Biography
James Elliot Lapine (born January 10, 1949) is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for Into the Woods, Falsettos, and Passion. He has frequently collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and William Finn.
Known For
Complete Filmography
In the Company of Rose
2023
On Martha’s Vineyard, three-time Tony-winning playwright and director James Lapine meets Rose Styron, the widow of the great American novelist William...
In the Company of Rose
2023
Director of Photography, Director, Producer
On Martha’s Vineyard, three-time Tony-winning playwright and director James Lapine meets Rose Styron, the widow of the great American novelist William...
Falsettos
2017
Musical, Stage Director, Director
The 2016 Broadway revival of William Finn's Tony-winning musical tells the story of Marvin, a Jewish family man who leaves his wife and son for a male...
Custody
2016
Writer, Director
When a hard-working single mother, Sara Diaz, has her children taken from her after she is suspected of injuring her son, Ally Fisher, a recent law sc...
A New Brain
2016
Writer
When Gordon Schwinn, a neurotic, frustrated composer, is confronted with a terminal illness, he finds comfort in the healing power of art. The show is...
Act One: Live from Lincoln Center
2015
Writer
James Lapine's tribute to a life in the theater based on Moss Hart's autobiography of the same name, starring Tony Shalhoub and Andrea Martin. The pla...
Into the Woods
2014
Screenplay, Musical
In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.
Six by Sondheim
2013
Executive Producer, Director
This intimate documentary explores the life and career of the stage legend Stephen Sondheim through six of his best-known songs.
Sunday In the Park With George
2013
Musical
Inspired by Georges Seurat's magnificent painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's soaring mu...
Into the Woods
2011
Musical
In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.
Passion
2005
Writer
Passion is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine. The story was adapted from Ettore Scola's film Passione d'A...
Children Will Listen
2004
as self
The District of Columbia Public School system faces many challenges, including insufficient resources and large class sizes. Although DC students live...
Earthly Possessions
1999
Director
A bored homemaker planning to run away from her minister husband is taken hostage in a bank robbery. However, she sees the thrill in being involved in...
Passion
1996
Musical, Stage Director, Director
Giorgio, a young soldier, is in love with the married Clara and becomes her lover. But they are separated when Giorgio is posted far away, where he m...
A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim
1995
This special is a recording of the presentation of the Algur H. Meadows Award for Excellence in the Arts presented by Southern Methodist University in...
Life with Mikey
1993
Director
Michael Chapman, a former child TV star, runs a struggling talent agency specilizing in child acts. When a young girl off the street puts on a real pe...
Impromptu
1991
Director
In 1830s France, pianist/composer Frédéric Chopin is pursued romantically by the determined, individualistic woman who uses the name George Sand.
Into the Woods
1991
Stage Director, Musical, Director
In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.
Into the Woods: A Conversationpiece
1990
as Self
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine discuss their stage musical Into the Woods
Sunday in the Park with... Stephen
1990
Documentary that follows Stephen Sondheim, during his spell as visiting professor of drama at Oxford University, as he takes students through the crea...
Sunday in the Park with... Stephen
1990
Writer
Documentary that follows Stephen Sondheim, during his spell as visiting professor of drama at Oxford University, as he takes students through the crea...
Sunday in the Park with George
1986
Musical, Stage Director, Writer
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte by Georges Seurat is one of the great paintings of the world, and in "Sunday in the Park with Georg...