Wittman was raised in Nanuet, New York, graduated from Nanuet Senior High School in 1972 and attended Emerson College in Boston for two years before leaving to pursue a career in musical theatre in New York City. While directing a show for a Greenwich Village club he met songwriter and composer Marc Shaiman, and the two became collaborators and professional partners. While Shaiman wrote for television shows, including Saturday Night Live, Wittman directed concerts for such artists as Bette Midler, Christine Ebersole, Raquel Welch, Dame Edna Everage, and Lypsinka, among others.
In 2002, Shaiman and Wittman wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Hairspray, which won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, the Tony Award for Best Original Score, and a Grammy Award. In addition to Hairspray, Wittman conceived, wrote lyrics for, and directed Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and conceived and directed Matters of the Heart, a solo concert by Patti LuPone in 2000.
Shaiman and Wittman worked on Catch Me If You Can, a musical adaptation of the 2002 Steven Spielberg film, together with Terrence McNally. The musical opened on Broadway in April 2011. They again worked together on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical.
In 2011, Hairspray was performed at Nanuet Senior High School, where Wittman attended high school.
In 2013, Wittman and Marc Shaiman co-wrote the score for Bombshell, a musical about Marilyn Monroe within the context of the NBC television show Smash. A soundtrack was released later that same year.
Wittman and Shaiman collaborated in 2018 on Mary Poppins Returns where Wittman wrote the lyrics for nine of the tracks listed. He and Shaiman were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "The Place Where Lost Things Go".
In 2021, Wittman and Shaiman wrote a song entitled "Save the City" for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in-universe Broadway production, titled Rogers: The Musical featured in the first episode of Hawkeye, "Never Meet Your Heroes". It was released as a single on November 24, the day the episode became available on Disney+.
In February 2021, it was announced that Wittman and Shaiman were writing songs for a new musical adaptation of Some Like It Hot, due on Broadway in 2022, with a book by Amber Ruffin and Matthew Lopez.
From: Photos: Mariah Carey Surprises the Cast On Stage at SOME LIKE IT HOT
From: Photo Flash: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt, and More Attend the Premiere of MARY POPPINS RETURNS
From: Photo Flash: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt, and More Attend the Premiere of MARY POPPINS RETURNS
From: BWW Flashback: Remembering Award-Winning Producer Craig Zadan
From: BWW Flashback: Remembering Award-Winning Producer Craig Zadan
From: Photo Flash: Stars of HAIRSPRAY LIVE! Reunite for Panel
From: Photo Coverage: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Celebrates Cast Album Release at Barnes & Noble
From: Photo Coverage: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Celebrates Cast Album Release at Barnes & Noble
From: Photo Coverage: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Celebrates Cast Album Release at Barnes & Noble
From: Photo Coverage: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Gypsy Robe Ceremony!
Scott WittmanSome Like It Hot
Scott WittmanSome Like it Hot
Scott WittmanSome Like It Hot
Scott WittmanSome Like It Hot
Scott Wittman, Catch Me if You Can
Scott Wittman, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Scott Wittman, Hairspray
Scott Wittman, Hairspray
Scott Wittman, Hairspray
Proctors announced that single tickets for the upcoming engagement of SOME LIKE IT HOT in Schenectady will go on sale 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2.
The world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's Exagoge begins tonight at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street in New York City.
Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts has announced that single tickets for Frank D. Gilroy's Pulitzer Prize-winning family drama THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, which will kick off the 2024 Mainstage Season go on sale now!
The American Theatre Guild will present Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, HAIRSPRAY. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will close out the 23–24 BROADWAY AT THE FOX IN RIVERSIDE Series at the Fox Performing Arts Center May 8–9, 2024.
Seeing Patti LuPone’s A LIFE IN NOTES at Carnegie Hall was a transcendent experience. The iconic singer brought her solo show, in which she reflects back on her life through song, to the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on Monday, April 8, 2024 at 8 pm.
Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts will present the return of MUSIC MONDAYS. See who is performing and learn how to purchase tickets.
This week, the touring production of HAIRSPRAY presented by Broadway Across Canada made its stop in Vancouver. Playing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from April 2nd the 7th, the musical made an indelible mark in Vancouver theatre as a truly memorable and energetic show.
Virginia Rep has announced the 2024-2025 Season: an exciting line-up of musicals, plays, and special presentations at all three locations, including the Signature Season at the November Theatre downtown, the Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern, and the Family Season in the Jessie Bogese Theatre at the Virginia Rep Center for Arts and Education. Partner productions in the Theatre Gym and additional community partnerships will be announced at a later time.
La MaMa will present the world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61’s Exagoge. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.
The original cast recording of Stephen Sondheim's final musical, Here We Are, will be released next month. The musical, also by David Ives, will release an album on CD and digital platforms worldwide on Friday, May 17. Preorder the album here!
La MaMa will present the world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's Exagoge, with original music by Avner Finberg, script and libretto by Edward Einhorn, directed by Einhorn.
After two previous appearances with the Celebrity Series of Boston in 2003 and 2011, the long overdue return of Patti LuPone to the stage at Symphony Hall on Tuesday night was an epic performance worth the wait. Enthusiastic entrance applause greeted Joseph Thalken (music direction and arrangements) and Brad Phillips (strings), but rose to Richter scale magnitude when Patti strode out.
Broadway legend Patti LuPone performs her first solo show A Life in Notes with the LA Opera April 20, 2024, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Patti’s long-time musical director Joseph Thalken took some time between their second and third tour stops (respectively, Morristown, New Jersey’s Mayo Performing Arts Center and Houston, Texas’ Hobby Center for the Performing Arts) to answer a few of my queries.
Three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone will bring her new concert A LIFE IN NOTES to Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Australia this winter, directly from Carnegie Hall.
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award winner Jennifer Hudson will join the producing team of the upcoming stage musical adaptation of SMASH, which is headed to Broadway in Spring 2025.
La MaMa ETC. will present the World Premiere of How to Eat an Orange, written by Catherine Filloux, directed by Elena Araoz.
The Dallas engagement of HAIRSPRAY will go on sale Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O’Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play June 18-30 in Dallas at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
LA Opera will present Broadway legend Patti LuPone in her first solo show with the company, performing her personal musical memoir entitled A Life in Notes. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Palo Alto Players has revealed its 94th season titled SCRUMDIDDLYUMPTIONS THEATRE! See full programing and learn how to purchase tickets.
Concord Theatricals has secured exclusive worldwide stage licensing rights to Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Matthew López and Amber Ruffin’s Some Like It Hot. Learn more about the show here!
Scott Wittman has written 7 shows including Hairspray (Lyricist), Livin' Dolls (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), Patti LuPone: Matters of the Heart (Conceiver), Catch Me If You Can (Lyricist), Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (Conceiver), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Composer), Some Like It Hot (Lyricist).
Scott Wittman has been nominated for various awards throughout his career, including Best Original Score at the BroadwayWorld Awards for "Some Like It Hot," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "Some Like it Hot," Outstanding New Score at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Some Like It Hot," Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for "Some Like It Hot," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "Catch Me if You Can," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "Hairspray," Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "Hairspray," and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for "Hairspray."
Scott Wittman has won several awards for his work in Broadway shows. He won the Best Original Score at the BroadwayWorld Awards for "Some Like It Hot," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for both "Some Like It Hot" and "Hairspray," Outstanding New Score at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Some Like It Hot," Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "Hairspray," and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for "Hairspray."
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