LUNCH & LEARN
Artsmart Series
Apr 20, 2026 |Gimelstob Ballroom
In Never Mind the Happy, musical dynamo MARC SHAIMAN looks back on five decades of Broadway triumphs, Hollywood hijinks and unforgettable collaborations. Along the way, he charts the personal highs and heartbreaks that have shaped him, spending his teenage years in community theater, starting a decades-long collaboration with Bette Midler in the ’70s, surviving the AIDS crisis of the ’80s, his award-winning film music career in the Hollywood of the ’90s, right up to the peaks (and valleys) of creating Broadway musicals from 2000 on.
Candid, hilarious, and deeply human, Shaiman’s story is a tribute to the power of music, the pull of the spotlight and the beat that never stops. Part showbiz tell-all, part love letter to the melancholy that fuels creativity, told with perfect comic timing—along with a few wrong notes and plenty of standing ovations.
Tickets include a catered lunch provided by Kravis Events by Lessing’s by Lessing’s Hospitality Group. Seating is general admission. Reserve a table with the purchase of 10 tickets.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
New York Times best-selling author MARC SHAIMAN is a renowned American composer, lyricist, arranger and music producer known for his work across film, television and theater.
Shaiman began his career as a musical director and arranger for Bette Midler before expanding into film scoring. He gained prominence with his work on films such as When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Sister Act, City Slickers, A Few Good Men, Sleepless in Seattle, The American President and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, on television with SNL, and on recordings with Harry Connick Jr. and Mariah Carey.
Shaiman earned widespread acclaim for co-writing the Broadway musical Hairspray alongside his longtime co-lyricist Scott Wittman. The duo has also co-created the musicals Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Some Like It Hot and Smash. He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and has won a Tony, two Emmys and two Grammys.
MARC SHAIMAN is celebrated for his versatile, emotionally resonant music and his ability to blend classic musical theatre sensibilities with modern storytelling. Born and raised in New Jersey, he currently lives in New York with his husband, Lieutenant Commander (ret) Lou Mirabal.
BOOK ADD-ON
Includes: One (1) signed copy of Marc Shaiman’s Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories for Sore Winners
Note: *This is a separate ticket upgrade. Choose the Book Add-On after adding tickets to cart. An event ticket is required for each Book Add-On purchased.
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Unauthorized Ticket Distributors
To avoid overpaying for your Kravis Center tickets, always purchase them from our official website, kravis.org. Outside ticketing companies and ticket brokers often appear to be trustworthy, but they are not affiliated with the Kravis Center. As a result, tickets purchased through these unauthorized ticket distributors are often double or triple the cost. We cannot provide customer service notifications or refunds for tickets purchased from unauthorized sites, unauthorized ticket distributors or brokers. View page for more information.
