Marc Shaiman was only a few years old when his parents got him his first record, “Mary Poppins,” which became a part of a lot of people’s childhoods. Years later, Shaiman would have the good fortune to write the music and co-write the lyrics to the Mary Poppins sequel.
Photo by Robert Trachtenberg
Marc Shaiman was only a few years old when his parents got him his first record, “Mary Poppins,” which became a part of a lot of people’s childhoods. Years later, Shaiman would have the good fortune to write the music and co-write the lyrics to the Mary Poppins sequel.
“It was the most full-circle moment you could imagine with this beloved movie that I idolized,” Shaiman said recently. “The sequel became a love letter to the original film. The movie was about falling in love again with the things you love as a child.”
Shaiman is coming around full-circle in many other ways today, writing an autobiography and appearing tonight, Monday, April 13, in a fundraiser/staged reading of “Broadcast News,” a movie in which he played a pianist decades ago.
The reading, at the Center at West Park in residence at St. Paul and St. Andrew Church, 263 W. 86th St., (doors open 6:30 p.m., reading at 7:30 p.m.) seeks to attract attention and raise money for the Center at West Park. It has a star-studded cast that includes Matt Dillon, Marisa Tomei and many actors who support the Center and its effort to return to the West Park Presbyterian Church.
Shaiman previously appeared as a pianist in the Center’s reading of “All About Eve,” as he goes from behind the scenes to onstage, and tours around his bestselling autobiography, titled “Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner.” It tells behind-the-scenes stories about writing Broadway musicals and for movies, TV and singers.
“I’m tired of people saying, ‘You should write a book,’” Shaiman said. “I kept realizing people don’t know what I’ve done. I’m proud of the work I’ve done.”
Marc Shaiman previously appeared as a pianist in the Center’s reading of “All About Eve,” as he goes from behind the scenes to onstage, and tours around his bestselling autobiography, titled “Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner.”
One of Broadway’s most successful composers and lyricists (he works with co-lyricist Scott Wittman), Shaiman has been a force behind a number of recent shows.
Shaiman wrote the music and co-wrote lyrics for “Hairspray,” “Catch Me if You Can,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Some Like it Hot,” and “Smash.” He also handled music for movies such as “When Harry Met Sally,” “Beaches,” “The American President,” and “The First Wives Club.” Lately, however, he’s spent most of his time on tour with his book.
“The last few months have been really lovely,” Shaiman said. “This is my 50th year in show business. I started when I was 16.”
Marc Shaiman’s growth into a musical genius
His autobiography draws its title from his mother’s reply when his sister said she wanted to be the first to wish her a happy and healthy new year.
“My mother, like the ultimate Jewish mother, said, ‘Never mind the happy,’” he said. “It’s a lifelong thing to try to hang onto the joy that life can bring.”
After listening to “Mary Poppins” as a child, Shaiman began a lifelong love affair with Broadway, then playing piano for school plays.
“I remember listening to it over and over again,” he said of “Mary Poppins,” “memorizing the songs, recognizing in the way a young child can that the orchestra was fascinating.”
While living in New Jersey, he began staying with friends on the Upper West Side who lived across the hall from Ula Hedwig, one of Bette Midler’s backup singers in The Harlettes, leading to a lasting gig with Midler at age 17.
“It’s a perfect example of being in the right place at the right time, which I’ve been lucky enough to have happen over and over again,” he said.
He worked freelance and full-time for “Saturday Night Live,” writing comedy and music for performers such as Billy Crystal and Martin Short.
“I had a great time meeting some of the funniest people on the face of the earth, who I am still great friends with,” he said.
Shaiman made his biggest mark on Broadway, collaborating with Scott Wittman to create a string of shows.
“We sit, think of words and phrases to match what the song needs to be about,” Shaiman said. “Eventually, I have enough of them that we created together. I’ll move over to the piano and see which phrases jump out to set a melody to.”
While some artists work alone, Shaiman often collaborates with many artists. In other projects, collaborators have different views, sometimes leading to major rewrites and changes.
“It’s just like any other aspect of life,” he said. “It’s hard sometimes to hang onto the part of you trying to be creative, when you’re dealing with the ups and downs of working the business side.”
Before returning to rehearsal for a new project at an age when some might retire, Shaiman looked back and forward.
“I’ve had 50 years of steady employment,” he said, “and I got to work on an amazing list of iconic projects.”