Never Mind the Happy: In Conversation with Marc Shaiman and Leslie Odom, Jr.

SCAD and the Trustees Theater welcome legendary composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman (Hairspray, Mary Poppins Returns, Smash) to the stage for an intimate conversation about his life, career, and memoir “Never Mind the Happy – Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner.” Joining him is Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer Leslie Odom, Jr., star of Smash and collaborator, as the two reflect on Shaiman’s work across Broadway and film, his creative process, and the experiences that shaped his artistry. Expect a candid, hilarious, and deeply human discussion that pays tribute to the power of music, the pull of the spotlight, and the beat that never stops.

Tickets are $30 and include a signed hardcover edition of “Never Mind the Happy – Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner.” SCAD Card holders may also purchase tickets to the event for $8. Please note that these SCAD Card holder tickets do not include a copy of the book.

About the Book 

In “Never Mind the Happy,” musical dynamo Marc Shaiman looks back on five decades of Broadway triumphs, Hollywood hijinks, and unforgettable collaborations. Along the way, he charts the personal highs and heartbreaks that have shaped him—spending his teenage years in community theater, starting a decades-long collaboration with Bette Midler in the ’70s, surviving the AIDS crisis of the ’80s, his award-winning film music career in the Hollywood of the ’90s, right up to the peaks (and valleys) of creating Broadway musicals from 2000 on.

Part showbiz tell-all, part love letter to the melancholy that fuels creativity, told with perfect comic timing—along with a few wrong notes, and plenty of standing ovations.

About Marc Shaiman

Marc Shaiman is a renowned American composer, lyricist, arranger, and music producer known for his work across film, television, and theater. Shaiman began his career as a musical director and arranger for Bette Midler before expanding into film scoring. He gained prominence with his work on films such as When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Sister Act, City Slickers, A Few Good Men, Sleepless in Seattle, The American President, and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, on television with SNL, and on recordings with Harry Connick Jr. and Mariah Carey. Shaiman earned widespread acclaim for co-writing the Broadway musical Hairspray alongside his longtime co-lyricist Scott Wittman. The duo has also co-created the musicals Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like It Hot, and Smash. He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and has won a Tony, two Emmys, and two Grammys. Marc Shaiman is celebrated for his versatile, emotionally resonant music and his ability to blend classic musical theatre sensibilities with modern storytelling. Born and raised in New Jersey, he currently lives in New York with his husband, Lieutenant Commander (ret) Lou Mirabal. For more information visit www.marcshaiman.com.

About Leslie Odom, Jr.

Leslie Odom Jr. is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Emmy- and Oscar-nominated actor, singer, and author best known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. His acclaimed career spans Broadway, film, television, and music, with recent highlights including Purlie Victorious on Broadway, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Exorcist: Believer, and his Oscar-nominated turn as Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami…. Odom is also a bestselling author and has released five studio albums.