*************************************2017

January 2017...Stephen is hard at work on a Historical Novel called Sacred Monsters-The Public Rivalry and Private Friendship of Ethel Merman and Mary Martin

​

Stephen and composer David Evans are beginning a new musical tentatively entitled I Was There

​

February 11th...Stephen will be a guest performer at Don't Tell Mama's Cabaret appearing with Liz Rubino and singing his own songs.

 

*************************************2016

January 18, 2016 Merman's Apprentice in Concert at Birdland starring Klea Blackhurst, Anita Gillette, Bill Nolte, Elizabeth Teeter, Eddie Korbich, Adam Heller (SOLD OUT!) to celebrate release of Original Concert Cast CD.

 

February, 2016  Merman's Apprentice CD on sale at Amazon and iTunes.

 

March, 2016 Plans are afoot to bring  Merman's Apprentice to a commerical production.

 

March 8, 2016 Aspire to be presented in Concert in the 2017-18 season withe Space Coast Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Aaron Collins

 

*************************************2015

January 20, 2015 The Black and White Ball presented at by FWD Theatre Project at City Winery in Chicago.

 

March, 17-21 Stephen to be keynote speaker at Texas AACTFest in Dallas.

 

April 2015 First reading of By the Book (Act I) in Toronto

 

May 2015 Rock Odyssey has its sixth Arsht Center Production

 

June 15, 2015 Merman's Apprentice in Concert at Birdland starring Klea Blackhurst, Anita Gillette, Bill Nolte, Elizabeth Teeter, Eddie Korbich, Adam Grupper (SOLD OUT!)

 

June 18-19, 2015 Merman's Apprentice is in the recording studio with John Yap of Jay Records. 

 

Finished draft of complete By the Book and presented it to Susan Stroman

 

September 11, 2015 Table read of By the Book featuring Erin Dilly, Sarah Stiles, Jim Stanek, George Dvorsky, Chip Zien, Adam Heller, Eddie Korbich, Bill Nolte

 

 

*************************************2014

January 2014

 

MERMAN'S APPRENTICE starring Kim Criswell and featuring Elizabeth Seal was presented as part of the second Page to Stage Festival at London's Landor Theatre.

 

February 2014

THE DRAMA LEAGUE'S TRIBUTE TO NEIL PATRICK HARRIS written by Cole with Special material lyrics for three numbers including and opening for Zach Levi and a Rap Up Rap for Audra McDonald

 

March 2014

Pre-production for INVENTING MARY MARTIN

Hosted REMEMBERING MARY MARTIN York Theatre Company

 

April 2014

INVENTING MARY MARTIN opens Off Broadway York Theatre Company

 

September 2014

THE GIFT OF MUSIC York Theatre Company-written by Cole with special material and songs from Grossinger's

 

FWD THEATRE PROJECT'S KICK OFF CONCERT-THE BLACK AND WHITE BALL

 

December 2014

COLE MINING: THE SONGS OF STEPHEN COLE Urban Stages-Wrote, directed and Hosted evening of Songs by Cole

 

Wrote several pieces of special material for Marlo Thomas

Commissioned to write school anthem with David Krane for Randolph School in Canada.

That Book about That Girl prepared to be published as an E-Book on Kindle through Amazon

Continued work on By the Book

Arscht Performing Arts Center in Miami continues to produce Rock Odyssey

 

THE BLACK AND WHITE BALL chosen as one of five shows to be developed by FWD Theatre Project in Chicago. First Reading January 20, 2015

 

Cast of The Black and White Ball announced: Ariana Burks, George Andrew Wollf, Jerome Riley, Heather Townsend, Kathryn Jaeck, McKinley Carter, and Dina DiCostanzo,  Evan Tyrone Martin, Daniel Phillips, Jos N. Banks, and Quentin King. Directed by Amber Mak, Musical directed by Chuck Larkin.

