'Wicked' composer won't withhold work from LDS groups over Prop 8

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 12/15/2008 | Peggy Stack

[TheDon]

Stephen Schwartz finds Mormon organizational zeal on behalf of California's Proposition 8 to be "reprehensible," but the award-winning composer of hits such as "Wicked" has no plans to withhold his works from Utah or LDS-related singing groups.

For more than a week, Mormons in show business have shared rumors that Schwartz might punish Mormons for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' involvement in passing a California initiative establishing marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. On Wednesday, KTVX Channel 4 news had a story out of Provo, in which former Mormon Jon Powell called on the music industry to refuse to license certain material to LDS musical groups. In the piece, Powell specifically targeted Brigham Young University's "Young Ambassadors," of which he was once a member.

Powell said he received an e-mail from Schwartz, which read in part, "I'm looking into it. If [Young Ambassadors] truly is a 'promotional' group, rather than just student singers, I will try to do something about it."

Worried Mormons can now breathe a little easier.

"I have not withdrawn the use of my songs by the BYU Young Ambassadors and do not intend to do so," Schwartz said Monday in an e-mail. "They are a student singing group."

Nonetheless, he urged all "fair-minded Mormons to reconsider their position and come to support the right of homosexuals to marry the person they love."

In the end, Schwartz said, "I continue to believe that the most important tenet of any religion is, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' ''

[TheDon]

'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

Oye vey! That takes on a whole new meaning in this context...

[Vigilanteman]

Some of these "artists" somehow think the world will stop revolving if they withhold their "talents" from people with whom they disagree. Like lieberal politicians, they have a vastly overinflated sense of self-worth and wouldn't even be missed if they disappeared altogether.

It reminds me of this little poem my Daddy used to recite to me:

These backhouse poets when they die,
Deserve erected to the sky,
In memory of their clever wit,
A towering momument made of sh*t!

[ontap]

Empty threat! No use,no royalties!

[sitkaspruce]

Yep. Money talks. Nobody walks.

[massgopguy]

I wonder if the estate of Frank Baum approved this gaudy plagiarism?

[Brookhaven]

“I wonder if the estate of Frank Baum approved this gaudy plagiarism?”

I’ve always wondered that also. Did “The Wizard of Oz” go into the public domain? Wicked is clearly a derivitave work.

The musical is actually pretty good.

[Brookhaven]

Found it on Wiki (for what it’s worth.) The original bood “The Wizard of Oz” went into the public domain in 1956.

[Elsie]

It was BOOD?

I thought it was acclaimly world-wide!

[massgopguy]

What was Rodney Dangerfield’s response to “do unto other’s”?
The Gay Lobby would have said “yes” you do have to.....

[massgopguy]

Did anyone actually check into whether or not the BYU group had any intentions of using his material or is he just being an attention whore?

[massgopguy]

What was Rodney Dangerfield’s response to “do unto other’s”?
The Gay Lobby would have said “yes” you do have to.....

[Elsie]

Voltaire would NEVER make it as an FR MOD!!

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

[SENTINEL]

I don't understand.

I am prepared to provide sworn affidavits that everything I have said is true !

Why are my comments being pulled ?