In our new series, Broadway Birthdays, The Broadway Blog celebrates the life and work of those whose impact has been felt on the world’s greatest stages. Today we light 87 candles for the incomparable Leslie Bricusse.
Theater fans most likely remember Bricusse’s work for Stop the World – I Want to Get Off (book, music, and lyrics, 1962) and The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd (book, music, and lyrics, 1978). But the prolific lyricist has also penned a turn of phrase for some other successful Broadway shows, including Victor, Victoria, Jekyll & Hyde, and most recently, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The Oscar and Grammy winner’s works have been performed around the globe, and at a fair share of auditions for its sweeping melodies and catchy lyrics. Take a look at some of his most iconic songs in performance: