From his writing of Godspell's score at age 23 through the making of the megahit musical Wicked and beyond, Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked takes readers into the world of the legendary Broadway and film composer-lyricist. In this authorized biography, drawing from her interviews with Schwartz and his collaborators, author Carol de Giere focuses on the behind-the-scenes stories for Schwartz's hits and disappointing flops. Readers will find colorful anecdotes and insights for his licensed musicals Children of Eden, Pippin, Working, and others. Defying Gravity also includes Hollywood stories, beginning with a new foreword by composer Alan Menken.

This updated and revised second edition delves into Stephen Schwartz's creative process for the new stage musicals The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt, and other shows. It provides additional insights on Schwartz's early work with Leonard Bernstein and his more recent international work on Wicked. It offers additional “Creative Notes” – a popular feature of the first edition – with comments from Schwartz about overcoming creative blocks, collaboration, and the artistic life.