Howard Ashman Headshot

Howard Ashman

Date of Death: March 14, 1991

Birth Place: Baltimore, MD, USA

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Howard Ashman BIO

Howard Ashman followed a distinguished career as a musical comedy librettist, lyricist, playwright, and director with his animated feature film debut, Disney's critically and popularly celebrated The Little Mermaid. Ashman received the 1989 Academy Award® for Best Song for "Under the Sea," written with his longtime collaborator, Alan Menken. Ashman and Menken garnered a total of six awards for The Little Mermaid, including two Academy Awards®, two Golden Globe Awards®, and two Grammy Awards®.


Born in Baltimore, Ashman received his education at Goddard College and Boston University, and earned an MFA from Indiana University. He moved to New York in 1974 and became an editor at Grosset & Dunlap, while he wrote plays, including 'Cause Maggie's Afraid of the Dark, The Confirmation, and Dreamstuff, a musical version of The Tempest. Dreamstuff marked the start of his association with the Off-Off Broadway WPA Theatre, of which he became Art Director when it reopened in the fall of 1977. Ashman was the WPA's guiding force from 1977 to 1982. In 1979, he and Alan Menken wrote a musical version of Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.
Ashman's greatest success at WPA was the musical version of Roger Corman's film Little Shop of Horrors, also written with Alan Menken. The musical received many awards, including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for the Best Musical of 1982-83. Little Shop of Horrors became the third longest-running musical in Off-Broadway history, as well as the highest-grossing musical in Off-Broadway history. The subsequent London production received the prestigious Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, and productions of Little Shop of Horrors were seen all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Mexico, Israel, South Africa, France, Austria, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and Germany. Little Shop of Horrors is currently tied with Our Town as the most-produced play in high schools throughout America.
Little Shop of Horrors was subsequently filmed by Frank Oz for David Geffen. For the screen version, Ashman and Menken wrote two songs not included in the stage production. Ashman received his first Academy Award® nomination for Best Song, for "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space," in 1986.
Howard Ashman's unique theatrical gifts enabled him to create the book, lyrics, and direction for not only God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and Little Shop of Horrors, but also for the 1986 Broadway production of Smile, written with Marvin Hamlisch, for which he received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Book.
Ashman completed work on the animated Disney feature Beauty and the Beast, as well as Aladdin, prior to his death in March 1991.

Howard Ashman Productions

 
[St. Louis, MO (Regional), 2015]
Lyrics
 
[Broadway, 2008] [Replacement]
Lyrics[Replacement]
 
[Broadway, 1986]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1982]
Director
Director
 
[Off-Off-Broadway, 1982]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1979]
Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 1979]
Director

Writing

Lyricist
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter

Howard Ashman Movies

Little Shop of Horrors
[ 1986 ] book
The Little Mermaid
[ 1989 ] producer
Beauty and the Beast
[ 1991 ] songs
Aladdin
[ 1992 ] songs
Aladdin: Live from the West End
[ 2022 ] Lyrics by

Howard Ashman Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Lyrics

Howard Ashman, Aladdin

Tony Awards - 2014 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Howard Ashman, Aladdin

Tony Awards - 2008 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Howard Ashman, The Little Mermaid

Drama Desk Awards - 1994 - Outstanding Lyrics

Howard Ashman, Beauty and the Beast

Tony Awards - 1994 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Howard Ashman , Beauty and the Beast

Tony Awards - 1987 - Best Book of a Musical

Howard Ashman, Smile

Drama Desk Awards - 1983 - Outstanding Director of a Musical

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1983 - Outstanding Lyrics

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1983 - Best Musical

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors

Olivier Awards - 1983 - Musical of the Year

Howard Ashman, Little Shop Of Horrors


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1983 - Best Score

Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors

Howard Ashman Videos

Howard Ashman News


Impact Arts Unveils 20th Anniversary Season Of Summer Stock Austin 2024


Impact Arts celebrates the 20th anniversary of Summer Stock Austin with an exciting 2024 season. Enjoy a variety of performances and events marking two decades of theatrical excellence.

Cortland Rep Box Office Opens Next Week For Summer Ticket Sales


The Cortland Repertory Theatre Box Office will open on Monday, May 20th for all summer ticket sales for their 53rd annual summer season. 

Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at The Nocturne Theatre


Nocturne Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast hits all the right notes. Fans of the original story will be delighted with the stellar performances of their favorite songs, while fans of Meyer2Meyer’s macabre touch will relish the costumes and the overall ambiance of the Nocturne Theatre itself

Broadway Buying Guide: May 13, 2024- See Robert Downey Jr. in His Debut


Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, May 13, 2024.

