Howard Ashman
Playwright, Lyricist
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Biography
Howard Ashman
Howard Ashman (1950–1991) was a groundbreaking American playwright, lyricist, and stage director whose work transformed both Broadway and Hollywood musicals. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Ashman showed a passion for storytelling and theatre from an early age. He studied at Boston University and later at Goddard College before earning a master’s degree at Indiana University, where he honed his craft as a lyricist and librettist. His early years were spent in New York City, where he co-founded the off-Broadway theatre company WPA Theater, which became the launching pad for his most influential works.
Ashman first rose to prominence with God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1979), an adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical novel. However, his true breakthrough came with Little Shop of Horrors (1982), a horror-comedy musical written with composer Alan Menken. The show was a critical and commercial sensation, running for five years off-Broadway and later adapted into a successful 1986 film. Ashman’s witty, emotionally charged lyrics and flair for blending comedy with sincerity marked him as a unique voice in musical theatre.
In the late 1980s, Ashman brought his talents to Walt Disney Animation Studios, where his collaboration with Alan Menken revolutionized the Disney musical. Their first major project, The Little Mermaid (1989), revitalized Disney animation, with songs like “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea” helping the film win two Academy Awards. Ashman’s ability to integrate character-driven lyrics into story structure was essential to the film’s success and ushered in what became known as the Disney Renaissance.
Despite declining health, Ashman continued working with Disney on Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Aladdin (1992). He passed away from complications related to AIDS in March 1991, just months before the release of Beauty and the Beast. The film was dedicated to his memory and went on to become the first animated movie nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Ashman’s final contributions to Aladdin, including the lyrics to songs like “Friend Like Me” and “Prince Ali,” further cemented his legacy.
Today, Howard Ashman is remembered as a lyrical genius who reshaped the landscape of musical storytelling. His ability to combine humor, heart, and theatrical flair continues to inspire new generations of composers, lyricists, and performers. Through works like Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast, Ashman left behind a body of work that is timeless, demonstrating the enduring power of words and music to illuminate character and story. His influence remains deeply woven into the fabric of both Broadway and Hollywood musicals.
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