Duncan Sheik

The Society of Composers & Lyricists mourns the passing of our dear friend and colleague Duncan Sheik. Inducted as an SCL Ambassador in 2015, Duncan began his career as a singer-songwriter, first achieving fame with his 1996 hit “Barely Breathing,” but ultimately his most enduring musical contributions came through his work for the stage.

Duncan’s breakthrough theatrical achievement was Spring Awakening, his collaboration with lyricist Steven Sater. Addressing adolescence, repression and sexual awakening, the 2006 Broadway musical fused alternative rock, folk and pop with the traditions of musical theater. It won eight Tony® Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, with Duncan also receiving the Tony for Best Orchestrations. The cast album also won the Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album.

The success of Spring Awakening established Duncan as an important voice in modern musical theater. Rather than adapting his pop music to Broadway, he created scores in which contemporary musical language became an integral part of the drama.

He and Sater continued their collaboration with Alice by Heart, while Duncan also wrote the music and lyrics for American Psycho, which premiered in London before reaching Broadway. Other theatrical projects included Whisper House, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Secret Life of Bees, and Nero. At the time of his passing, Duncan was scheduled to have Off-Broadway productions this season, including a new musical Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, and a revival of Spring Awakening.

Duncan Sheik’s theater career was defined by experimentation and continually showed how the sounds and sensibilities of contemporary popular music could become the foundation of a sophisticated Broadway score.

He helped change what a Broadway score could sound like and, in doing so, inspired others to expand the musical language of Broadway itself.

His voice will be missed, but his influence will continue. May he rest in peace.

Ashley Irwin
SCL President