Robert Lopez
Lopez grew up in Manhattan, where he attended Dalton School and graduated from Columbia University. He began his career writing songs for Broadway musicals, including Avenue Q, In the Heights, and Avenue Q 2.0. His work on Avenue Q won him the Tony Award for Best Original Score and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2009. In 2010, Lopez wrote the book, music and lyrics for the musical comedy The Book of Mormon, based on the novel by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The show opened on Broadway on April 20, 2011, and received nine nominations for the 2012 Tony Awards, winning four awards, including Best Musical.
Early life
Robert Lopez was born in Manhattan, to Katherine Lowe (née Lowe) and Frank Lopez, on June 13, 1976. His mother was American; his father was Puerto Rican. Lopez grew up in Greenwich Village, spending most of his early childhood there, except for one year living in Massachusetts while his father worked for Clark University. When he was six years old, upon their return to New York, it was a fluke that he started piano lessons. At age eight, he began playing guitar.
Lopez attended high school at Hunter College High School, graduating in 1995. During his junior year, he played the lead role in a production of the musical comedy Avenue Q. After graduation, he enrolled at Yale University, majoring in English. While at Yale, Lopez wrote three plays (of both which two were musicals), and was a member of Skull & Bones, a secret society. In addition, he became friends with fellow composer Jeff Marx, whom he met during college. Lopez graduated from Yale in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in English.
While at Yale, Lopez performed in many productions including the Yale Cabaret, the Yale Musical Theatre Company, and the Yale Repertory Theater. He also co-wrote three
Career
Lopez wrote the book, co-wrote the songs, and directed the production. He also served as the creative director for the entire musical, including writing the songs, choreographing the dances, designing the sets, and overseeing every aspect of the production.
The musical received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, and earned several Tony Awards nominations, includingBest Revival of a Musical,Best Book of a Musical,Best Direction of a Musical,Best Choreography,Best Orchestrations,Best Scenic Design,Best Lighting Design,Best Sound Design,Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical,Best Actress in a Leading Role ina Musical,Best Featured Actress in a Musical,Best Music in a Play,Best Set Design,Best Costume Design,Best Direction of a Play,Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play,Best Production,Best Revival of a Musical,Best Original Score,Best Original Song,Best Original Score, andBest Original Song.
– In 2012, Lopez and Stone reunited to write and produce, a sequel to Avenue Q.
– The show opened on April 21, 2013 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and closed on June 12, 2013.
– A cast recording was released on September 17, 2013.
– The show was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards, winning three:Outstanding Comedy Series,Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
– The show won four Critics Choice Television Awards, including Best TV ShowMusical/Comedy. – In 2014, Lopez and Stone produced, a sequel to, a sequel to.
