CO-LYRICISTS

Herbert Kretzmer was born in South Africa where he began a career in journalism, writing the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel. He lived in London from 1954, pursuing twin careers as newspaperman and songwriter. He joined the Daily Express in 1960 and later became its senior drama critic, a post he held for 18 years. He later won two national press awards as the television critic for the Daily Mail. As a lyricist, he wrote weekly songs for That Was the Week That Was. He won an Ivor Novello Award for the Peter Sellers/Sophia Loren comedy song Goodness Gracious Me.

Other award-winning lyrics include two songs written with, and for, Charles Aznavour: Yesterday When I Was Young and the chart-topping She. He wrote the book and lyrics for the West End musical Our Man Crichton, starring Kenneth More and Millicent Martin, and the lyrics for The Four Musketeers, starring Harry Secombe as D’Artagnan.

He also collaborated with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (ABBA), Anthony Newley and Michael Legrand. Kreztmer was the recipient of two honorary doctorates and was appointed OBE in 2010.  He sadly passed away on 14th October 2020 aged 95.

Born in 1942, he studied art at the Beaux Arts in Toulon before turning to poetry. On moving to Paris in the late 1960’s he met Alain Boublil, who introduced him to songwriting. He co-wrote from Alain Boublil’s initial concept and framework the original French lyrics for Les Misérables which first played in Paris in 1980.  He continued to write several songs with Alain Boublil for various French artists.

BROADWAY: Conceived and directed two Tony Award winning musicals: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978: Tony, N.Y. Drama Critics, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards — also Tony Award for Best Director); Fosse (1999: Tony, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards); as well as Ring of Fire, (2006). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist: Baby (1983, seven Tony nominations); lyricist: Big (1996, Tony nomination: Best Score; also Dominium Theatre London 2019). With Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, co-lyricist: Miss Saigon (Evening Standard Award, London 1990; Tony nomination: Best Score, 1991); co-lyricist: The Pirate Queen (2007). Director: The Story of My Life (2009). Director/co-lyricist: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song & Dance (1986 Tony Award for star, Bernadette Peters.) OFF-BROADWAY: with David Shire: director/lyricist Starting Here, Starting Now (1977, Grammy nomination) and Closer Than Ever, (1989, two Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score; also Off-Broadway Alliance Award, Best Musical Revival 2013; and London Jermyn Street Theatre 2014,). Director: Just Jim Dale, (Roundabout Theatre 2014, Vaudeville Theatre, London 2015). REGIONAL: Lyricist/conceiver, Take Flight (Menier Chocolate Factory, London 2010; McCarter Theatre 2012); book and lyrics, Waterfall  (2015, Pasadena Playhouse and Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre); Lyricist, new musical Sousatzka (2017, Toronto).  FILM: Screenplay, Miss Potter, (2007: Christopher Award, best screenplay.). Contributes cryptic crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. Son of well-known orchestra leader; Five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.

Michael Mahler (ASCAP) is the award-winning Chicago-based composer/lyricist of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, October Sky, Hero, The Man who Murdered Sherlock Holmes, Painted Alice, Rockne, Wonderland; Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, and others. His songs have been featured in concerts and showcases across the globe, including an evening at the Kennedy Center. Michael served as the premiere English lyricist for Boublil and Schönberg’s La Révolution Française and contributed lyrics to Russell Watson’s album Only One Man. Visit www.michaelmahler.com

Wrote the book and lyrics for The Witches of Eastwick, The Fix, Zombie Prom, Circles and Dick Whittington.  He provided lyrics for A Country Christmas Carol, The Reluctant Dragon and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  Plays include One Miracle in a Lifetime, The World Today and The Greater Goode.