Stephen Schwartz to Pen Lyrics to DreamWorks MUMBAI MUSICAL

New distributor Twentieth Century Fox today unveiled Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc.'s feature film release slate for 2013 to 2016. Included in the line-up is MUMBAI MUSICAL (Working Title), the studio's first-ever Bollywood-style animated musical.

Broadway's Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Prince of Egypt, Enchanted) will be writing the lyrics, A.R. Rahman (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire, Bombay Dreams) is writing the music, and both are executive producers on the film which is being written by David Sussman.

MUMBAI MUSICAL is an adventure inspired by the great Indian epic tale of The Ramayana but told from the point of view of the monkeys. It is set to be released on December 19, 2015.

Kevin Lima (Enchanted, Tarzan) is directing and Lisa Stewart (Turbo, Monsters vs. Aliens) and Chris Chase (Enchanted, Tarzan) are producing. 

One of the most successful musical theater composers of all time, Stephen Schwartz has contributed music and/or lyrics to Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, Working, Rags, Children of Eden, My Fairytale and Wicked. His newest musical, Houdini, is slated to debut on Broadway in the 2013-14 season.

Schwartz collaborated with composer Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's Enchanted, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and wrote the songs for DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt. He has written an opera, Séance on a Wet Afternoon; English texts for Bernstein's Mass; and two musicals for children: Captain Louie and My Son, Pinocchio.

Schwartz has released two CDs of original songs, Reluctant Pilgrim and Uncharted Territory, and his career is the subject of the book Defying Gravity. He is the current president of the Dramatists Guild and has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Other awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards and four Drama Desk Awards.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy