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Thomas Meehan (writer)

February 28, 2024

Thomas Edward Meehan (August 14, 1929[1][2] – August 21, 2017) was an American playwright. He wrote the books for the musicals Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Young Frankenstein and Cry-Baby. He co-wrote the books for Elf: The Musical and Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin.[3]

Thomas Meehan
BornThomas Edward Meehan
(1929-08-14)August 14, 1929
Ossining, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 21, 2017(2017-08-21) (aged 88)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationPlaywright
Alma materHamilton College
Notable worksAnnie
The Producers
Hairspray
Notable awardsTony Award for Best Book of a Musical
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical
Spouse
  • Karen Meehan (divorced)
  • Carolyn Wagstaff Capstick
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1988)​
Children4

He received the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times—in 1977 for Annie, in 2001 for The Producers (shared with Mel Brooks), and in 2003 for Hairspray (shared with Mark O'Donnell).[4]

Early life edit

Meehan was born in Ossining, New York, but grew up in Suffern, New York.[5] His father, Thomas, was a businessman, and his mother, Helen Cecilia O’Neill, was an emergency department nurse.[6] He graduated from Hamilton College.[5]

Career edit

Meehan moved to Manhattan at age 24, and worked at The New Yorker's "Talk of the Town".[7]

In 1972, Meehan was approached by Martin Charnin to work on a musical based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie.[4] At first, Meehan was skeptical to accept the offer, but eventually accepted the offer after reading the strip.[6] Meehan wrote Annie with Charles Strouse, who wrote the music, and Martin Charnin who directed and wrote the lyrics.[8] The production took five years to get to Broadway, but after opening in 1977 ran for 2,377 performances.[6]

Additional credits include Ain't Broadway Grand; Oh, Kay!; Bombay Dreams, a musical adaptation of I Remember Mama; and Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge, which was subsequently reworked and re-staged Off-Broadway as Annie Warbucks.[9] He also wrote the libretto to the opera 1984.[10][4]

In addition, Meehan was a long-time contributor of humor to The New Yorker, including the famous short story "Yma Dream"; an Emmy Award-winning writer of television comedy; and a collaborator on a number of screenplays, including Mel Brooks' Spaceballs; a remake of To Be or Not to Be; and the family drama One Magic Christmas.[11] Meehan went on to work with Brooks on other projects on Broadway, including The Producers, based on the 1967 film. The show became a Broadway hit that dominated the 2001 Tony Awards and ran for more than 2,500 performances.[6]

Meehan followed that with Hairspray, an adaptation based on John Waters’s 1988 film of the same name. It opened in 2002 and ran for 2,642 performances.[6] He co-wrote the book, with Bob Martin, for Elf the Musical.[10][4][12] He co-wrote the book for the production of the musical Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin which ran at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2010[13] and premiered on Broadway in 2012. In 2011 he revised the book originally written by Peter Stone for the Off-Broadway musical Death Takes a Holiday with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.[14]

In 2012, Meehan wrote the book from the original screenplay by Sylvester Stallone[15] for the musical Rocky.[16] The show premiered in Hamburg in 2012,[17] before transferring to Broadway in 2014.[4][18]

Meehan held the distinction of being the only writer to have written three Broadway shows that ran for more than 2,000 performances.[19] Reflecting on his work in an interview with The New York Observer in 1999, Meehan said "I wrote stories that were serious, very somber, trying to be in the style of William Faulkner. My career has always been that every time I try something really serious, it's no good, but if I try to be funny, then it works".[20]

Death edit

Meehan died from cancer at his home in Manhattan on August 21, 2017, one week after his 88th birthday.[21][6] Five months prior to his death, Meehan had undergone surgery, which later caused his health to deteriorate.[22]

Meehan was survived by two children from his first marriage with Karen Meehan, which ended in divorce, and three other children with Carolyn Wagstaff Capstick, whom he married in 1988 and with whom he remained until his death.[6]

Mel Brooks memorialized Meehan, tweeting "I'll miss his sweetness & talent. We have all lost a giant of the theatre."[23]

In 2023 his archives were donated to The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' Billy Rose Theatre Division.[24]

