Elizabeth Swados, Theatre Pioneer

American writer, composer, musician, choreographer and playwright Elizabeth Swados (1951-2016) was a prolific multi-hyphenate whose work in the theatre was defined by her unbridled, limitless creativity and her elevation of the marginalized.

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Liz first studied music and creative writing in Vermont before beginning her professional career at Stewart’s La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club with such theatrical legends as Peter Brooks and Ellen Stewart. In 1978, she became the youngest playwright to have a production on Broadway with her musical Runaways (1978), which she wrote, directed and choreographed. This production sparked the first nominations and awards of a decorated career in which Swados would earn – among others – five Tony nominations, three Obie Awards, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Ford Grant, a Lila Acheson Wallace Grant and a PEN Citation.

In addition to being a gifted writer and theatre maker, Liz was a fixture of the New York theatre scene, serving as a mentor for many creatives throughout her career. Her passion, intensity and wide-reaching interest in investigating a multitude of stories left a body of work that continues to resonate with a broad and appreciative audience. Through plays, musicals and even a bilingual solo album, Liz steadfastly fought to unite a fracturing world, entreating her audiences to embrace the outsiders who typically remain unseen. She was a true pioneer, an advocate for contemporary theatre and a voice for those who had none.

In celebration of what would have been Liz’s 75th birthday, below is a chronological sampling of nine pieces from her impressive body of work.

Nightclub Cantata by Elizabeth Swados (US) 1977
(Musical Revue / Cabaret / 4w, 4m)
Utilizing a fast-moving revue format, this immensely inventive theatre piece provides a truly distinctive and delightful experience for performers and audiences alike. The material, featuring 20 original songs by Elizabeth Swados, is drawn from the works of such writers as Sylvia Plath, Muriel Rukeyser, Carson McCullers and Liz herself, running the gamut from hilarious farce to the sadness of lovers’ parting. The result, in the words of Clive Barnes, is “an all-singing, all-dancing, all-acting show that is clearly a life view about people, animals and the things we do to one another.” This off-Broadway success is a unique and creative blending of music, drama, comedy and popular entertainment.

Runaways by Elizabeth Swados (US/UK) 1978
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 9w, 11m )
Runaways is a collection of songs, dances and spoken word pieces performed by 20 children who have run away from their homes. Initially created from interviews with homeless children and those in orphanages, Liz Swados’ groundbreaking piece weaves songs about personal struggle and the world at large through the eyes of youth in New York City in the ’70s with monologues, scenes, poems and dances. The show blends different musical styles, from pop to hip-hop and jazz to reggae, while asking why children can’t remain children.

Runaways premiered off-Broadway at The Public Theater in New York City on February 21, 1978, under Elizabeth’s own direction. On May 13, 1978, the show opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre. Runaways earned five Tony nominations for Best Musical, Book, Score, Direction and Choreography (the latter four of which were nominations earned by Liz herself). The licensed version of Runaways reflects the version performed by City Center Encores! in 2016.

Alice in Concert by Elizabeth Swados (US/UK) 1980
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 6w, 6m)
This “music hall” version of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass is an imaginative rendering of the Lewis Carroll classics, performed concert-style on a bare stage, featuring actors in modern rehearsal clothes. Stylistically, the music ranges from rock to country/western to calypso, as the outlandish characters of Wonderland are reinterpreted in this “story theatre” setting. Swados composed the score, adapted the book and directed the original New York Shakespeare Festival production. Meryl Streep starred as Alice in The Public Theater’s subsequent production.

The Haggadah by Elizabeth Swados (US/UK) 1980
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 7w, 10m, 3 boys)
This “Passover oratorio” is a disarmingly simple account of the birth and life of Moses, and of the Exodus, presented with masks and a clever use of puppetry. This unusual show was originally produced (and later revived) during Passover at Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival at The Public Theater.

Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau and Elizabeth Swados (US/UK) 1983
(Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 4w, 7m)
Liz collaborated with cartoonist Garry Trudeau, composing music to his lyrics in this stage adaptation of his groundbreaking comic strip. Zonker, Mike Doonesbury, J.J., Boopsie, B.D. and Joanie are all present and happily accounted for in this delightful romp of a show. While they try to make it through commencement, the Walden crowd must fend off Zonker’s Uncle Duke, who wants to bulldoze their off-campus house and replace it with condos. Mike Doonesbury steadfastly pursues the feisty and lovely J.J. while J.J. tries to come to terms with her long-lost mother, Joanie Caucus. Doonesbury premiered on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on November 21, 1983. Directed by Jacques Levy, the production featured Gary Beach, Ralph Bruneau, Kate Burton, Laura Dean and Mark Linn‑Baker.

The Red Sneaks by Elizabeth Swados (US/UK) 1989
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 4w, 4m plus ensemble)
This freewheeling contemporary musical for teens is a loose musical adaptation of the The Red Shoes, transposed to today’s urban jungle. The allegorical montage of songs, scenes and monologues centers around a welfare hotel resident who is persuaded by a mysterious young drifter to accept a pair of glittery red sneakers. Whoever is wearing them may wish for anything – and every wish comes true, but the easy way out turns out to be a fast trip to an early death. Skillfully combining comedy and grittiness, The Red Sneaks gives a voice to a younger generation experiencing the nightmarish pressure of urban life. The Red Sneaks premiered at Theatre for a New Audience in New York in June 1989 under the direction of Elizabeth Swados.

Bible Women by Elizabeth Swados (US/UK) 1995
(Full-Length Musical, Drama / 5w, 1m plus ensemble)
This song cycle commissioned by Ma’yan – a non-profit organization aimed to empower women in Jewish ritual and contemporary Jewish culture – presents women from the Bible as strong rock and cabaret singers with their own version of traditional stories. The show is a dynamic feminist reading of these characters, giving voice to Esther, Ruth, Sarah, Miriam, Lilith, Eve, Deborah and more. Bible Women debuted in New York at the Bottom Line and La Mama before touring seven cities. More recently, a concert version was presented at the Museum of Biblical Art alongside an exhibit by the sculptor Tobi Kahn.

Jewish Girlz by Elizabeth Swados (US/UK) 2003
(Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 14w)
During a weekend retreat sponsored by two female rabbis, the atmosphere in a country log cabin evolves from shyness and contempt into a tell-all session among adolescent Jewish girls from all types of families and backgrounds. In this full-length musical, stories and songs transcend stereotypes to find individuality, heart and humor and to touch on sensitive issues such as pressure, self-esteem, the fast pace of this decade and what it means to be a girl – not just a Jewish girl – in modern society. Meet the loner with the inflatable mattress, the rich girl, the observant young woman with the gay brother, the anarchist, the all-too-mature teen and an intriguing mix of other vivid personalities. Songs range from contemporary to pop tunes to upbeat numbers based on religious liturgy.

Holiday Movies by Elizabeth Swados (US) from Twas the Night Before… by Christopher Durang, Len Jenkin, Roger Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Swados and Mac Wellman (US) 2006
(Short Play, Comedy / 1w, 1m, 8 any gender)
Liz’s contribution to this Christmas-themed collection is a comic look at elves rapping about holiday films. In Holiday Movies, the cheesy holiday flicks we all know and love have taken a turn for the gruesome and gory. A cheerful chorus sings us through every bloody plot, while some rapping elves wrap presents. The holidays have never been so hilariously horrific. Other short plays in this collection from New York’s acclaimed Flea Theater were written by Christopher Durang, Len Jenkin, Roger Rosenblatt and Mac Wellman.

For a full list of Liz Swados’ pioneering work, visit the Elizabeth Swados Collection at Concord Theatricals in the US or UK.