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James Lapine

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James Lapine
Lapine at the 73rd Annual Peabody Awards
Born
James Elliot Lapine

(1949-01-10) January 10, 1949 (age 77)
Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.
Education
OccupationsStage director, playwright, screenwriter, librettist
Years active1977–present
SpouseSarah Kernochan
Children1
AwardsPulitzer Prize for Drama (1985)

James Elliot Lapine (born January 10, 1949) is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for Into the Woods, Falsettos, and Passion, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Sunday in the Park with George. He has frequently collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and William Finn.

Early life

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Lapine was born on January 10, 1949, in Mansfield, Ohio, the son of Lillian (Feld) and David Sanford Lapine.[1][2] He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1971.[3] Though he did not actively pursue theatre in childhood, Lapine did play Jack in an elementary school production of Jack and the Beanstalk.[4]

Career

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Lapine studied photography and graphic design at the California Institute of the Arts, where he received an MFA in 1973.[5] He was a photographer, graphic designer, and architectural preservationist, and taught design at the Yale School of Drama.[5] At Yale University he wrote an adaptation of and directed Gertrude Stein's Photograph, which was produced off-Broadway at the Open Space in SoHo in 1977.[5][6] He went on to write and direct off-Broadway plays and musicals, directing composer William Finn's March of the Falsettos in 1981; the musical won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Play. Frank Rich, the New York Times theater critic, noted "Mr. Lapine's wildly resourceful staging".[7][8]

In 1982, Lapine was introduced to Stephen Sondheim.[9] The pair developed Sunday in the Park with George: Lapine wrote the book and directed; Sondheim created the music and lyrics. The play was first produced off-Broadway in 1983,[10][11] and moved to Broadway in 1984.[9] Their next musical was Into the Woods, which premiered on Broadway in 1987,[12] for which Lapine won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical. They next collaborated on the musical Passion, for which Lapine wrote the book and directed. The musical ran on Broadway in 1994 and in the West End in 1996, receiving a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and winning the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, among other awards and nominations.[13][14][15] Their last collaboration was the revue Sondheim on Sondheim. Presented on Broadway in 2010, it won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue.[16][17]

In 1992, Lapine returned to working with William Finn, and wrote the book and directed the Broadway musical Falsettos. Lapine wrote the book and Finn composed the music for A New Brain, which premiered off-Broadway in 1998.[18] They later worked together on Finn's musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which premiered off-Broadway in 2005 and later moved to Broadway. The New York Times reviewer wrote of the Spelling Bee Broadway transfer that "Mr. Lapine has sharpened all the musical's elements without betraying its appealing modesty."[19] The latest Finn-Lapine work is Little Miss Sunshine, which premiered in 2011 at the La Jolla Playhouse in California.[20]

Lapine has also directed dramas, including Dirty Blonde, which ran off-Broadway and then on Broadway in 2000. Conceived by Claudia Shear and Lapine, and written by Shear with direction by Lapine, Ben Brantley called Lapine's direction "stylish and compassionate".[21] Lapine was nominated for the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Direction of a Play.[22]

Lapine directed the 2012 Broadway revival of Annie.[23] He wrote a stage adaption of the Moss Hart autobiography Act One, which premiered on Broadway at the Lincoln Center Vivian Beaumont Theater in April 2014.[24]

Lapine wrote the book for and directed the new musical Flying Over Sunset. A staged singing/reading was presented at the Vineyard Arts Project (Martha's Vineyard) in August 2015. The composer is Tom Kitt and lyrics are by Michael Korie.[25] The musical premiered on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on November 11, 2021, in previews with the official opening scheduled for December 13.[26][27] The production was originally scheduled to open on April 16, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[28][29][30]

In 1991, Lapine directed his first film, Impromptu, which has a screenplay by his wife, Sarah Kernochan. The story revolves around the romance of George Sand and Frédéric Chopin, and stars Judy Davis and Hugh Grant.[5][31] He followed with Life With Mikey, with Michael J. Fox for Disney. In 1993, he directed Passion, starring the original Broadway cast, for television. He directed the film version of Anne Tyler's novel Earthly Possessions, starring Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff, for HBO in 1999.[32][33] He wrote the screenplay for Disney's film version of Into the Woods (2014), directed by Rob Marshall. He wrote and directed the film Custody in 2016 with Viola Davis, Hayden Panettiere, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.[34]

Lapine received the 2015 Mr. Abbott Award at a special gala on October 19, 2015. The award is presented by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation "in recognition of a lifetime of exceptional achievement in the theatre."[35][36] Lapine's book Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created Sunday in the Park with George was released on August 3, 2021,[37] and reviewed by Alan Cumming in a cover story in the New York Times Book Review on August 8, 2021.

