Joel Shatzky

The photo of me, Helene and Joel at our SUPERSPY curtain call at Medicine Show is in my book, CONTINUATOR: The Autobiography of a Socially-Conscious, Cosmopolitan Composer, just published by Dorrance Press. You can order it here: https://tinyurl.com/ContinuatorPreOrder Lots of stories about Joel therein too!

Professor Shatzky changed my career trajectory. I was a history major taking Into to Drama as an elective. One day he asked me to meet him in his office. He told me he read my paper and felt I should change my major from History to English. He read my paper and was impressed by the quality of my work. As a reserved sophomore, I couldnt believe he singled me out for praise. I changed my major to Elementary Ed with a English concentration. I never forgot Professor Shatzkys encouragement even to...

Dr. Shatzky was my professor 20 years ago. I was very quiet and reserved and one day he asked me to meet him in his office. I went in and he told me that after reading my writing he truly saw something in me and felt that I should change my major to English from History. I made English my minor thanks to his encouragement. I still think of him fondly today as one of my biggest career influences because of his confidence in me as a writer. Rest well Professor.

35 years ago Joel adapted Chekhov's CHERRY ORCHARD for Lutz Mayer's music at SUNY-Cortland, Carol Skinner remembers. She was also in his & Leonard Lehrman's SUPERSPY!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical in Ithaca Mar. 20, 1988, which went on to play in Paris, Boston, Long Island, Center for Contemporary Opera, and then, "new & improved" at Medicine Show in Feb. 2014. Joel also dramaturged for Leonard's BIRTHDAY OF THE BANK at Lake George (1988) and librettoed NEW WORLD: An Opera About What Columbus Did...

Feb. 23, 2014 Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, Curtain Call with Leonard Lehrman, Helene Williams, Joel Shatzky

Dear family and friends of Joel,

I have been a constant reader of Joel's work for more than 10 years who lives in Germany. His voice and wit and critical reflections accompanied and enriched my life. I'm so very thankful that I got to know this extraordinary man and writer who shared his texts with me. Whoever got to know Joel will not forget his generosity and friendliness and the love for life, for literature, for music, for his family and for his friends he had. He will always...

My son Eliot and I met Joel and Ben at the Suzuki festival in Ithaca. Joel was so friendly and the kids got along great, they invited us to their home where we met Dorothy and Judith, who was quite young. They were so welcoming! Later the whole family visited us at our home near Philly where we went to the Liberty Bell and the historic sights. We lost touch later, something I've always regretted. Please accept my condolences for the loss of this warm, friendly, progressive and very alive...