Stephen Cole is back on StoryBeat for the second time. An award-winning writer of musical theatre, non-fiction books, short stories, and novels, Stephen’s work has been recorded, published, and produced worldwide, from New York City to London to the Middle East and Australia.

With Matthew Ward he wrote the musicals After The Fair, Merlin’s Apprentice, Rock Odyssey, and Casper (which originally starred Chita Rivera), The Night of the Hunter and Saturday Night at Grossinger’s (with music by Claibe Richardson), and Dodsworth and Time After Time (with music by Jeff Saver), which has recently been revived at the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati.

In 2005 Stephen and composer David Krane were commissioned to write the first American musical to premiere in the Middle East. The result was Aspire, which was produced in Qatar. Their hilarious cross-cultural experiences resulted in another show titled The Road To Qatar! which has been produced in Dallas, New York and the Edinburgh International Festival (where it was nominated for Best Musical). His most recent musical, Goin’ Hollywood, was produced in 2023 to rave reviews and sold-out audiences in Dallas.

Stephen has written continuity, narration, and special material for fifteen different Drama League Shows including all-star tributes to Kander and Ebb, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Liz Smith, Peter Stone, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald and Neil Patrick Harris.

As an author, Stephen has published That Book About That Girl, I Could Have Sung All Night: the Marni Nixon story (which is currently in development as a feature film), Noel Coward: A Bio Bilbliography, and the Charles Strouse memoir Put On a Happy Face.

A prolific short story writer, Stephen’s first novel Mary & Ethel…and Mikey Who? was published in January 2024. I’ve read Mary & Ethel…and Mikey Who? It’s what’s you call a real hoot, especially for lovers of old broads on old Broadway. It’s the most entertaining time-slipping story I’ve read since Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five.

Stephen is a recipient of a Gilman-Gonzales Falla Commendation for musical theatre as well as the prestigious Edward Kleban Award.

www.stephencolewriter.org

https://www.facebook.com/steve.cole.5076798

https://www.instagram.com/stephencolewrit