Stephen Schwartz Named President of the Dramatists Guild

The man who gave the world such evergreen musicals as Godspell, Pippin and Wicked is now the new head of the Dramatist Guild. The playwrights’ union elected Stephen Schwartz as its new president, replacing longtime Guild president John Weidman, who is stepping down after 10 years of service.

“It’s been an honor to serve as president of this unique and essential organization and a pleasure to have collaborated for the last 10 years with my vice-president, Marsha Norman,” Weidman said in a statement. Weidman's team—Norman, secretary David Ives and treasurer Jonathan Reynolds—are also stepping down.

The newly elected officers who will help Schwartz lead the Guild are Peter Parnell The Cider House Rules as vice-president, Doug Wright I Am My Own Wife as secretary, and Theresa Rebeck Mauritius as treasurer.

“I’m extremely honored my fellow dramatists have chosen me to be the president of their Guild,” Schwartz said. “On behalf of all of my fellow Guild members, I would like to thank John Weidman and Marsha Norman and the other officers for their amazingly productive work and the dedication that they’ve shown over the last 10years. I hope to continue to move the Guild forward in the direction they have led and to try to live up to their very high standards.”