Posted: Sun., Nov. 8, 2009, 4:20pm PT

Songwriting team pick up Ebb Award

Heisler, Goldrich nab laurels

Songwriting team Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich have picked up the 2009 Fred Ebb Award, the songwriting laurel that comes with a $50,000 cash prize.

Lyricist-book writer Heisler and composer Goldrich penned "Dear Edwina," the children's tuner which is getting a second Gotham run at the DR2 Theater after a prior stint that proved successful there last year. Duo's work also includes the Theatreworks USA production of "Junie B. Jones," which has played Off Broadway in three separate engagements.

Funded by royalties from the catalog of late lyricist Ebb ("Cabaret," "Chicago," "Kiss of the Spider Woman"), the Fred Ebb Foundation launched the award in 2005 to honor a promising lyricist, composer or songwriting team that has not yet hit the commercial big-time. Past winners include John Bucchino ("A Catered Affair") and Adam Gwon, whose tuner "Ordinary Days" is playing at the Roundabout Underground.

Selection committee for the 2009 kudo included composer-lyricist Sheldon Harnick, thesp Debra Monk and producer Arthur Whitelaw.

Award will be presented by Eric Schaeffer, a.d. of the D.C. area's Signature Theater, in a ceremony set for Nov. 30 at the Roundabout Theater Company's American Airlines Theater.


TALKBACK:

Have an opinion about this article? Be the first to comment



Print Variety
Bookmark
Get Variety:
Variety Mobile Variety Digital Variety Home Delivery
Newsletter Signup:

Featured Jobs

Variety Real Estate