Alan Jay Lerner - Lyricists, Family and Family
Alan Jay Lerner's Personal Details
Alan Jay Lerner was a renowned American librettist and lyricist
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | August 31, 1918 |
| Died on | June 14, 1986 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Juilliard School, Writers, Poets, Lyricists |
| Spouses | Liz Robertson (m. 1981–1986), Nancy Olson (m. 1950–1957), Sandra Payne (m. 1974–1976) |
| Siblings | Samuel Alexander Lerner |
| Childrens | Jennifer Lerner, Liza Lerner |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | New York City |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Joseph Jay Lerner |
| Mother | Edith Adelson Lerner |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | New York City |
| Famous as | American lyricist |
| Died at Age | 67 |
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Alan Jay Lerner's photo
Who is Alan Jay Lerner?
Alan Jay Lerner was an American librettist and lyricist who along with Frederick Loewe created some of the most renowned and enduring works of musical theatre. He started his musical career by creating lyrics for Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding musical show. Together with Loewe, he created several successful musicals. They achieved their first success with the musical Brigadoon, which bagged the New York Drama Critics Circle award for best musical. Some of their successful musical works include The Patsy called Life of the Party and What’s Up? Their joint work that received wide acknowledgement was My Fair Lady. In New York itself a total of 2,717 performances of this musical were staged. After their split, Alan also worked with Kurt Weill and Burton Lane. He was credited for the creation of more than 500 radio scripts. He was the script writer of An American in Paris, an American musical film. His autobiography, The Street Where I Live, is a vivid account of his and Loewe’s successful collaborations on My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot. His representation of the history of theatre in his book The Musical Theatre: A Celebration is an interesting description full with personal anecdotes which also reflects his witty personality.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born in New York City to father Edith Adelson Lerner and mother Joseph Lerner who were prosperous retailers. His brother Samuel Alexander Lerner set up and owned Lerner Stores, a renowned retailer of women’s fashions and accessories.
He attended Bedales School in England. Later, he took admission at The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut where John F. Kennedy was his classmate. During this period he created The Choate Marching Song.
During the summer of 1936 and 1937, he attended the Julliard School of Music, New York City. In 1938 and in 1939, he created lyrics for Hasty Pudding musical show at Harvard. In 1940, he completed his graduation from Harvard.
Career
From 1940 to 1942, he wrote above 500 radio scripts. In the initial days of his career, he wrote Your Hit Parade which continued until he met Austrian composer Frederick Loewe in 1942.
Together, they did a musical collaboration of Barry Connor's farce The Patsy called Life of the Party in 1942, for a Detroit Stock Company which enjoyed a nine week successful run.
The duo also joined hands with Arthur Pierson for What’s Up?. This ran for 63 performances and was followed by The Day Before Spring which led to establishing one of the most successful partnerships of Broadway.
In 1947, the first hit of this partnership was Brigadoon which was followed by Paint Your Wagon. It was less successful. Lerner also worked with Kurt Weill on a stage musical show - Love Life in 1948.
In 1951, he worked with Burton Lane for the movie Royal Wedding. In the same year, he wrote the script for An American in Paris. Produced by Arthur Freed and directed by Vincente Minnelli, it won an Oscar award.
In the year 1956, Lerner and Loewe unveiled My Fair Lady which hit the box office records in New York and London and its filmy adaptation won eight Oscars. This film was translated into 11 languages.
Their next project was a musical film Gigi, based on the story of Colette, a French novelist. The film went on to win all of its nine Oscar nominations and a special Oscar for one of its co-stars.
In 1960, they worked for Camelot whose director was Moss Hart. On account of the death of Hart shortly after the show’s premiere, problem developed between Lerner and Loewe regarding the direction of the show and they split after this show.
After creating a number of musicals, he collaborated with Burton Lane to produce the musical, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever in 1965. This work of Lerner was adopted for a film in 1970.
In 1974, he and Fritz Loewe worked on the musical version of The Little Prince by adopting the children’s story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The film failed to get success.
Major Works
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, Lerner created lyrics for the musical My Fair Lady in 1956. Under Broadway production, this musical received huge success. Directed by Moss Hart, it ran successfully till 1962.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married eight times - Ruth Boyd (1940–1947), Marion Bell (1947–1949), Nancy Olson (1950–1957), Micheline Muselli Pozzo di Borgo (1957–1965), Karen Gunderson (1966–1974), Sandra Payne (1974–1976), Nina Bushkin (1977–1981) and Liz Robertson (1981–1986). He breathed his last due to lung cancer, at the age of 67 in Manhattan.