Works edit

Selected filmography edit

Theater edit

References edit

  1. ^ Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file (LAF).
  2. ^ Some other sources state 1932 and 1934 as a year of birth. The U.S. copyright office entry under his name lists 1929.
  3. ^ "'Annie,' 'The Producers' writer Thomas Meehan dies at 88". WCVB News. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Thomas Meehan (Writer)". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Thomas Meehan bio" June 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine cityfile.com, accessed March 12, 2011. according to this biography, Meehan was born in 1929)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Genzlinger, Neil (August 22, 2017). "Thomas Meehan, Who Wrote the Books for Broadway Hits, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  7. ^ Larocca, Amy (November 15, 1999). "Thomas Meehan, Writer … Horst of Fifth Avenue". The New York Observer. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Hetrick, Adam; McPhee, Ryan (August 22, 2017). "Thomas Meehan, Tony-Winning Writer of Annie, Dies at 88". Playbill.
  9. ^ Rothstein, Mervyn (January 16, 1990). "Troubled 'Annie 2' Closing Out of Town; Revisions Planned". The New York Times. p. C15.
  10. ^ a b "Thomas Meehan". Who's Who, playbill.com, Retrieved January 30, 2011. January 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ One Magic Christmas at the TCM Movie Database
  12. ^ Hetrick, Adam (August 11, 2010). "Beth Leavel, Mark Jacoby and George Wendt to Star in Elf – The Musical on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  13. ^ Jones, Kenneth (September 19, 2010). "Limelight Musical, Starring Robert McClure and Ashley Brown, Opens at La Jolla Sept. 19". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  14. ^ Suskin, Steven (October 20, 2011). "ON THE RECORD: Maury Yeston's Death Takes a Holiday and the London Album of Styne, Comden and Green's Do Re Mi". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  15. ^ Gardner, Elysa (April 28, 2013). "'Rocky' musical bound for Broadway in 2014". usatoday.com. USA Today. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  16. ^ Healy, Patrick (December 5, 2012). "Yo, Adrian! I'm Singin'!". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  17. ^ "Sylvester Stallone talks 'Rocky' musical". torontosun.com. Toronto Sun. October 17, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  18. ^ Cox, Gordon (April 28, 2013). "'Rocky' Musical Set for a Bout With Broadway". variety.com. Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  19. ^ Nakamura, Reid (August 22, 2017). "Thomas Meehan, Writer of 'Annie,' 'Hairspray' and 'The Producers,' Dies at 88". The Wrap. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  20. ^ "Thomas Meehan, Tony-Winning Story Writer of 'Annie,' 'Hairspray' Dies". NBC News. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  21. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (August 22, 2017). "Thomas Meehan Has Died; 'Spaceballs', 'Annie', 'The Producers' Author Was 88". Deadline. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  22. ^ "'Annie' writer Thomas Meehan dies at age 88". Fox News. August 22, 2017.
  23. ^ "Mel Brooks on Twitter". Twitter. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  24. ^ Hall, Margaret. "Thomas Meehan's Archive Donated to New York Public Library for the Performing Arts". Playbill.