 

Merman's Apprentice chosen for Next Link in NYMF

 

The Black and White Ball finalist for Eugene O'Neill Festival

 

 

*************************************2013

• The full cast of Inventing Mary Martin is announced: Emily Skinner, Jason Graae, Cameron Adams and Lynne Halliday will star in my new musical revue at the York Theatre Off Broadway beginning previews April 15th 2014 and opening April 27th.

• Stephen's opening number for the Drama League's Neil Patrick Harris Tribute will be sung by Zach Levi!

• Casting for Merman's Apprentice in London is complete. The wonderful Kim Criswell will be playing Merman, with Tony Award winner Elizabeth Seal (for Irma La Douce, here she is being presenting by Mary Martin, but that's another show! and as David Merrick, David Burt! The rest of the cast includes John Guerrasio as Moe, Ben Stock as Goldie, Nigel Richards as Marvin, Ted Merwood as Pop! With Daniel Cane, Thomas Sutcliffe, Lindsey Nicholls, Kimberley Moses and 12 year old Olivia Hallett as Muriel Plakenstein! Directed by Stewart Nicholls and produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment.

• "Christmas Morning" will be represented by the Rodgers and Hammerstein Concert Library and if all goes well will be sung in every Christmas concert in 2014.

• Dec. 12-21, 2013 Stephen's song, "Christmas Morning" (composed by Todd Ellison) is being performed as part of the Pittsburgh Symphony's Christmas Concert Series. The song is orchestrated by Michael Starobin, conducted by the composer, sung by Nikki Renee Daniels and 100 person choir with a 77 piece orchestra

• On Dec. 3, 2013 Stephen will host the Urban Stages' Mary Martin Centennial Celebration and sing Merman's part in the recreation of the famous Merman and Martin Duet Medley

• Merman's Apprentice will have 3 staged readings February 11-13 at London's Landor Theatre as part of the Page to Stage Festival. It will star Kim Criswell.

• Stephen is writing the 2014 Drama League Gala...a tribute to Neil Patrick Harris...Feb. 3, 2014 the Hotel Pierre.

• ​On Sunday, October 20, 2013 Stephen's song (music by Jeffrey Saver) "A Woman of a Certain Age" (from Dodsworth) will be sung by Dee Hoty as part of Show Off! a benefit concert for NAMT celebrating 25 years of the NAMT Festival of New Musicals

• Rock Odyssey is being produced for the third year in a row at the Arscht Center in Miami.

• The Road to Qatar! has gotten 4 and 5 star reviews in the Edinburgh International Festival and has been nominated for Best Musical in the Festival as well as for Book, Music and Lyrics.

• Stephen will direct, write and conceive Inventing Mary Martin, a centennial celebration of Mary Martin's career. It opens in April 2014 at the York Theatre Company in NYC.

• ​Stephen has begun a new original musical with composer David Krane (The Road to Qatar! and Aspire) entitled By the Book.

• ​Merman's Apprentice to be one of five Village Originals at the Village Theatre's 13th Annual Festival of New musicals in Issaquah, WA (After the Fair started in this festival and was fully staged there!)

• The Road to Qatar! is going to be part of the Edinburgh International Festival in August! ​

• Merman's Apprentice is on the short list for Village Originals at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, WA (After the Fair played there!)

• The Road to Qatar! Concert reading at the Landor Theatre in London will star Kimberly Blake, Ralph Board, Nic Gibney, Sami Lamine, & David McKechnie, with Musical Direction by George Dyer and will be directed by Kate Golledge. Produced by Katy Lipson and Aria Entertainment

• The Road to Qatar! will have 3 concert/readings as part of the Page to Stage Festival at the Landor Theatre in London February 16 & 17, 2013. Stephen and David will be in London to supervise!

​*************************************2012​

• ​Plans are afoot for a studio cast recording of Saturday Night at Grossinger's

• Stephen is once again writing the 2013 Drama League Gala...this time a tribute to Audra McDonald

• Klea Blackhurst and Carly Rose Sonenclar star in staged reading of Merman's Apprentice Sept. 2012

• Time after Time full production at Hartt School of Music. Directed by Kevin Gray.

