Rupert Holmes is a Tony Award®–winning composer, lyricist, playwright, novelist, and screenwriter whose singular career spans music, theatre, television, and literature. Widely regarded as one of the most versatile creative voices of his generation, Holmes is the only artist in Broadway history to receive Tony Awards® as sole author, composer, and lyricist of a musical.
Born in Cheshire, England and raised in New York, Holmes trained as a clarinetist and music theorist before turning his talents to songwriting and orchestration. He achieved early fame in the world of pop music with his Billboard #1 hit “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” followed by numerous collaborations with leading artists of the 1970s and ’80s. His transition to musical theatre solidified his status as a master storyteller, blending wit, suspense, and melodic sophistication.
Holmes made Broadway history with THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, for which he wrote the book, music, lyrics, and orchestrations. The innovative, audience-interactive show won the Tony Awards® for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score, and continues to be celebrated as a landmark achievement in musical theatre.
His subsequent stage works further showcased his range and inventiveness. He penned the book for the hit backstage whodunit CURTAINS, featuring music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb. The show—a loving spoof of both murder mysteries and classic musical comedies—earned Holmes the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical and a Tony® nomination for Best Book. Most recently, he adapted Gilbert and Sullivan’s beloved operetta into PIRATES! THE PENZANCE MUSICAL, an exuberant reimagining set in 19th-century New Orleans. With new dialogue, lyrics, and musical arrangements, Holmes’ PIRATES! reinvigorates the classic tale with his signature blend of humor, intelligence, and theatrical verve.
Whether writing for Broadway, television, or the page, Rupert Holmes continues to captivate audiences with his sophisticated craftsmanship and endlessly inventive storytelling. His work on CURTAINS and PIRATES! THE PENZANCE MUSICAL—both licensed by Theatrical Rights Worldwide—cements his reputation as a master of theatrical wit and musical ingenuity.