Full Cast Announced for Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID At La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts 


Experience the magic of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID at the LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

South Coast Repertory Announces LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS And More For 2024-25 Season


Discover the exciting lineup for SOUTH COAST REPERTORY's 2024-25 Season, featuring three world premieres: JOAN by Daniel Goldstein, THE STAIRCASE by Noa Gardner, and a surprise play yet to be announced.

ALADDÍN celebra su aniversario con una exposición en Madrid


A partir del próximo 10 de mayo y durante 16 días podrá visitarse en la Biblioteca Eugenio Trías, en el Parque del Buen Retiro la exposición de aniversario de ALADDÍN, que cumple su primer año en Madrid con esta visita que desvelará algunos de los aspectos más destacados tanto fuera como dentro del escenario.

Broadway Buying Guide: May 6, 2024- See the Tony-Nominated Shows of 2024


Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, May 6, 2024.

Andrew Barth Feldman and Sarah Hyland Will Lead LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS


Screen Actors Guild Award winner Sarah Hyland and stage and film star Andrew Barth Feldman will star as Audrey and Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Learn more here!

Florida Rep Education to Present Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in May


Florida Rep’s Education Conservatory Program will present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”. Lear how to purchase tickets.

The Studio Theatre Announces The Cast Of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS!


Get ready for a summer of thrills with LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol.

Christopher Sieber, Kennedy Kanagawa, and More Join the Cast of THE LITTLE MERMAID at the Muny


The cast has been announced for the Muny production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which runs July 8-16 on the James S. McDonnell Stage in Forest Park.

CENTERstage Productions to Present LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS


Experience the cult classic musical comedy, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, presented by CENTERstage Productions at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, NY. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Review: DISNEY'S ALADDIN at The Paramount Theatre


If there’s one thing, Dear Readers, that Disney is good at, it’s spectacle. But when you take that spectacle and combine it with one of their most musically magical properties such as “Aladdin”, it should end up with theatrical gold for the whole family. When the genie first poked his head from the lamp on stage back in 2011, I’ll admit it was less than magical. But, by the time it went to Broadway it grew by leaps and bounds. And even now, this tour currently playing at the Paramount, they seem to have updated some of their Disney Imagineering to make the experience even more magical and when combined with a killer cast, just hold on for a good time.

Photos: First look at Little Theatre Off Broadway's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS


A deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop Of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatre-goers for over 30 years. The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names 'Audrey II' - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and intent towards global domination!

Adi Roy Will Take Over the Title Role in ALADDIN This Summer


Broadway's ALADDIN is set to welcome Adi Roy in the title role starting June 4. Catch the magical performance as the new Aladdin brings a fresh take to the beloved character.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is Now Playing at Sing'Theatre


With Music by Alan Menken and Book by Howard Ashman, the creative geniuses behind Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, Little Shop of Horrors plays through April 28 at SOTA Drama Theatre.

The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest Returns To The Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts


Catch the second year of The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts from May 14 - 21.

Video: Celebrate 30 Years of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST


30 years ago, on April 18, 1994, Disney's Beauty and the Beast opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre. The musical would go on to run for 46 previews and 5462 regular performances, making it the 10th longest-runing Broadway show of all time. 

Concert Performances of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and THE JUNGLE BOOK Will Be Performed at New Wimbledon Theatre


The Novello Orchestra will present two classic Disney films in concert this summer, Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book will be performed live to film as part of Wimbledon Childrens Festival. Beauty and the Beast will take place on 10th August, with showings at 3pm and 7pm and The Jungle Book the following day on the 11th August, with showings at 10am and 3pm.

Howard Ashman FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Howard Ashman written?

Howard Ashman has written 10 shows including Maggie May (Lyricist), God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Real Life Funnies (Conceiver), Little Shop of Horrors (Bookwriter), Diamonds (Lyricist), Smile (Bookwriter), Beauty and the Beast (Lyricist), Hundreds of Hats (Lyricist), The Little Mermaid (lyricist), Aladdin (Lyricist).

What awards has Howard Ashman been nominated for?

Howard Ashman has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. He received nominations for Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Shop of Horrors. He was also nominated for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. Additionally, he received a nomination for Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards for Smile. Ashman's work on Little Shop of Horrors earned him nominations for Outstanding Director of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards, Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Musical of the Year at the Olivier Awards, and Best Score at the Outer Critics Circle Awards.

What awards has Howard Ashman won?

Howard Ashman has won several awards for his work in the Broadway musical "Little Shop of Horrors." He received the Outstanding Lyrics award at the Drama Desk Awards, the Best Musical award at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and the Best Score award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards.

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