Lee Adams

Last updated
Lee Adams
BornLee Richard Adams
(1924-08-14) August 14, 1924 (age 100)
Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationWriter, librettist
Alma mater
Notable works Bye Bye Birdie
Golden Boy
It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman
Applause
Notable awards2 Tony Awards, 1 Emmy Award
SpouseKelly Wood Adams
Children2

Lee Richard Adams (born August 14, 1924) is an American lyricist best known for his musical theatre collaboration with Charles Strouse.

Contents

Biography

Born in Mansfield, Ohio, Adams is the son of Dr. Leopold Adams, originally of Stamford, Connecticut, and Florence Ellis (originally Elishack) Adams, originally of Racine, Wisconsin. His family is Jewish. He is a graduate of Mansfield Senior High School. [1] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University and a Master's from Columbia University. While attending Ohio State, he was a brother of the Nu chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He worked as a journalist for newspaper and magazines. He met Charles Strouse in 1949, and they initially wrote for summer-time revues. [2]

Adams won Tony Awards in 1961 for Bye Bye Birdie , the first Broadway musical he wrote with Strouse, and in 1970 for Applause and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1965 for Golden Boy . [3] In addition, he wrote the lyrics for All American , It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman , Bring Back Birdie , and A Broadway Musical , and the book and lyrics for Ain't Broadway Grand. [3] Additionally, Strouse and Adams co-wrote "Those Were the Days", the opening theme to the TV situation comedy All in the Family . Adams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989. [4]

Adams and his wife, Dr. Kelly Wood Adams, have lived in Briarcliff Manor, New York since 2007. He has two daughters and three grandchildren. [5] He turned 100 in August 2024. [6]

Nonmusical writing

In addition to his work with lyrics, Adams "had a lifelong fascination with words," which led to his being an editor for the Sunday newspaper magazine supplement This Week and a member of the staff of Pageant magazine. [7]

Works

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Bye Bye Birdie</i> 1960 musical

Bye Bye Birdie is a stage musical with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, based upon a book by Michael Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Schwartz</span> American musical theatre lyricist and composer (born 1948)

Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre composer and lyricist. In a career spanning over five decades, Schwartz has written hit musicals such as Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972), and Wicked (2003). He has contributed lyrics to a number of successful films, including Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt, Enchanted (2007), and Disenchanted (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Strouse</span> American composer and lyricist (born 1928)

Charles Strouse is an American composer and lyricist best known for writing the music to such Broadway musicals as Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, and Annie.

Michael Stewart was an American playwright and dramatist, librettist, lyricist, screenwriter and novelist.

<i>Applause</i> (musical) Musical about All About Eve

Applause is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. The musical is based on the 1950 film All About Eve and the short story on which the movie is based, Mary Orr's "The Wisdom of Eve". The story centers on aging star Margo Channing, who innocently takes a fledgling actress under her wing, unaware that the ruthless Eve is plotting to steal her career and her man.

Martin Charnin was an American lyricist, writer, and theatre director. Charnin's best-known work is as conceiver, director, and lyricist of the musical Annie.

<i>All American</i> (musical) Musical

All American is a musical with a book by Mel Brooks, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. Based on the Robert Lewis Taylor 1950 novel Professor Fodorski, it is set on the campus of the fictional Southern Baptist Institute of Technology: the worlds of science and sports collide when the principles of engineering are applied to football strategies, and football strategies are used to teach the principles of engineering. The techniques of a Hungarian immigrant, Professor Fodorski, prove to be successful, resulting in a winning team, and he finds himself the target of a Madison Avenue ad man who wants to exploit his new-found fame.

<i>Its a Bird... Its a Plane... Its Superman</i> 1966 Broadway musical based on Superman

It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman is a 1966 musical composed by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Lee Adams and book by David Newman and Robert Benton. It is based on the comic book character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics.

<i>Bring Back Birdie</i> 1981 Broadway musical

Bring Back Birdie is a 1981 musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and a book by Michael Stewart. It is a sequel to the 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie, which was written by the same team.

Edward Padula was an American theatre producer, stage manager, and occasional director and writer.

