Sheldon Harnick, the renowned lyricist who partnered with composer Jerry Bock to create some of Broadway’s most unforgettable musicals, such as “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Fiorello!,” passed away at his residence in Manhattan at the age of 99. Sean Katz, a spokesperson, confirmed his death.
Mr. Harnick’s lyrics were remarkable in their versatility, ranging from humorous to satirical, romantic to poignant. He gave voice to a wide array of characters, including love-struck youngsters, corrupt politicians, quarreling Adam and Eve, and the struggling Jews in “Fiddler on the Roof,” set in early 20th-century Russia.
In one memorable scene from “Fiddler,” three unmarried sisters express their doubts about the village matchmaker, with two sisters hopeful and the third cynical:
Matchmaker, matchmaker, don’t make your plans
I’m not in a hurry, maybe I’ve learned
Playing with matches, a girl can get burned
So, bring me no rings, groom me no groom
Find me no find, catch me no catch
Unless he’s a matchless match!
Similarly, in “She Loves Me,” the male protagonist’s excitement and anxiety reach their peak as he prepares to meet the woman he’s been exchanging love letters with:
I haven’t slept a wink, my thoughts consumed
By our impending tête-à-tête
Tonight at eight
I’m a bundle of mixed emotions
It’s a peculiar sensation
Watting
Until eight
Mr. Harnick and Mr. Bock formed their collaboration in the late 1950s, despite their contrasting personalities. In a 1990 interview, Mr. Harnick described himself as skeptical and pessimistic, while Mr. Bock was an effervescent and ebullient individual. Although their partnership ceased after a dispute regarding their musical “The Rothschilds,” their partnership had proven to be highly successful.
The late 1950s were a challenging time for newcomers in the musical theater scene. The decade had seen the success of shows like “Guys and Dolls,” “The King and I,” “Wonderful Town,” “My Fair Lady,” and “Candide.” Reflecting on the era in a 2004 interview, Mr. Harnick stated that lyricists had aimed for sophistication and literary quality. However, in the present era, the focus shifted towards appealing to a broader audience, reminiscent of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s style.
Mr. Bock and Mr. Harnick initially faced difficulties with their musical “The Body Beautiful,” set in the world of boxing, which closed after a short run in 1958. However, they made a strong comeback the following year with “Fiorello!,” a vibrant portrayal of New York City’s colorful politician. “Fiorello!,” directed by George Abbott and featuring Tom Bosley as Fiorello H. La Guardia, the city’s reform-minded mayor from 1934 to 1945, explored an era marked by political corruption.
One of the memorable songs from “Fiorello!” was “Little Tin Box,” in which a corrupt party boss justifies his ability to afford a yacht on a modest salary:
I am positive Your Honor must be joking
Any working man can do what I have done
For a month or two, I gave up smoking
And I saved my spare change one by one
In a little tin box, a little tin box
That a little tin key unlocks
There’s nothing unorthodox
About a little tin box
“Fiorello!” ran for nearly 800 performances and received three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, which it shared with “The Sound of Music.” It was also one of the rare musicals to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
However, the duo’s most significant achievement came with “Fiddler on the Roof” in 1964, running for over 3,200 performances and becoming the longest-running Broadway musical at the time. Directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Joseph Stein based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem, “Fiddler on the Roof” centered around the Jewish community facing expulsion in the czarist Russian empire. The story revolved around Tevye, the village milkman, and his family.
Apart from “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” the iconic songs from the musical included “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and Tevye’s humorous yet wistful lament, “If I Were a Rich Man.” “Fiddler on the Roof” became more than just a successful show, but a cultural phenomenon. It received nine Tony Awards, including Best Score, and was adapted into a highly acclaimed film in 1971. The musical has enjoyed numerous international performances and five Broadway revivals, with the most recent one in 2015. A Yiddish-language production also received critical acclaim when it premiered Off Broadway in 2019 and returned in late 2022.
Among the other noteworthy collaborations by Bock and Harnick was “She Loves Me” in 1963, based on the same Hungarian play that inspired films like “The Shop Around the Corner,” “In the Good Old Summertime,” and “You’ve Got Mail.” Despite lacking showstopping songs, “She Loves Me” gained popularity through revivals, though the Broadway productions in 1993 and 2016 were short-lived.
Their other works included “The Apple Tree” in 1966, featuring three musical playlets, including one about Adam and Eve, directed by Mike Nichols, and “The Rothschilds” in 1970, based on Frederic Morton’s biography of the Jewish family’s rise to financial power from the ghetto.
The Bock-Harnick partnership reached its end due to a dispute over the directorship of “The Rothschilds.” Derek Goldby, the original director, was replaced by Michael Kidd at the behest of Mr. Harnick and others who sought someone with more experience in musical theater. Mr. Bock was furious with this decision.
Mr. Harnick later collaborated with other composers. He worked with Mary Rodgers on a 1973 version of “Pinocchio” performed by the Bil Baird marionettes, and with Richard Rodgers on “Rex,” a musical about King Henry VIII of England that had a brief Broadway run in 1976.
Sheldon Mayer Harnick was born on April 30, 1924, in Chicago to parents Harry and Esther Harnick. He developed an interest in songwriting after hearing the hit musical “Finian’s Rainbow” by Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg. In 1950, he moved to New York City with the encouragement of actress Charlotte Rae, whom he met at Northwestern University.
Mr. Harnick’s first Broadway song was “The Boston Beguine,” which he wrote both the music and lyrics for in the revue “Leonard Sillman’s New Faces of 1952.” He continued writing for various revues before forming his partnership with Mr. Bock. One of his noteworthy compositions from that time, the darkly satirical and deceptively cheerful song “The Merry Minuet,” became popularized by the folk music group The Kingston Trio.
Mr. Harnick married three times. His first marriage to Mary Boatner was annulled. His second marriage to comedian, writer, and director Elaine May ended in divorce. In 1965, he married actress Margery Gray, whom he met during auditions for his musical “Tenderloin.” Gray later pursued a career as a photographer and artist. She survives him, along with their daughter Beth Dorn, son Matthew Harnick, and four grandchildren.
After parting ways with Mr. Bock, Mr. Harnick continued to contribute to the world of musical theater, collaborating with various composers on different projects. His immense talent and contributions have left an indelible mark on Broadway and the world of musicals.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
