Marc Shaiman To Be Music Director for 82nd Academy Awards

Marc Shaiman has been named music director for the 82nd Academy Awards, according to a report in The Los Angeles Times.

The composer-arranger has earned three Academy Award nominations for Original Score for his work on The American President, First Wives Club, and Patch Adams along with two Oscar nominations for Original Song for “A Wink and a Smile” from Sleepless in Seattle and “Blame Canada” from South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut. Additionally, Shaiman won an Emmy for his song-medleys for Billy Crystal’s stint as host of the the 64th Academy Awards in 1992, and netted two others for 1991 and 2004.

On Broadway, Shaiman won a Tony Award for his work – with Scott Wittman – for Hairspray. His other theater credits include songs and musical arrangements for Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me as well as arrangements for Patti LuPone on Broadway, Leader of the Pack, and Bette! Divine Madness.

The nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards will be announced on February 2, with the ceremony taking place March 7 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.