This captivating effect has allowed much of his work to function not only as dramatic showtunes, but also to resonate with more contemporary pop aesthetics. There were long years when Stephen Schwartz was largely absent from Broadway, but that can be blamed more on the state of the musical theatre at the time than anything else, and Schwartz was still prolific, finding other avenues for his work, particularly animated film - most notably writing songs for Dreamworks' 1998 blockbuster, 'The Prince of Egypt,' including the hit Whitney Houston-Mariah Carey duet, 'When You Believe.' A hallmark of Stephen Schwartz songs is a unique type of vamp that establishes a driving beat under even the most soaring and legato of ballads.

And of course, Schwartz's seminal musical, Godspell (along with Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, part of a trifecta of groundbreaking works from 40-ish years ago that left an indelible mark on musical theatre) is a staple of amateur, stock and regional theatres everywhere. Wicked is still raking in millions upon millions of dollars, well into its second decade on Broadway and around the world, and his 1972 hit Pippin is enjoying an enormously popular renaissance in Diane Paulus' acclaimed 2013 revival, in New York and on tour. Working is a musical with a book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, music by Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, and James Taylor, and lyrics by Schwartz, Carnelia, Grant, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead. Stephen Schwartz is arguably the most successful songwriter in theatre today.

Stephen schwartz songs