Mary Rodgers (January 11, 1931 – June 26, 2014) was an American composer of musicals and an author of children's books. She was a daughter of composer Richard Rodgers and his wife, Dorothy Belle (née Feiner). She had a sister, Mrs. Linda Emory. She attended the Brearley School in Manhattan, and majored in music at Wellesley College.She began writing music at the age of 16 and her professional career began with writing songs for Little Golden Records, which were albums for children with three-minute songs. One of these recordings, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves 40, which was released in 1957, featured performances by Bing Crosby of songs Mary Rodgers wrote with lyricist Sammy Kahn. She also composed music for television, including the jingle for the Prince Spaghetti commercial.
Was twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award: in 1960, for her music as part of a Best Musical nomination for "Once Upon a Mattress;" and in 1978, for both music and lyrics, as one of several people sharing a nomination as Best Score for "Working."
TV Series novel - 2 episodes, 1982 writer - 2 episodes, 1982
The Devil and Max Devlin
1981
screenplay / story
Freaky Friday
1976
book / screenplay
Free to Be... You & Me
1974
TV Movie stories
Music with Mary Martin
1959
TV Movie
Once Upon a Mattress
2005
TV Movie musical
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Great Performances
2010
TV Series music - 1 episode
American Masters
2007
TV Series documentary music - 1 episode
Once Upon a Mattress
2005
TV Movie music: "MANY MOONS AGO", "SHY", "SENSITIVITY", "THE SWAMPS OF HOME", "SPANISH PANIC", "In A Little While", "MAN-TO-MAN TALK", "Nightingale Lullaby", "Happily Ever After"
The 51st Annual Tony Awards
1997
TV Special music: "Shy"
American Playhouse
1982
TV Series music - 1 episode
Liza
1970
TV Movie writer: "Very Soft Shoes"
Once Upon a Mattress
1964
TV Movie music: "MANY MOONS AGO", "SHY", "NORMANDY", "SENSITIVITY", "THE SWAMPS OF HOME", "SPANISH PANIC", "SONG OF LOVE", "MAN-TO-MAN TALK", "Nightingale Lullaby"
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Once Upon a Mattress
2005
TV Movie
Once Upon a Mattress
1972
TV Movie
Once Upon a Mattress
1964
TV Movie
Feathertop
1961
TV Movie
No Place Like Home
1960/II
TV Movie
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Side by Side by Sondheim
1987
TV Movie music: from "The Mad Show"
Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine
1962
TV Series music and lyrics - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
2017
Documentary post-production
Herself
Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy
2013
TV Movie documentary
Herself (as Mary Rodgers Guettel)
Passion, Prejudice and South Pacific: Creating an American Masterpiece
2009
Documentary
A Life in Words and Music
2007
Video short
Herself
Broadway: The American Musical
2004
TV Mini-Series documentary
Herself
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003
Documentary
Herself
Walk on By: The Story of Popular Song
2001
TV Series documentary
Herself
Great Performances
1999
TV Series
Herself
Working in the Theatre
1996
TV Series documentary
Herself
Charlie Rose
1995
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 48th Annual Tony Awards
1994
TV Special
Herself - Winner: Best Revival of a Musical
Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of American Music
$2 Million