External links edit

February 28, 2024
thomas, meehan, writer, thomas, edward, meehan, august, 1929, august, 2017, american, playwright, wrote, books, musicals, annie, producers, hairspray, young, frankenstein, baby, wrote, books, musical, limelight, story, charlie, chaplin, thomas, meehanbornthoma. Thomas Edward Meehan August 14 1929 1 2 August 21 2017 was an American playwright He wrote the books for the musicals Annie The Producers Hairspray Young Frankenstein and Cry Baby He co wrote the books for Elf The Musical and Limelight The Story of Charlie Chaplin 3 Thomas MeehanBornThomas Edward Meehan 1929 08 14 August 14 1929Ossining New York U S DiedAugust 21 2017 2017 08 21 aged 88 New York City U S OccupationPlaywrightAlma materHamilton CollegeNotable worksAnnie The ProducersHairsprayNotable awardsTony Award for Best Book of a MusicalDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a MusicalSpouseKaren Meehan divorced Carolyn Wagstaff Capstick m 1988 wbr Children4He received the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times in 1977 for Annie in 2001 for The Producers shared with Mel Brooks and in 2003 for Hairspray shared with Mark O Donnell 4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 Works 4 1 Selected filmography 4 2 Theater 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editMeehan was born in Ossining New York but grew up in Suffern New York 5 His father Thomas was a businessman and his mother Helen Cecilia O Neill was an emergency department nurse 6 He graduated from Hamilton College 5 Career editMeehan moved to Manhattan at age 24 and worked at The New Yorker s Talk of the Town 7 In 1972 Meehan was approached by Martin Charnin to work on a musical based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie 4 At first Meehan was skeptical to accept the offer but eventually accepted the offer after reading the strip 6 Meehan wrote Annie with Charles Strouse who wrote the music and Martin Charnin who directed and wrote the lyrics 8 The production took five years to get to Broadway but after opening in 1977 ran for 2 377 performances 6 Additional credits include Ain t Broadway Grand Oh Kay Bombay Dreams a musical adaptation of I Remember Mama and Annie 2 Miss Hannigan s Revenge which was subsequently reworked and re staged Off Broadway as Annie Warbucks 9 He also wrote the libretto to the opera 1984 10 4 In addition Meehan was a long time contributor of humor to The New Yorker including the famous short story Yma Dream an Emmy Award winning writer of television comedy and a collaborator on a number of screenplays including Mel Brooks Spaceballs a remake of To Be or Not to Be and the family drama One Magic Christmas 11 Meehan went on to work with Brooks on other projects on Broadway including The Producers based on the 1967 film The show became a Broadway hit that dominated the 2001 Tony Awards and ran for more than 2 500 performances 6 Meehan followed that with Hairspray an adaptation based on John Waters s 1988 film of the same name It opened in 2002 and ran for 2 642 performances 6 He co wrote the book with Bob Martin for Elf the Musical 10 4 12 He co wrote the book for the production of the musical Limelight The Story of Charlie Chaplin which ran at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2010 13 and premiered on Broadway in 2012 In 2011 he revised the book originally written by Peter Stone for the Off Broadway musical Death Takes a Holiday with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston 14 In 2012 Meehan wrote the book from the original screenplay by Sylvester Stallone 15 for the musical Rocky 16 The show premiered in Hamburg in 2012 17 before transferring to Broadway in 2014 4 18 Meehan held the distinction of being the only writer to have written three Broadway shows that ran for more than 2 000 performances 19 Reflecting on his work in an interview with The New York Observer in 1999 Meehan said I wrote stories that were serious very somber trying to be in the style of William Faulkner My career has always been that every time I try something really serious it s no good but if I try to be funny then it works 20 Death editMeehan died from cancer at his home in Manhattan on August 21 2017 one week after his 88th birthday 21 6 Five months prior to his death Meehan had undergone surgery which later caused his health to deteriorate 22 Meehan was survived by two children from his first marriage with Karen Meehan which ended in divorce and three other children with Carolyn Wagstaff Capstick whom he married in 1988 and with whom he remained until his death 6 Mel Brooks memorialized Meehan tweeting I ll miss his sweetness amp talent We have all lost a giant of the theatre 23 In 2023 his archives were donated to The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Billy Rose Theatre Division 24 Works editSelected filmography edit That Was the Week That Was TV 1964 When Things Were Rotten TV 1975 To Be or Not to Be with Ronny Graham 1983 One Magic Christmas with Phillip Borsos Spaceballs with Mel Brooks and Ronny Graham 1987 The Producers with Mel Brooks 2005 Theater edit Annie 1976 I Remember Mama 1979 Annie Warbucks 1992 The Producers with Mel Brooks 2001 Hairspray with Mark O Donnell 2002 Bombay Dreams with Meera Syal 2002 Limelight The Story of Charlie Chaplin with Christopher Curtis 2006 Young Frankenstein with Mel Brooks 2007 Cry Baby with Mark O Donnell 2007 Elf The Musical with Bob Martin 2010 Death Takes a Holiday with Peter Stone 2011 Rocky the Musical with Sylvester Stallone 2012 Dave with Nell Benjamin 2018 References edit Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file LAF Some other sources state 1932 and 1934 as a year of birth The U S copyright office entry under his name lists 1929 Annie The Producers writer Thomas Meehan dies at 88 WCVB News August 22 2017 Retrieved August 22 2017 a b c d e Thomas Meehan Writer Playbill Retrieved June 20 2022 a b Thomas Meehan bio Archived June 21 2011 at the Wayback Machine cityfile com accessed March 12 2011 according to this biography Meehan was born in 1929 a b c d e f g Genzlinger Neil August 22 2017 Thomas Meehan Who Wrote the Books for Broadway Hits Dies at 88 The New York Times Retrieved August 22 2017 Larocca Amy November 15 1999 Thomas Meehan Writer Horst of Fifth Avenue The New York Observer Retrieved June 20 2022 Hetrick Adam McPhee Ryan August 22 2017 Thomas Meehan Tony Winning Writer of Annie Dies at 88 Playbill Rothstein Mervyn January 16 1990 Troubled Annie 2 Closing Out of Town Revisions Planned The New York Times p C15 a b Thomas Meehan Who s Who playbill com Retrieved January 30 2011 Archived January 8 2010 at the Wayback Machine One Magic Christmas at the TCM Movie Database Hetrick Adam August 11 2010 Beth Leavel Mark Jacoby and George Wendt to Star in Elf The Musical on Broadway Playbill Retrieved June 20 2022 Jones Kenneth September 19 2010 Limelight Musical Starring Robert McClure and Ashley Brown Opens at La Jolla Sept 19 Playbill Retrieved June 20 2022 Suskin Steven October 20 2011 ON THE RECORD Maury Yeston s Death Takes a Holiday and the London Album of Styne Comden and Green s Do Re Mi Playbill Retrieved June 20 2022 Gardner Elysa April 28 2013 Rocky musical bound for Broadway in 2014 usatoday com USA Today Retrieved December 27 2013 Healy Patrick December 5 2012 Yo Adrian I m Singin The New York Times Retrieved December 27 2013 Sylvester Stallone talks Rocky musical torontosun com Toronto Sun October 17 2013 Retrieved June 20 2022 Cox Gordon April 28 2013 Rocky Musical Set for a Bout With Broadway variety com Variety Retrieved October 24 2013 Nakamura Reid August 22 2017 Thomas Meehan Writer of Annie Hairspray and The Producers Dies at 88 The Wrap Retrieved August 22 2017 Thomas Meehan Tony Winning Story Writer of Annie Hairspray Dies NBC News August 22 2017 Retrieved August 22 2017 Gerard Jeremy August 22 2017 Thomas Meehan Has Died Spaceballs Annie The Producers Author Was 88 Deadline Retrieved August 22 2017 Annie writer Thomas Meehan dies at age 88 Fox News August 22 2017 Mel Brooks on Twitter Twitter August 22 2017 Retrieved August 22 2017 Hall Margaret Thomas Meehan s Archive Donated to New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Playbill External links editThomas Meehan at IMDb Thomas Meehan at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Meehan writer amp oldid 1178829180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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