Westfield Native Turns 'Prom' Into Tony Nomination

WESTFIELD, NJ - Westfield native Matt Sklar has composed Broadway musicals, trained in the world-famous Juilliard, arranged and adapted music for a PBS documentary on his mentor Marvin Hamlisch and now is nominated for a Tony award for his work on "The Prom."

And it all has its roots in the Westfield drama club and in Union County.

While honing his craft in his hometown, Sklar met Hamlisch on his 15th birthday in October of 1988. The two performed together that evening at a benefit concert at the Union County Performing Arts Center.

The two stayed in touch and Sklar would periodically reach out to Hamlisch for advice. Hamlisch even wrote Sklar a college recommendation letter.

Hamlisch was a successful composer and conductor who earned four Grammys, four Emmys, three Oscars, three Golden Globes, a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize before his death on Aug. 6, 2012.

"I used to read about him in books and newspaper articles about Broadway. I knew he went to Juilliard Pre-College and then became a Broadway rehearsal pianist, and eventually graduated to being a composer," Sklar said. "I pursued all of those things because I wanted to be just like him."

He said he grew up listening to Hamlisch's "A Chorus Line" and "They're Playing Our Song" and that music had a great influence on him.

"I was constantly struck by how beautiful his melodies were," he said. "His music has great heart - and that reminded me of the kind of guy he was."

Today, Sklar is a successful composer, pianist and arranger, whose credits include Tony- and Drama Desk-nominations for his composing work on the Broadway musicals, "Elf" and "The Wedding Singer" and now "The Prom."

"The Prom" is a musical is the story of four formerly famous Broadway actors visiting a conservative town after reading about a lesbian student who was not allowed to bring her girlfriend to high school prom. While these actors do want to help, they want the good press of getting involved.

The show began previews at the Longacre Theatre on Oct. 23, 2018, with an official opening on Nov. 15, 2018.

Sklar said that Westfield is very much a part of his life, and has been an influence on his writing.

Writing that will give Sklar a crack at theater's highest honor on Sunday.

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