Prince, Harold (1928-2019), was one of the most successful and creative directors and producers in the history of American musical theater. In a career stretching from the middle 1950’s into the 1990’s, Prince directed or produced many of Broadway’s greatest musicals. He is particularly known for his collaborations with composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Prince won 21 Tony Awards, including an award for lifetime achievement in 2006. He received the most Tonys of any individual across all categories.
Harold Smith Prince, also known as Hal Prince, was born in New York City on Jan. 30, 1928. His birth name was Harold Smith. His parents divorced when he was young, and he later adopted the last name of his stepfather, Milton Prince, a stockbroker.
While Harold Prince was still in his 20’s, he co-produced the Broadway musical hits The Pajama Game (1954) and Damn Yankees (1955). He also co-produced the classic musicals West Side Story (1957) and Fiorello! (1959). He was the sole producer of the long-running musicals A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962) and Fiddler on the Roof (1964). Prince turned to directing with the musical A Family Affair (1962).
Among Prince’s greatest achievements were his collaborations with the American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Prince produced and directed many of Sondheim’s most acclaimed musicals, including Company (1970), Follies (1971), and A Little Night Music (1973). He also directed Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979).
Prince produced and directed the hit musical Cabaret (1966) and directed Evita (1978), The Phantom of the Opera (1986), and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992). Prince gained praise for his revival of the classic 1927 musical Show Boat in 1993. He also directed operas for several companies, including the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.
Prince wrote an autobiography, Contradictions: Notes on 26 Years in the Theatre (1974). He updated the book and had it published under the title Sense of Occasion in 2017. Prince died in Reykjavik, Iceland, on July 31, 2019.