<i>A Broadway Musical</i> Musical

A Broadway Musical is a musical with a book by William F. Brown, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. The Broadway production closed after 14 previews and only one performance on December 21, 1978.

<i>Mr. Broadway: Tonys Greatest Broadway Hits</i> 1962 greatest hits album by Tony Bennett

Mr. Broadway: Tony Bennett's Greatest Broadway Hits is a 1962 album by Tony Bennett.

<i>Bye Bye Birdie</i> (1963 film) American musical romantic comedy film by George Sidney

Bye Bye Birdie is a 1963 American musical romantic comedy film directed by George Sidney from a screenplay by Irving Brecher, based on Michael Stewart's book of the 1960 musical of the same name. It also features songs by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams, and a score by Johnny Green. Produced by Fred Kohlmar, the film stars Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Maureen Stapleton, Bobby Rydell, Jesse Pearson, and Ed Sullivan. Van Dyke and featured player Paul Lynde reprised their roles from the original Broadway production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Pearson (actor)</span> American actor (1930-1979)

Jesse Pearson was an American actor, singer, director, and writer.

<i>An American Tragedy</i> (musical) Musical

An American Tragedy is a 1995 musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams and Mark St. Germain, and a libretto by David Shaber and Mark St. Germain. It was based on Theodore Dreiser's 1925 novel An American Tragedy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Applause (Bonnie Franklin song)</span> 1970 single by Bonnie Franklin

"Applause" is the title song from the 1970 Broadway musical Applause, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, originally performed by Bonnie Franklin, who originated the role of Bonnie in the musical, and recorded as a single with orchestra and chorus conducted by Donald Pippin. The single was released with a B-side featuring the star of the production, Lauren Bacall, making her musical theatre debut, performing "Something Greater" together with Len Cariou. The single's popularity led to Franklin's being invited to perform it on the 24th Tony Awards broadcast on television, where the show gained Best Musical, Bacall Best Leading Actress in a Musical, but Bonnie Franklin missed out on the best supporting actress to Melba Moore.

<i>Bye Bye Birdie-Irma La Douce</i> 1961 studio album by Chico Hamilton Quintet

Bye Bye Birdie-Irma La Douce is an album by drummer and bandleader Chico Hamilton featuring jazz adaptations of tunes from the Broadway musicals Bye Bye Birdie and Irma La Douce recorded in 1960 and released on the Columbia label.

"You've Got Possibilities" is an American show tune. It was created by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams for the 1966 Broadway show It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman and sung by Linda Lavin in the show. Lavin plays a secretary at the Daily Planet with a crush on Clark Kent and the song describes her hope to change Kent's mild-mannered, square persona.

"Put On a Happy Face" is a popular song with lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse. It was introduced by Dick Van Dyke in the musical Bye Bye Birdie.

Bye Bye Birdie is a 1995 musical comedy television film directed by Gene Saks with a screenplay by Michael Stewart based on his book of the 1960 stage musical of the same name. It features music and lyrics by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams respectively. It stars Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams and features Chynna Phillips, Tyne Daly, Marc Kudisch, George Wendt, and Sally Mayes. It was produced by RHI Entertainment and released by ABC on December 3, 1995. It is the second film adaptation of the musical, the first being in 1963.

References

  1. ↑ "Lyricist Lee Adams to Write Show Biz Column". Ohio, Mansfield. News-Journal. February 23, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved November 2, 2015– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. ↑ "Lee Adams" pbs.com, retrieved January 31, 2019
  3. 1 2 "Lee Adams Broadway" Playbill, retrieved January 31, 2019
  4. ↑ "Lee Adams" songhall.org, retrieved January 31, 2019
  5. ↑ Kramer, Peter D. (October 16, 2015). "Briarcliff's 'Birdie' connection, Lee Adams". The Journal News . Gannett Company . Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  6. ↑ Friedwald, Will (October 23, 2024). "A Celebration of Songwriter Charles Strouse Sparks Sentimental Journeys Aplenty". The New York Sun . Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  7. ↑ Bloom, Ken (2007). Routledge Guide to Broadway. New York City: Routledge. p. 247. ISBN   978-0-415-97380-9 . Retrieved 30 November 2015.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.