*************************************2011

• ​Stephen Cole and Jeff Saver write "Lament for Three Jersey Girls" for Tommy Tune's new musical 54 Forever

• First reading of The Black and White Ball, music by Todd Ellison

• First reading of Merman's Apprentice starring Klea Blackhurst and David Garrison

• ​Jay Records Records and releases the original cast album of The Road to Qatar!

• ​The Road to Qatar! opens Off Broadway.

• Our brilliant cast is complete as Keith Gerchak joins the show as Jeffrey in the New York production of The Road to Qatar!

• Jamie Beaman and Sarah Stiles have joined our troupe of zanies for the New York production of The Road to Qatar!

• Bruce Warren and Bill Nolte are both back in the Middle East for the New York production of The Road to Qatar!

• Casting will begin soon for the New York production of The Road to Qatar!

*************************************2010

• Stephen and David Krane have written a new song specially for Shuler Hensley to sing at the Oscar Hammerstein Awards at the York Theatre on the 29th of November 2010. The honoree is Tom Meehan and the song is fittingly called "Nobody Knows the Guy Who Writes the Book"

• Stephen rehearsed with Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas...special material he write to the tune of Making Whoopee...They are to be make Living Landmarks and they will sing it tomorrow night at the Plaza Hotel. Marlo and Phil killed! Accompanied by Peter Duchin they were the hit of the evening.

• Stephen is back from Dallas after three performances of The Night of the Hunter which grew in quality with each performance, finally making me cry. cut one song (The Wind and the Rain) and made the ending tighter than ever. The sound of 24 pieces playing this music with this dynamite cast does an author's heart good.

• Stephen is off to Dallas on October 4th to start rehearsals with Davis Gaines and Julie Johnson for the Lyric Stage production of The Night of the Hunter with a full orchestra!

• At 5PM at Barnes and Nobel Lincoln Square Stephen Cole and David Krane will appear and tell about their true life adventure becoming the musical The Road to Qatar! There will be singing and dancing and much festivities and free CD's!

• The Road to Qatar! is the winner of a Best Musical nod from the Dallas Ft. Worth Drama Critics Forum!

• Spend two glorious days presenting material to Chita Rivera for a proposed show to star her and another major star from her past. Stay tuned.

• Rock Odyssey is in rehearsal in Miami...second production this year of 2010.

• Got my reservations for Dallas and will be spending October 2010 with The Night of the Hunter at the Lyric Stage there...first time we will hear the show with a full orchestra (besides the CD) and it's exciting and scary and a little sad, since the composer Claibe Richardson passed away.

• David Krane and I have been asked to appear on a panel at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Square to discuss writing a musical based on our own lives...THE ROAD TO QATAR! Should be be a blast...and it's free! Looking forward to making big announcements about our opening then too.

• ASCAP director of musical theatre Michael A. Kerker will host the panel discussion "Story of My Life: The Inspiration Behind Autobiographical Musicals," which will takeplace Sept. 28, 2010 at 5 PM.

​So what's the news after 5 years? There are new pictures and pages for Aspire, The Road to Qatar, Time after Time, Rock Odyssey, Night of the Hunter, Saturday Night at Grossinger's, Piano Bar...new books were written, I Could Have Sung All Night with Marni Nixon, Put on a Happy Face with Charles Strouse...songs galore. Benefits and tributes to Kander and Ebb, Stewart Lane, Angela Lansbury...so much has happened. And on the horizon is another production of Rock Odyssey in Miami, Night of the Hunter with full orchestra (for the first time) in Dallas, The Road to Qatar! off-Broadway and so much more. Stay tuned!

 

• After over 5 years, the news is that Stephencolewriter.com is going to be updated! Horray!

*********************************2005​

• Saturday Night at Grossinger's will have its West Coast Premiere at Theatre West in Hollywood. Previews begin March 23, 2005 and opens March 26, 2005. Barbara Minkus will star as Jennie. The show opened to great reviews and rapturous audience response is currently running.

