Murray Horwitz

Murray Horwitz (born September 28, 1949) is an American playwright, lyricist, NPR broadcaster, and arts administrator.

Personal life Horwitz was born in Dayton, Ohio, on September 28, 1949, to Alan S. (a physician) and Charlotte (née Vangrov) Horwitz. He is married to singer Lisa Miller and has three children, Charles, Ann, and Alexander. They live in Chevy Chase, MD.

Education Horwitz graduated from Kenyon College with a bachelor of arts degree, with a dual major, in English and Drama. In 1992, he received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Kenyon College. Horwitz received multiple awards for co-writing Ain't Misbehavin''', including a Tony, Obie, Emmy, Grammy, and New York Drama Critics' Circle award. Horwitz received three Peabody awards for his work at NPR. He later served in fundraising positions at Washington National Opera and the Washington Performing Arts Society.

In 2016, Horwitz took over as host of WAMU's The Big Broadcast old-time radio show.

He gave Lin-Manuel Miranda critical suggestions and bought him his first rhyming dictionary when Miranda was writing his first play, In the Heights''.

He is also a co-host of the podcast "Question of the Day".

Credits and achievements (in chronological and subject order)

Stage Debut—Clown, Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus, 1970–1972. New York Debut—An Evening with Sholom Aleichem, Manhattan Theatre Club, 1975–1976. London Debut—co-author, associate director, Ain't Misbehavin', Her Majesty's Theatre, 1979. Principal Theater Appearances An Evening of Sholom Aleichem, Grendel's Lair, Philadelphia, PA, 1975–1976. The Body Politic, Chicago, IL, 1979. An Evening of Yiddish Poetry, New York Shakespeare Festival, 1980;The Ballroom, NY, 1983. Principal Theatre Work Comedy consultant, Puntila, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1977. Co-author, associate director, lyricist, Ain't Misbehavin, Longacre Theatre, NY, Plymouth Theatre, NY, Morosco Theatre, NY, London, and Paris, 1978--. Also, director, Ain't Misbehavin, Stagewest, Alaska Repertory Theatre, and Kansas City Starlight Theatre. Director, Jus' Like Livin', Chelsea's West Side Theatre, NY, 1979. Actor, writer, and director, Hard Sell, New York Shakespeare Festival, 1980. Writer and director, Carnegie at Midnight (ninetieth anniversary celebration), Carnegie Hall, NY, 1981. Actor and director, A Comedy Cabaret with Jonathan Winters, Kenyon Festival, OH, 1981. Writer and director, While Shubert Slept, reopening of the Shubert Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1984. Writer and director, This Is Opening Night, reopening of the State Theatre, Cleveland, OH, 1984. Co-author and co-director, Haarlem Nocturne, La Mama Experimental TheatreClub, NY, then Latin Quarter Theatre, NY, 1984. Principal Concert Work Producer, writer, and director, A Tribute to Stan Kenton, Kool Jazz Festival, Avery Fisher Hall, NY, 1982. Principal Film Appearances Yogurt man, Night of the Juggler, Columbia, 1980. Principal Television Work; Director Guiding Light, CBS, 1985. As the World Turns, CBS, 1985. Search for Tomorrow, NBC, 1985–1986. Producer The Making of a Song, Arts and Entertainment Network, 1981. America, Where It All Happens, Arts and Entertainment, 1981. Jazz Comes Home to Newport, PBS, 1984. Writer (In addition to the above items) Talking Morosco Blues (cabaret), Upstairs at O'Neals, NY, 1982–1983. (Screenplay with others) Soldier Boy, Universal, 1982.