Another Musical Theatre Creative Dies.

Another Musical Theatre Creative Dies.

Mark O'Donnell, the Tony-winning writer behind "Hairspray" and "Cry-Baby," was found dead Monday (August 6, 2012) morning in New York City. O'Donnell, 58, reportedly suffered a heart attack in the lobby of his Upper West Side apartment building.

In 2003, O'Donnell and co-writer Thomas Meehan shared a Tony and a Drama Desk award for their musical adaptation of the 1988 John Waters film "Hairspray." Both went on to work on the 2007 film version, as well as the 2008 Tony-nominated 'Cry-Baby,' another Waters' adaptation.

O'Donell's plays include  Fables for Friends, The Nice and the Nasty, Strangers on Earth, Vertigo Park, the musical Tots in Tinseltown and That's It, Folks!

O'Donnell was the identical twin of television writer Steve O'Donnell.

This follows news earlier in the week of the death, also on Monday, after a brief illness, of Pulitzer, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award winning composer Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line and They’re Playing Our Song). Hamlisch died at his Los Angeles home, at the age of 68.

Broadway's lights were dimmed at 8pm on August 7 in tribute to Hamlisch.

A revival of A Chorus Line is currently successfully touring Australia, while Hairspray, which was released for amateur performance across Australia and New Zealand, is proving a huge hit with community theatre companies across both countries.

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