Personal life

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Lapine is married to American screenwriter and director Sarah Kernochan.[38][39] The couple's daughter is food writer Phoebe Lapine.[39] James Lapine's niece, Sarna Lapine, directed the 2016 concert version and the 2017 Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George.[40]

Lapine is Jewish,[41] and several of his works explore Jewish and Jewish-American identity and culture.

Theater

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As a director, Lapine has worked on:
Writer, musicals

He has written the libretti for the following musicals:

Writer, plays

Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1991 Impromptu Director
1993 Life with Mikey Director
1999 Earthly Possessions Director TV movie
2013 Six by Sondheim Director TV documentary
2014 Into the Woods Screenplay
2016 Custody Director, screenplay
2022 In the Company of Rose Director, Cinematographer Documentary

Published works

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  • Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created Sunday in the Park with George (2021) ISBN 9780374200091

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
1984 Tony Award Best Book of a Musical Sunday in the Park with George Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical Won
Outstanding Director of a Musical Won
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award Best Musical Won
1984 Guggenheim Fellowship Drama & Performance Art[52] Honored
1985 Pulitzer Prize Drama Won
1988 Tony Award Best Book of a Musical Into the Woods Won
Best Direction of a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical Won
Outstanding Director of a Musical Nominated
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award Best Musical Won
1992 Tony Award Best Book of a Musical Falsettos Won
Best Direction of a Musical Nominated
1994 Best Book of a Musical Passion Won
Best Direction of a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical Won
Outstanding Director of a Musical Nominated
2000 Tony Award Best Direction of a Play Dirty Blonde Nominated
2002 Best Direction of a Musical Into the Woods Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Director of a Musical Nominated
2003 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical Amour Nominated
2005 Tony Award Best Direction of a Musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical Won
2014 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special Six by Sondheim Nominated
Tony Award Best Play Act One Nominated
2015 Cinema Eye Honors Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television Six by Sondheim Nominated
2020 Drama League Award Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Honored
2026 Tony Award Lifetime Achievement Tony Award Honored

