Craig Zadan (1949–2018)

Craig Zadan was born in Miami, Florida on April 15, 1949. He was educated at Hofstra University. After graduating, he wrote freelance articles about the theater for New York and After Dark magazines. In 1973, he organized a musical tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the Shubert Theater. His book, mostra altro Sondheim & Co., was published in 1974. He found a job as producer of a series of cabaret shows at the Ballroom in Manhattan. He partnered with Neil Meron and they started producing musicals on television, in the movies, and on Broadway. They worked for the Public Theater for two years, producing cabaret shows at the theater's Martinson Hall. Their first television musical was Gypsy starring Bette Midler in 1993. Their other television musicals included Annie, Cinderella, The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, Hairspray, The Wiz, and Jesus Christ Superstar. They produced several TV movies including The Reagans and A Raisin in the Sun and television series including Veritas: The Quest and Smash. They were the executive producers of the film version of Chicago and staged Broadway revivals of the musicals Promises, Promises and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Their productions won six Oscars, 17 Emmys, five Golden Globes, and two Peabody Awards. Zadan died from complications after shoulder replacement surgery on August 21, 2018 at the age of 69. (Bowker Author Biography) mostra meno