Philip LaZebnik

Philip LaZebnik
Born (1953-02-08) February 8, 1953 (age 71)[1]
Ann Arbor, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Occupation(s)Screenwriter and film producer
RelativesKen LaZebnik (brother)
Rob LaZebnik (brother)

Philip LaZebnik (born February 8, 1953)[1] is an American screenwriter and producer. He is known for writing the animated films Pocahontas (1995), Mulan (1998), The Prince of Egypt (1998), and The Road to El Dorado (2000).

Early life and education

He grew up in Columbia, Missouri, attended Hickman High School, and graduated from Harvard College in 1976, with a B.A. in classics. His brothers are Ken LaZebnik and Rob LaZebnik.[2]

Career

LaZebnik has written screenplays for films including Pocahontas, Mulan, The Prince of Egypt, and The Road to El Dorado. LaZebnik also wrote episodes for Wings, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Torkelsons and Almost Home. LaZebnik has served on the board of directors of the Writers Guild of America West (2001–02) and the Writers Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2001–03). The screenplay for Mulan won the 1998 Annie Award for best animation screenplay. He has written numerous films and television series in Europe and the US.

He wrote the book for the musical "Fairy Tale" about Hans Christian Andersen with songs by Stephen Schwartz, and wrote the book and lyrics for "Oktoberfest: the Musical" (2016) with music by Harold Faltermeyer. In collaboration with Mads Æbeløe Nielsen he wrote the book for the theatrical musical version of Djævelens lærling (or The Devil's Apprentice), a best-selling Danish fantasy novel of the same name by Kenneth B. Andersen, with songs and music by Madeline Myers.[3][4]

He co-wrote the book for the theatrical musical "Snow White and Me" with Ronald Kruschwak, music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, which premiered in Brno, Czech Republic at Meska Divadlo in 2022. He wrote book and lyrics for "Oktoberfest" with music by Harold Faltermeyer, which premiered in Los Angeles and opens in Berlin, Germany at the Renaissance Theatre on July 7, 2024.

He wrote the book for DreamWorks' theatrical musical version of The Prince of Egypt with songs by Stephen Schwartz which opened October 14, 2017, at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, California[5] and then April 6, 2018, at Fredericia Theatre in Denmark.[6] The Prince of Egypt premiered at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End February 25, 2020. The London West End production was filmed live and is available digitally.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1995 Pocahontas Writer
1998 Mulan
1998 The Prince of Egypt
2000 The Road to El Dorado
2006 The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar
2006 Asterix and the Vikings
2007 The Treasure of the Templar Knights 2
2007 The Three Investigators and the Secret of Skeleton Island
2000 The Treasure of the Templar Knights 3
2009 The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle
2014 Asterix and Obelix: Mansion of the Gods
2015 Emma and Santa Claus
2019 The Shamer's Daughter 2
2022 Richard the Stork and the Mystery of the Great Jewel
2023 The Prince of Egypt: Live from the West End

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988-1989 Day by Day Writer 33 episodes
1990-1991 Wings Writer / Co-producer 5 episodes
1991-1992 The Torkelsons Writer / Producer 5 episodes
1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation Writer 2 episodes
1993 Almost Home Writer / Producer 3 episodes
1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Writer Episode: Fascination
2011 Ludwig and Santa Claus Writer
2013 Hindenburg: the Last Flight Writer
2013 The Hong Kong Affair Writer

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Hans Christian Andersen: My Fairytale Writer
2016 Octoberfest The Musical Writer Los Angeles[7]
2020 The Prince of Egypt Writer West End
2022 Snow White and Me Writer

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Project Result
1995 CableAce Award Children's Programming Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Nominated
Children's Series Nominated
1998 Annie Award Outstanding Writing for an Animated Feature Mulan Won

References

  1. ^ a b "Philip LaZebnik". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  2. ^ Harben, Katherine K. (22 July 2008). "The Hollywood touch". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  3. ^ "Mynewsdesk.com: Kenneth Bøgh Andersen's Djævelens lærling to premiere as musical". Mynewsdesk (in Danish). 30 May 2018.
  4. ^ "AOH.dk: Musical Djævelens lærling to premiere at MCH Herning Congress Center" (in Danish). 2 July 2018.
  5. ^ "The Prince of Egypt musical page at TheatreWorks website". Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  6. ^ "The Prince of Egypt musical at Fredericia Teater, Denmark" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  7. ^ "Theatre Transforms into Beer Hall for Oktoberfest the Musical". playbill.com.