Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked (Second Edition)
CHAPTERS
WICKED
Chapter 16 - Landing In Oz: 00:00
Chapter 17 - Structuring Twists & Turns: 11:10
Chapter 18 - On The Right Track: 25:49
Chapter 19 - Story By Committee 38:36
Chapter 20 - Somewhere Over The Keyboard: 49:40
Chapter 21 - First Drafts & Adjustifications: 1:00:41
Chapter 22 - We’re Off To See A Reading 1:10:59
Chapter 23 - Turning Points In Oz: 01:21:26
Chapter 24 - If We Only Had A Team: 01:46:19
Chapter 25 - Character Development: 02:18:50
Chapter 26 - The Countdown Begins: 02:36:08
Chapter 27 - Shock At First Sight: 03:25:06
Chapter 28 - Pre-Broadway Summer 03:53:14
Chapter 29 - Wicked On Broadway 04:17:58
Updates 2003
Chapter 30 - Wicked Worldwide & The Life-Changing Milestone: 04:32:00
Chapter 31 - From Movies To Stage Musicals: The Hunchback of Notre Dame & The Prince Of Egypt: 05:12:37
Chapter 32 - Hollywood Calls Again: 06:04:36
Chapter 33 - Always More Magic To Do: 06:25:45
Stephen Schwartz is among the rare American composer-lyricists whose Broadway musicals have inspired passionate followings, resulting in blockbuster hits like Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin. In the revised and updated second edition of Defying Gravity, biographer Carol de Giere reveals how Schwartz’s beloved musicals came to life, adding four new chapters that shed light on the continuing Wicked phenomenon and exciting projects that include stage adaptations of The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Alan Menken and The Prince of Egypt.
A popular feature of the first edition remains intact for the second: the story of Schwartz’s commercially unsuccessful shows, how he coped, and how he gave himself another chance. The new edition also features an acclaimed series of “Creativity Notes” with insights about the creative process. Wicked enthusiasts are treated to a revealing, in-depth account of the show’s evolution that takes readers from developmental workshops, to the pre-Broadway tryout in San Francisco, through the arguments over changes for Broadway, and finally to productions around the world.
Movie musical fans know that Disney’s pairing of Stephen Schwartz (for lyrics) with composer Alan Menken (for music) led to award-winning movie musicals “Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted. Menken’s revelatory “Foreword” that introduces the second edition of Defying Gravity explores their “wonderful chemistry” and creative challenges.
The abundance of behind-the-scenes stories in this Stephen Schwartz biography came by way of the author’s unprecedented access to this legendary songwriter for interviews. She also drew from conversations with his family members, friends, and colleagues (librettists, composers, directors, producers, and actors) to render a rich portrait of this complex and gifted artist. She rounds out the book with photographs, Schwartz’s handwritten notes, and highlighted quotations.
Performers and others involved in productions of Godspell, Pippin, Children of Eden, Working, Rags, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, will discover the intentions of the shows’ creators. Singers, writers, fans, and anyone interested in the development of stage and film musicals will enjoy multiple insights from this backstage journey, from Godspell to Wicked, and beyond.
#wicked #wickedmusical #wickedthemusical #broadway #broadwaymusical #musicals #makingof #music #musicaltheatre #elphaba #wizardofoz #disney #audiobook #books #biography
Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked (Second Edition)
CHAPTERS
WICKED
Chapter 16 - Landing In Oz: 00:00
Chapter 17 - Structuring Twists & Turns: 11:10
Chapter 18 - On The Right Track: 25:49
Chapter 19 - Story By Committee 38:36
Chapter 20 - Somewhere Over The Keyboard: 49:40
Chapter 21 - First Drafts & Adjustifications: 1:00:41
Chapter 22 - We’re Off To See A Reading 1:10:59
Chapter 23 - Turning Points In Oz: 01:21:26
Chapter 24 - If We Only Had A Team: 01:46:19
Chapter 25 - Character Development: 02:18:50
Chapter 26 - The Countdown Begins: 02:36:08
Chapter 27 - Shock At First Sight: 03:25:06
Chapter 28 - Pre-Broadway Summer 03:53:14
Chapter 29 - Wicked On Broadway 04:17:58
Updates 2003
Chapter 30 - Wicked Worldwide & The Life-Changing Milestone: 04:32:00
Chapter 31 - From Movies To Stage Musicals: The Hunchback of Notre Dame & The Prince Of Egypt: 05:12:37
Chapter 32 - Hollywood Calls Again: 06:04:36
Chapter 33 - Always More Magic To Do: 06:25:45
Stephen Schwartz is among the rare American composer-lyricists whose Broadway musicals have inspired passionate followings, resulting in blockbuster hits like Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin. In the revised and updated second edition of Defying Gravity, biographer Carol de Giere reveals how Schwartz’s beloved musicals came to life, adding four new chapters that shed light on the continuing Wicked phenomenon and exciting projects that include stage adaptations of The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Alan Menken and The Prince of Egypt.
A popular feature of the first edition remains intact for the second: the story of Schwartz’s commercially unsuccessful shows, how he coped, and how he gave himself another chance. The new edition also features an acclaimed series of “Creativity Notes” with insights about the creative process. Wicked enthusiasts are treated to a revealing, in-depth account of the show’s evolution that takes readers from developmental workshops, to the pre-Broadway tryout in San Francisco, through the arguments over changes for Broadway, and finally to productions around the world.
Movie musical fans know that Disney’s pairing of Stephen Schwartz (for lyrics) with composer Alan Menken (for music) led to award-winning movie musicals “Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted. Menken’s revelatory “Foreword” that introduces the second edition of Defying Gravity explores their “wonderful chemistry” and creative challenges.
The abundance of behind-the-scenes stories in this Stephen Schwartz biography came by way of the author’s unprecedented access to this legendary songwriter for interviews. She also drew from conversations with his family members, friends, and colleagues (librettists, composers, directors, producers, and actors) to render a rich portrait of this complex and gifted artist. She rounds out the book with photographs, Schwartz’s handwritten notes, and highlighted quotations.
Performers and others involved in productions of Godspell, Pippin, Children of Eden, Working, Rags, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, will discover the intentions of the shows’ creators. Singers, writers, fans, and anyone interested in the development of stage and film musicals will enjoy multiple insights from this backstage journey, from Godspell to Wicked, and beyond.
#wicked #wickedmusical #wickedthemusical #broadway #broadwaymusical #musicals #makingof #music #musicaltheatre #elphaba #wizardofoz #disney #audiobook #books #biography
