Harvey Schmidt, Co-Creator of The Fantasticks, Is Dead at 88

[elleng]

Harvey Schmidt, whose career as a commercial artist took a long, lucrative and unexpected detour when he teamed with a former college pal to create “The Fantasticks,” the Off-Broadway romance that became the world’s longest-running musical, died on Wednesday in Tomball, Tex., near Houston. He was 88.

Rachel Scholl, a niece, said the cause was complications of congestive heart failure. He had no immediate survivors.

A love story about a boy and a girl and their feuding fathers, “The Fantasticks,” with music by Mr. Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, opened in 1960 at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village and ran for 17,162 performances.

A revival that began in 2006 ran 4,390 more times at the Jerry Orbach Theater in Midtown Manhattan, named for the actor who originated the role of El Gallo, the show’s narrator.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/obituaries/harvey-schmidt-co-creator-of-the-fantasticks-is-dead-at-88.html?

[PJMcK]

1. Sad news!

In my work, I knew Harvey for thirty-plus years. He was very friendly, funny, smart and thoughtful. He and his collaborator wrote many other wonderful works. He was a truly nice man.

[regnaD kciN]

2. R.I.P.

When I was a teenager, I always wanted (but never managed) to direct a production of that musical at my school. (Of course, it's so resolutely old-fashioned now, I can't imagine anyone staging it today.) It feels like yet another part of my youth has faded away.

[CTyankee]

5. There is a song concerning rape which is an integral part of the show.

I think just that alone makes it impossible to imagine anyone singing it today...

[Rhiannon12866]

6. We did that one when I was 13 - I still remember all of the songs!

It's a life long favorite of mine, too!

[CTyankee]

3. I remember seeing that show when I was living in the Village in the 60s.

My father in law, who was the musical director for Paramount Pictures in NYC at the time, took a dim view of that show. He was quite the music snob!

[elleng]

4. I'll say SNOB!

I saw it in the Village too, yank, likely in the 60s.