Steven Withers (born April 16, 1961) is an American pianist.
Contents |
Withers, a native of San Diego, California, graduated from Point Loma High School in 1978. He studied composition and piano performance at the University of Cincinnati’s College/Conservatory of Music (CCM) for five years before beginning his professional career. For several years in the 1990s Mr. Withers could be found at the piano on stage with the stellar cast of Forever Plaid in their record-breaking run at the Theater in Old Town. During this same time he served at the Principal Accompanist of the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego under the baton of Gary Holt, one of the founders of the GMCSD. In 1998 he toured extensively with Michael Crawford [1] in Mr. Crawford’s solo show, playing keyboards with the on-stage orchestra. Performances included dates at Radio City Music Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and an appearance on The View with Barbara Walters. Steven can be heard on the live CD recorded that summer, In Concert: Michael Crawford.[2] After playing in the bands for both Jane Eyre (La Jolla Playhouse)[3] and The Full Monty (Old Globe) Mr. Withers moved to Manhattan (2000–2004) where he played keyboards for both those Tony nominated shows and recorded the Jane Eyre Original Broadway Cast album. He played piano for the workshop of Ragtime creators Flaherty and Ahrens’ A Man Of No Importance with Richard Thomas and Faith Prince, which later opened at Lincoln Center. Steven music-directed workshops in London and New York of Daddy-Long-Legs, a new show by Jane Eyre creators Paul Gordon and John Caird, and continues to work as scribe for Paul Gordon’s work, including three new shows in development: Emma, The Circle, and The Front. He recently accompanied When Pigs Fly at San Diego’s Diversionary Theatre,[4] the third oldest LGBT theatre in the United States, and will be the Music Director for Diversionary’s upcoming Christmas show It’s A Fabulous Life! in November 2006. Steven is thrilled to be back in San Diego with his (nearly) life-long love (13 years and counting,) Marc d’Hondt, Executive Director of Stepping Stone of San Diego, Inc., the award winning addiction recovery facility for Gays and Lesbians, and to be accompanying the glorious singing of the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego.