzkoff, Dave. "For This Songwriter, the Political Is Musical" The New York Times, December 6, 2008
  5. ^ "Hairspray Composer Marc Shaiman Ties The Knot" Archived 2016-03-29 at the Wayback Machine Playbill, March 26, 2016
  6. ^ "ASCAP Henry Mancini Award". ASCAP. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Smash - NBC Official Site: Bios". NBC TV. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  8. ^ McPhee, Ryan (February 10, 2021). "Amber Ruffin to Co-Write Broadway-Aimed Some Like It Hot Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  9. ^ "Sacramento theater director who donated to Prop. 8 faced storm of criticism". Los Angeles Times. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  10. ^ McKinley, Jesse (12 November 2008). "Scott Eckern of California Musical Theater Resigns Amid Gay-Rights Ire Over Proposition 8 in California". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  11. ^ Itzkoff, Dave. "Marc Shaiman on 'Prop 8 — The Musical'", Archived 2009-12-06 at Wikiwix The New York Times, December 4, 2008
  12. ^ "Star-studded Web video protests Prop 8 – Spoof musical's blockbuster cast includes Jack Black as Jesus", Associated Press, MSN.com, December 4, 2008

External links[]

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