Sheldon Harnick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheldon Harnick
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Harnick in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sheldon Mayer Harnick |
| Born | April 30, 1924 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 23, 2023 (aged 99) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Musical theater |
| Occupation(s) | Lyricist |
| Years active | 1949–2023 |
Sheldon Mayer Harnick (born April 30, 1924 – died June 23, 2023) was an American writer who created the words for songs in musicals. He was famous for working with composer Jerry Bock. Together, they made popular shows like Fiorello! and Fiddler on the Roof.
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Sheldon Harnick's Early Life
Sheldon Harnick was born in Chicago, Illinois. He loved music from a young age. As a child, he played the violin. He started writing music while he was a student at Carl Schurz High School.
Becoming a Musical Writer
After serving in the U.S. Army, Sheldon Harnick studied music at Northwestern University. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1949. Then, he worked with different orchestras in Chicago.
Later, he moved to New York City. There, he started writing for many musicals and shows. A famous writer named Yip Harburg heard some of Harnick's songs. Harburg told Harnick that he liked his writing. He encouraged Harnick to keep writing songs for Broadway shows.
Working with Jerry Bock
Around 1956, Harnick met Jerry Bock, a talented composer. They formed a very important team in musical theater. Their first musical together was The Body Beautiful in 1958.
Their next show, Fiorello! (1959), was a big success. It played for 795 performances. This musical also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a very important award.
In 1964, they created Fiddler on the Roof. This musical became one of the most loved Broadway shows ever.
Other Projects
Sheldon Harnick also wrote for other types of shows. He wrote the words for an opera called Coyote Tales in 1998. He also wrote the story, music, and words for a musical called Dragons in 2003.
He helped create The Phantom Tollbooth musical. This show was based on a popular book. It first opened at the Kennedy Center in 2007. In 2014, he released an album called Sheldon Harnick: Hidden Treasures. It included songs he had written over many years.
Sheldon Harnick's Family Life
Sheldon Harnick was married three times. His last marriage was to Margery Gray in 1965. They had two children together. They lived in New York City. Sheldon Harnick passed away on June 23, 2023, at the age of 99.
Sheldon Harnick's Stage Productions
Here are some of the stage shows Sheldon Harnick worked on:
- New Faces of 1952 (1952) (music)
- Shangri-La (1956) (music)
- The Body Beautiful (1958) (with Jerry Bock)
- Portofino (1958) (lyrics)
- Fiorello! (1959) (with Jerry Bock) (won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama)
- Songs to Ford-ify Your Future (1959) (with Jerry Bock)
- Tenderloin (1960) (with Jerry Bock)
- Smiling the Boy Fell Dead (1961)
- She Loves Me (1963) (with Jerry Bock)
- Fiddler on the Roof (1964) (with Jerry Bock)
- The Apple Tree (1966) (with Jerry Bock)
- Her First Roman (1968) (with Jerry Bock)
- The Rothschilds (1970) (with Jerry Bock)
- Pinocchio (1973)
- Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines (1975)
- Alice in Wonderland (1975)
- Rex (1976)
- The Madwoman of Central Park West (1979)
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1979) (English lyrics)
- A Christmas Carol (1982)
- A Wonderful Life (1986)
- Cyrano: The Musical (1993) (English lyrics)
- The Phantom Tollbooth (1995) (lyrics and co-wrote the story)
- Coyote Tales (1998)
- Dragons (2003) (music by himself)
- Fiddler on the Roof (2004) (lyrics for a new song)
- Lady Bird: First Lady of the Land (2016)
Awards and Honors
Sheldon Harnick received many awards for his work:
- In 1960, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Fiorello!.
- He won three Tony Awards. In 1960, Fiorello! won Best Musical. In 1965, Fiddler on the Roof won Best Musical and Best Composer and Lyricist.
- In 2009, he and Jerry Bock received the Oscar Hammerstein Award. This award celebrates great achievements in theater.
- He received the 2016 Drama League Award for his work in musical theater. He also got a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
- In 1972, he was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He received its highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 1990.
