Joseph Stein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Stein
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| Born | May 30, 1912 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | October 24, 2010 (aged 98) New York City, New York
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| Alma mater | City College of New York (BS) Columbia University (MSW) |
| Occupation | Author, playwright |
| Spouse(s) |
Sadie Singer Stein
(died 1974)Elisa Loti
(m. 1976–2010) |
| Children | 3, including Harry Stein |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical 1965 Fiddler on the Roof Tony Award for Best Author 1965 Fiddler on the Roof |
Joseph Stein (May 30, 1912 – October 24, 2010) was an American playwright. He was famous for writing the stories, also called "books," for popular musicals. His most well-known works include Fiddler on the Roof and Zorba.
Contents
Joseph Stein's Early Life and Career
Joseph Stein was born in New York City in 1912. His parents, Charles and Emma Stein, had moved to the U.S. from Poland. Joseph grew up in the Bronx.
He went to CCNY and earned a science degree in 1935. Later, he got a Master's degree in social work from Columbia University in 1937. He worked as a social worker from 1939 to 1945. During this time, he also started writing comedy as a hobby.
A lucky meeting with actor Zero Mostel helped him start writing for radio shows. He wrote for famous people like Henry Morgan and Jackie Gleason. Later, he moved to television. He joined the writing team for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows. Other writers on that team included Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Neil Simon.
Joseph Stein's Theatre Work
Joseph Stein first worked on Broadway in 1948. He wrote short comedy scenes for a show called Lend an Ear.
Creating Plain and Fancy
His first full musical was Plain and Fancy. A producer asked him to write a musical about Pennsylvania. Stein and his writing partner, Will Glickman, chose to write about the Amish community in Lancaster County. They used a tourist book to learn about the local slang.
Plain and Fancy opened on Broadway in 1955. It ran for 461 shows. It was known as a "pleasant" and "family-friendly" musical. This show has been performed every year since 1986 at The Round Barn Theatre in Nappanee, Indiana. By 2010, it had been performed over 3,000 times there.
The Success of Fiddler on the Roof
Joseph Stein's biggest success was writing the story for Fiddler on the Roof. This musical opened in 1964. He won three major awards for it, including two Tony Awards. He also wrote the movie script for the film version of Fiddler on the Roof.
Other Broadway Musicals
Stein wrote many other musicals for Broadway. These include Alive and Kicking, Mr. Wonderful, and Take Me Along. He also wrote the plays Mrs. Gibbons' Boys and Before the Dawn.
He worked with Stephen Schwartz on The Baker's Wife. This musical was nominated for an Olivier Award in London. Stein also wrote All About Us with music by Kander and Ebb. This show was based on a play by Thornton Wilder.
Musicals at the York Theatre
The York Theatre in New York often featured Joseph Stein's musicals. They presented concert versions of Take Me Along, Carmelina, and Plain and Fancy in 2006. In 2007, they featured Zorba, Enter Laughing: The Musical, The Body Beautiful, and The Baker's Wife. These shows were performed simply, without fancy sets or costumes.
In 2008, the York Theatre put on a full production of Enter Laughing: The Musical. It was very popular and was nominated for an award.
Juno at City Center Encores!
In 2008, the City Center Encores! series presented Juno. This musical, with a story by Joseph Stein, is based on a play called Juno and the Paycock. It was first performed on Broadway in 1959. The Encores! production was the first time since 1959 that the original music was used.
Joseph Stein's Personal Life
Joseph Stein lived in Manhattan with his wife, Elisa Loti. Elisa is an actress and also works as a psychotherapist. Joseph Stein was part of the Dramatists Guild Council, a group for playwrights, from 1975 until he passed away. He died in 2010 at the age of 98, after complications from a fall.
He had three sons. His son Harry Stein is a writer. Joseph also had two other sons, Daniel and Josh, from his first marriage to Sadie Singer Stein. He also had a stepdaughter, Jenny Lyn Bader, and a stepson, John M. Bader, from his marriage to Elisa Loti.
Honors and Awards
Joseph Stein received many honors for his work.
- In January 2008, he was added to the Theater Hall of Fame.
- The Dramatists Guild of America gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
- The York Theatre honored him with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre in 2007.
Other groups also recognized his contributions. These include Writers and Artists for Peace in the Middle East, the Walnut Street Theatre, and the Alumni Association of City College. Encompass New Opera Theatre gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Awards and Nominations
- Awards
- 1965 Tony Award for Best Musical – Fiddler on the Roof
- 1965 Tony Award for Best Author of a Musical – Fiddler on the Roof
- 1965 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical – Fiddler on the Roof
- Nominations
- 1960 Tony Award for Best Musical – Take Me Along
- 1969 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical – Zorba
- 1969 Tony Award for Best Musical – Zorba
- 1971 Writers Guild of America Screen Writers' Annual Award for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium – Fiddler on the Roof
- 1987 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical – Rags
