Craig Zadan (April 15, 1949 – August 20, 2018) was an American producer, director, and writer. Zadan had been half of the successful production team Storyline Entertainment along with Neil Meron since their meeting many years ago in the New York theatrical community.

Life and career

Zadan was born in Miami, Florida. He grew up in New York City, and attended Hofstra University.[1] He wrote for New York magazine and also contributed articles to publications such as After Dark. He co-produced a Broadway tribute to Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim: A Musical Tribute, featuring Angela Lansbury and Alexis Smith in 1973. He wrote a book relating the "behind-the-scenes" of the musicals of composer Stephen Sondheim titled "Sondheim & Co." published in 1974, which has been updated with a subsequent edition and revisions until 1990. Meron invited Zadan to speak at a lecture series at Brooklyn College, and they became professional partners upon Meron's 1976 graduation. They worked for Joseph Papp at the Public Theater before going to California in the early 1980s to work for Peter Guber.

 He was openly gay.

Storyline Entertainment has had success with film musicals, such as Chicago (2003) and Hairspray.[6]Andrea McArdle, who originated the title role in Annie on stage, featured prominently in Zadan's televised version. Chita Rivera appears in Chicago as "Nickie"; she played "Velma Kelly" in the original 1975 production.

The film adaptation of Hairspray featured John Waters (writer/director) as "the flasher who lives next door;" Jerry Stiller ("Wilbur Turnblad") as "Mr. Pinky;" and Ricki Lake ("Tracy") as a reporter. On the soundtrack, Lake joins Nikki Blonsky and Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Tracy" from the Broadway production) to sing "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now" over the closing credits, and Harvey Fierstein (Broadway's "Edna") can be heard briefly soon after. Mink Stole ("Tammy" in the original film) appears as the smoking woman on the street whom Waters flashes, and is also seen in the musical number, "Welcome to the 60s". Corey Reynolds ("Seaweed" in the Broadway production) appears on the soundtrack as singer of "Trouble on the Line."

Zadan and Meron produced the Academy Awards telecast from 2013 to 2016.

Zadan died on August 20, 2018, at his home in Los Angeles from complications of shoulder replacement surgery.

Filmography

• Footloose (1984) (producer)
• Sing (1989) (producer)
• If Looks Could Kill (1991) (producer)
• Gypsy (1993) (executive producer)
• Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (1995) (executive producer)
• Twists of Terror (1997) (TV) (executive producer)
• Cinderella (1997) (executive producer)
• Annie (1999) (executive producer)
• Double Platinum (1999) (executive producer)
• Brian's Song (2001) (executive producer)
• Chicago (2002) (executive producer)
• The Music Man (2003) (executive producer)
• 16th GLAAD Media Awards (2005) (executive producer)
• Wedding Wars (2006) (producer)
• Filthy Gorgeous: The Trannyshack Story (2006) (producer)
• The Banshee and Fin Magee (2007) (producer)
• Hairspray (2007) (producer)
• Living Proof (2008) (executive producer)
• Family Man (2008) (executive producer)
• A Raisin in the Sun (2008) (producer)
• The Bucket List (2008) (producer)
• The Mayor of Castro Street (2009) (producer; about life around Castro Street)
• Fahrenheit 451 (2009) (producer)
• Smash (2012) (executive producer)
• Bonnie and Clyde: Dead and Alive (2013) (producer)
• The Sound of Music Live! (2013) (TV)
• Peter Pan Live! (2014) (TV)
• The Wiz Live! (2015) (TV)
• Hairspray Live! (2016) (TV)
• Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018) (TV)

Awards and nominations

In 2008, Zadan and Meron were awarded the "Career Achievement Award" by the Casting Society of America. He has been nominated for the Emmy Award eight times, along with his co-executive producer Meron (and the respective producers).