John Bucchino Honored with Inaugural Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theater Songwriters

John Bucchino has won the inaugural Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theater songwriters. The prize, given by the Fred Ebb Foundation in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company, includes a $50,000 monetary award.

Bucchino's songs have been recorded and performed by Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein, Art Garfunkel, Patti LuPone, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra MacDonald, Liza Minnelli, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and more. He was honored as recipient of the Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award 1997, the Songwriters' Fellowship Award 1998, the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award 1998, the Second Stage Constance Klinsky Award 2000, the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Commendation Award 2000 and the Jonathan Larson and Kleban Awards 2001. He has contributed to many musicals, including The Artist At 40, Urban Myths and Lavender Girl which was a one-act musical staged as part of 3hree. Last year a musical revue of his songs called It's Only Life played as part of New York's Summer Play Festival. Bucchino is also currently at work with Harvey Fierstein on a new musical called A Catered Affair.

The Fred Ebb Award recognizes excellence in musical theater songwriting, by a lyricist, composer or songwriting team that has not yet achieved significant commercial success. The award is meant to encourage and support aspiring songwriters to create new works for the musical theater. Bucchino was chosen from over 390 applicants from across the world including New York, California, Canada, England and Australia.

Bucchino was named the recipient of the award on November 29 at a reception held at the Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre. Chita Rivera presented him with the honor and he treated the audience to two of his songs.

The judges for the Fred Ebb Award were director Scott Ellis, lyricist, writer and composer Sheldon Harnick, playwright and producer Tim Pinckney and theater producer Arthur Whitelaw.