Trivia
During his student life at Harvard, he lost the eye sight of his left eye as a result of an accident in a boxing match. Due to this he could not serve in the World War II. He was also well known for his sense of humor.
It was known that he was careless about his family and wives during his involvement in shows. For a number of years, he was under Methedrine treatments, prescribed by a doctor.
According to many sources, divorces cost him much of his wealth, but many others say Lerner himself was responsible for his financial mess.
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Alan Jay Lerner's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 1958 | Academy Award for Best Original Song | |
| 1968 | Golden Globe for Best Original Song | |
| 1975 | Golden Globe for Best Original Score | |
| 1957 | Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical | |
| 1957 | Tony Award for Best Original Score | |
| 1947 | New York Drama Critics for Best Musical | |
| 1957 | New York Drama Critics for Best Musical | |
| 1985 | Johnny Mercer Award for Lyric Writing | |
| 0 | 1985 - Kennedy Center Honors | |
| 0 | 1951 - Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay | |
| 0 | 1958 - Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay | |
Alan Jay Lerner biography timelines
- // 1936 To 1940During the summer of 1936 and 1937, he attended the Julliard School of Music, New York City. In 1938 and in 1939, he created lyrics for Hasty Pudding musical show at Harvard. In 1940, he completed his graduation from Harvard.
- // 1940 To 1942From 1940 to 1942, he wrote above 500 radio scripts. In the initial days of his career, he wrote Your Hit Parade which continued until he met Austrian composer Frederick Loewe in 1942.
- // 1942Together, they did a musical collaboration of Barry Connor's farce The Patsy called Life of the Party in 1942, for a Detroit Stock Company which enjoyed a nine week successful run.
- // 1947 To 1948In 1947, the first hit of this partnership was Brigadoon which was followed by Paint Your Wagon. It was less successful. Lerner also worked with Kurt Weill on a stage musical show - Love Life in 1948.
- // 1951In 1951, he worked with Burton Lane for the movie Royal Wedding. In the same year, he wrote the script for An American in Paris. Produced by Arthur Freed and directed by Vincente Minnelli, it won an Oscar award.
- // 1956In the year 1956, Lerner and Loewe unveiled My Fair Lady which hit the box office records in New York and London and its filmy adaptation won eight Oscars. This film was translated into 11 languages.
- // 1960In 1960, they worked for Camelot whose director was Moss Hart. On account of the death of Hart shortly after the show’s premiere, problem developed between Lerner and Loewe regarding the direction of the show and they split after this show.
- // 1974In 1974, he and Fritz Loewe worked on the musical version of The Little Prince by adopting the children’s story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The film failed to get success.
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Alan Jay Lerner's FAQ
What is Alan Jay Lerner birthday?
Alan Jay Lerner was born at 1918-08-31
When was Alan Jay Lerner died?
Alan Jay Lerner was died at 1986-06-14
Where was Alan Jay Lerner died?
Alan Jay Lerner was died in New York City
Which age was Alan Jay Lerner died?
Alan Jay Lerner was died at age 67
Where is Alan Jay Lerner's birth place?
Alan Jay Lerner was born in New York City
What is Alan Jay Lerner nationalities?
Alan Jay Lerner's nationalities is American
Who is Alan Jay Lerner spouses?
Alan Jay Lerner's spouses is Liz Robertson (m. 1981–1986), Nancy Olson (m. 1950–1957), Sandra Payne (m. 1974–1976)
Who is Alan Jay Lerner siblings?
Alan Jay Lerner's siblings is Samuel Alexander Lerner
Who is Alan Jay Lerner childrens?
Alan Jay Lerner's childrens is Jennifer Lerner, Liza Lerner
What was Alan Jay Lerner universities?
Alan Jay Lerner studied at Juilliard School
What was Alan Jay Lerner notable alumnis?
Alan Jay Lerner's notable alumnis is Juilliard School
Who is Alan Jay Lerner's father?
Alan Jay Lerner's father is Joseph Jay Lerner
Who is Alan Jay Lerner's mother?
Alan Jay Lerner's mother is Edith Adelson Lerner
What is Alan Jay Lerner's sun sign?
Alan Jay Lerner is Virgo
How famous is Alan Jay Lerner?
Alan Jay Lerner is famouse as American lyricist