Notes

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  1. ↑ "James Lapine – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Lapine, James (Elliot) 1949-". Encyclopedia.com. Gale.
  3. ↑ "Archives and Special Collections, Franklin and Marshall College, James Lapine Collection" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  4. ↑ Lisa Kron (December 6, 2016). James Lapine & Lisa Kron. Dramatists Guild Foundation – via YouTube.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Broadway: The American Musical . Stars Over Broadway . James Lapine - PBS". PBS. Archived from the original on October 21, 2004. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  6. ↑ Secrest, p. 326
  7. ↑ Rich, Frank (April 10, 1981). "Stage: 'March of Falsettos,' A Musical Find". The New York Times.
  8. ↑ "March of the Falsettos". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Secrest, pp. 326–341
  10. ↑ Lawson, Carol (June 17, 1983). "BROADWAY; Summer's hottest ticket? How about Sondheim musical?". The New York Times.
  11. ↑ "Sunday in the Park with George". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  12. ↑ Rich, Frank (November 6, 1987). "Stage: 'Into the Woods,' From Sondheim". The New York Times.
  13. ↑ Richards, David (May 10, 1994). "Review/Theater; Sondheim Explores the Heart's Terrain". The New York Times on the Web.
  14. ↑ "Passion – Broadway Musical – Original - IBDB". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Laurence Olivier Awards - 1997". albermarle-london.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  16. ↑ Brantley, Ben (April 22, 2010). "Hymn to Himself: Something Hummable". The New York Times.
  17. ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 23, 2010). "Red, Memphis, Bridge, Fences and La Cage Win Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014.
  18. ↑ "A New Brain". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on July 30, 2003. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  19. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (May 3, 2005). "Six Misfits Test Wits on Bigger Platform". The New York Times.
  20. 1 2 Jones, Kenneth (February 15, 2011). "Road Trip! Finn & Lapine's Little Miss Sunshine Musical Bgins World-Premiere Run in CA". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011.
  21. ↑ Brantley, Ben (January 11, 2000). "THEATER REVIEW; Smitten by a Goddess, but She's No Angel". The New York Times.
  22. ↑ "COMPLETE LIST OF 1999-2000 TONY AWARD WINNERS". Playbill. June 10, 2000. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  23. ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 15, 2012). "Broadway Revival of Annie Finds Its Orphans". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  24. ↑ Hetrick, Adam; Gioia, Michael. "Act One, Stage Adaptation of Moss Hart's Theatrical Memoir, Opens on Broadway April 17". Playbill. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  25. ↑ Nadler, Holly (September 2, 2015). "'Flying Over Sunset' lifts off at the Vineyard Arts Project". The Martha's Vineyard Times.
  26. ↑ Gans, Andrew (May 13, 2021). "Lincoln Center Theater's Flying Over Sunset Will Open This Fall; Intimate Apparel Sets 2022 Dates". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  27. ↑ Clement, Olivia (August 20, 2019). "Carmen Cusack, Harry Hadden-Paton, and Tony Yazbeck to Lead Cast of New Broadway Musical Flying Over Sunset". Playbill. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  28. ↑ Evans, Greg (June 24, 2020). "Broadway's 'The Music Man', 'Flying Over Sunset' Postponed Until 2021 Amid Speculation Of Theater Shutdown Extension – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  29. ↑ Rosky, Nicole (March 24, 2020). "Breaking: Lincoln Center Theater Pushes FLYING OVER SUNSET and INTIMATE APPAREL to Fall 2020". BroadwayWorld.
  30. ↑ Clement, Olivia (August 20, 2019). "Carmen Cusack, Harry Hadden-Paton, and Tony Yazbeck to Lead Cast of New Broadway Musical Flying Over Sunset". Playbill.
  31. ↑ Maslin, Janet (April 12, 1991). "Review/Film; Chopin, George Sand, Liszt and Some Others". The New York Times.
  32. ↑ Tynan, William (March 22, 1999). "Earthly Possessions". Time. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  33. ↑ Earthly Possessions at IMDb
  34. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 30, 2015). "Raul Esparza, Viola Davis, Dan Fogler Cast in James Lapine Film "Custody"". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015.
  35. ↑ "James Lapine Receives Lifetime Achievement Award". American Theatre. September 30, 2015.
  36. ↑ Simoes, Monica (October 20, 2015). "Pics! Bernadette Peters, Andrew Rannells, Stephen Sondheim and More Honor James Lapine". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Putting It Together | James Lapine | Macmillan". Archived from the original on November 30, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Sondheim guide / People". SondheimGuide.com. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  39. 1 2 "Overview for Sarah Kernochan". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Sarna Lapine directs Sunday in the Park with George, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, at NY City Center". Columbia University School of the Arts. October 28, 2016. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  41. ↑ Bakare, Lanre (August 23, 2019). "'Jewface' row: West End musical accused of cultural appropriation". The Guardian. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  42. 1 2 "Twelve Dreams". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  43. 1 2 Eder, Richard (March 24, 1979). "'Table Settings,' a Comedy Of a Modern Jewish Family". The New York Times.
  44. 1 2 "Table Settings". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  45. 1 2 "Table Settings". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  46. ↑ "A Midsummer Nights Dream – James Lapine". Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  47. 1 2 Canby, Vincent (April 5, 1995). "THEATER REVIEW; A Morality Tale About Everybody's Fall Guy". The New York Times.
  48. 1 2 Klein, Alvin (November 9, 2003). "THEATER REVIEW; She's Taken to Her Bed, But No One's Sure Why". The New York Times.
  49. 1 2 "Fran's Bed". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  50. 1 2 "Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing". Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  51. ↑ Weber, Bruce (March 22, 2000). "THEATER REVIEW; As Life Fatefully Unspools at a Yada-Yada Cocktail Party". The New York Times.
  52. ↑ "GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION AWARDS FELLOWSHIPS TO 283". The New York Times. April 8, 1984.

References

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  • Haagensen, Erik J. (1994). "The Passion of James Lapine". Showmusic: The Musical Theatre Magazine. pp. 11–16.
  • Secrest, Meryle (1999). Stephen Sondheim: A Life, Random House. ISBN 0-385-33412-5
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