We’re remembering the career of songwriter Charles Strouse on this week’s Dress Circle (7/27 7:00 p.m.) through songs from his stage and screen career.
Strouse is probably best known for his work with Lee Adams with whom he penned some of his most successful shows including “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Applause,” and “Golden Boy” although his longest-running musical, “Annie,” was written with Martin Charnin. In all, Strouse wrote some 30 musicals, several of which were written for regional theatres, never made it to Broadway, or they were sorry they went to Broadway.
Although his musical output was always excellent, the vehicles he wrote with Alan J. Lerner (“Dance a Little Closer”), Stephen Schwartz (“Rags”), and Richard Maltby, Jr. (“Nick & Nora”) performed far worse, running 1, 4, and 9 performances respectively. It was often the books with which he had little input that doomed these vehicles.
You’ll hear songs from all of these shows including the sequel to “Bye Bye Birdie” titled “Bring Back Birdie,” “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman.” “Hunky Dory,” “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” and the theme for a popular television series he wrote with Adams which you’re sure to recognize.
Strouse was born in Manhattan on June 7, 1928, and he passed away in Manhattan on May 15, 2025 at the age of 96. With all of the joy he’s given us over the years, we felt it was only fitting that we celebrate his work.