• Songs from Time after Time and Dodsworth CD will be released soon on the Original Cast Records label starring Judy Blazer, Christian Borle, Liz Callaway and Walter Charles

• There will be a concert of the songs of Jeffrey Saver and Stephen Cole entitled Wherever the Party Is! This will be a Steinway Peace Piano Benefit for UNICEF at the Tabor Academy Fireman Center for the Performing Arts in Marion, MA on Sept. 19th 2004 at 3PM. It will star Judy Blazer, Christian Borle, Liz Callaway and Walter Charles. Dan Brown directs and a CD will be recorded for a later release with all proceeds going to UNICEF.

• Stephen is working with Marni Nixon on her autobiography. It will be published by Watson-Guptill in 2006.

• Lynne Wintersteller has now joined the cast of The Night of the Hunter, replacing Julie Johnson in the role of Willa. Dan Feyer musical directs and the orchestration is by Larry Moore.

• After the Fair will have a new production at the Spirit of Broadway Theatre www.spiritofbroadway.org August 10-September 4, 2005.

**********************************2004

• Stephen leaves on August 22 to begin rehearsals for the Willows Theatre Production of the world premiere of The Night of the Hunter (opening Sept. 24, 2004). Brian Noonan will play the Preacher and Julie Johnson will play Willa. The show will be directed by John Bowab, choreographed by Diana Baffa-Brill, the set is being designed by Ray Klausen.

• Stephen is beginning work on a new show entitled Piano Bar with Matthew Ward. The show is the brainchild of Joe McGowen and there should be a backer's audition sometime in June 2004. Backer's Auditions will now take place in late October/early November for a Spring Opening in the Big Apple.

• April is a busy month as Stephen is also working on the script for a Camp Broadway production that will have 50 kids from around the country appearing at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway in a mini-history of the Broadway musical.

• Stephen is co-conceiving and co-writing (with Bway Director Philip William (Boy from Oz) McKinley) a new musical revue based on the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb entitled Kander and Ebb...And All that Jazz. Michael Gibson will orchestrate for a large orchestra and Jeff Saver is the arranger. A reading is planned for March 2005 and a workshop in June 2005 with a 2006 National Tour planned.

• June 7, 2004 will see selections from Time after Time presented in the Bound for Broadway concert at Merkin Hall under the auspices of the Kaufman Center. Liz Callaway sang "Watch My Interest Accrue", Jim Walton did "ATM" and they duet-ted beautifully on "No One in the World". See Pics in Gallery.

• Time after Time will have a college production at Point Park College in Pittsburgh PA in February of 2005. This under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and Van Kaplan will direct. Time after Time will also have a private reading in late May 2004 starring Christian Borle, Lauren Kennedy, Brian Noonan & Paige Price.

• Feb 15-17, 2004 Stephen is in Concord, CA auditioning people for the World Premiere of The Night of the Hunter (Opening Sept. 24, 2004 at the Willows Theatre.)

• After the Fair is now being published and licensed by EncorePlay. For information about doing productions go to www.encoreplay.com

***********************************2003

• December 1, 2003 Stephen and Jeff Saver will have some of their songs presented at the Bitter End in the East Village. Liz Callaway is scheduled to sing two songs from Time After Time. Deborah Monk will also appear singing "Hot For Howdy"

• Casper-the Friendly Musical had its Amateur Premiere in Sydney Australia. The completely rewritten version of the show has two brand new numbers by Stephen and Matt Ward. The show play at the Glen Street Theatre, Glen Street, Belrose NSW 2085, AUSTRALIA on 8th - 18th October 2003

• The Night of the Hunter will premiere in Sept. 2004 at the Willows Theatre in Concord, CA​

• Cast recordings of Merlin's Apprentice (music by Matthew Ward) and Rock Odyssey (music and lyrics by Billy Straus; Book by Stephen Cole) have been released by Walden Media

• Saturday Night at Grossingers played at the Broadhollow Theatre in Summer of 2003.​

• The Night of the Hunter Workshop starring Ron Raines, Julie Johnson, Beth Fowler, Mary Stout, George Lee Andrews and many others plays for three invited performances at the 42nd Street Studios. Directed by John Bowab.

