Jerry Herman: Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Jerry Herman, who is a composer-lyricist and is probably best known for composing for Broadway musicals, was the winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater. His musicals include “Hello, Dolly!,” “Mame” and “La Cage aux Folles.”

And according to playbill.com, Jerry said that he has now hung up his songwriting shoes for good. He feels as though his style of musicals have come and gone now. He also said that it’s better to know when to leave than end up with shows that didn’t make it.

Jerry, who was born July 10th 1931, thinks that he would like to see revivals of “Hello, Dolly!” and “Mame,” who originally stared Angela Lansbury in 1966, but says that his shows require major stars and they don’t train people to do shows like that anymore.