• Stephen has been commissioned by the brand new Walden Family Playhouse to write the book of a musical version of The Odyssey...opening January 16, 2003. The music and lyrics are by Billy Straus.

• The Night of the Hunter has been optioned by John Bowab (producer of the original Mame and Sweet Charity and renowned TV director) A winter workshop is being planned.

• Grossinger's has been totally overhauled and had its name changed to Saturday Night at Grossinger's. Look for it to be produced on Long Island before it's proposed Off-Bway debut.

• After the Fair will have a regional production in Brighton, England in June 2003

• Stephen has also been commissioned to write the lyrics for Merlin's Apprentice with music by Matt Ward and Book by Susan Kim

• Casper the Musical recently played in Kansas City, Atlanta and Dallas.

*****************************************2002

• I wrote two songs with Todd Ellison (42nd Street conductor) that were recorded by Fynsworth Alley last year...."The Long Way" is on Emily Skinner's CD, Emily Skinnner, and "Gettin' Nowhere Fast" is on Haine's His Way sung by Guy (Bruce Kimmel) Haines. Both are currently available in stores. Todd also did a concert of these and one other song we collaborated on called "Only In My Dreams" (sung in concert by Emily Skinner)

Oct. 25 - Nov. 2, 2002
Time After Time will have a workshop under the auspices of Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and CMU in Pittsburgh



****************************************2001

June 5, 2001
Casper the Musical makes it's world premiere at the Pittsburgh CLO before it tours the US. Chita Rivera stars.



***************************** 2000​

September, 2000
Workshop of Dodsworth which starred Christine Ebersole, Dee Hoty, Patricia Morison and Walter Charles was optioned by Allen Gordon (Rent) and Elan McCallister for Dragonfly Productions.



June 11, 2000
Grossinger's in Concert with the LA Jewish Symphony Orchestra starring Dorothy Loudon as Jennie Grossinger. Estelle Harris of Seinfeld fame recently joined the cast and it looks as if Joel Grey might also join as well. John Bowab is directing. Just cast in the concert as Lenny Wolpe as Jennie's husband, Bruce Adler as Sheldon (the role Gavin played) and Theodore Bikel as her Papa. (Note: Neither Joel Grey or Theo Bikel wound up in the concert...for that matter neither did Dorothy Loudon)



March 14, 2000
After the Fair will open in London at the Kings Head theater and will be produced by Raymond Wright.
The cast includes: Terrence Hardiman, Robert Irons, Rebecca Lock and Nicola Dewdney.
Previews begin March 14 and it opens on the 20th and runs for 6 weeks.

I will be there for the previews and opening if anyone wants to say hello and get their CD autographed.



February, 2000
I will be introducing a film at the Kurt Weill Festival at BAM. Date and time to be announced



January 31, 2000
I have written a song for Liz Smith to sing at The Drama League benefit tribute to Liza Minnelli. I have also written some special material for Dr. Ruth.



​***************************** 1999

November, 1999 - late
Mermania CD (which I produced with Ken Bloom for Harbinger Records) will be released.



November 14, 1999
I will be doing a signing of That Book About That Girl at Different Light LA



November 1, 1999
My birthday!



October 29, 1999
I am doing a reading and signing of That Book About That Girl at Different Light on 19th St. in NYC



October 19, 1999
I am receiving a Gilman-Gonzales Commendation Award for Musical Theatre.



September 7, 1999
The cast album of After the Fair is released by Varese Sarabande records today.



July 27, 1999

The cast of my latest musical, After the Fair, headed into the studios today to record the show for Varese Sarabande records. Bruce Kimmel produced.