Bill Sherman is an American composer, producer, arranger, and orchestrator. He is known for his work on In the Heights, Hamilton, and Sesame Street. Sherman is also a member of Team Supreme that co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast.

Biography

Sherman was born in New York to Susan B. Sherman and Dr. Fredrick T. Sherman. Sherman graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 2002. In 2003, he joined his roommate Lin-Manuel Miranda to form the freestyle rap group Freestyle Love Supreme, while also working with Miranda to orchestrate and arrange the music for In the Heights. His work on In the Heights won him the 2008 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations and the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. He collaborated again with Miranda to produce the Hamilton album, for which he won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Sherman is the musical director for several Sesame Workshop shows, including Sesame Street, for which he has written over 3000 songs. He has won three Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Original Song – Children’s and Animation" for his work on Sesame street: "What I Am" in 2011, "The Power of Yet" in 2015, and "A Song About Songs" in 2018.

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenueRef.
2008In the HeightsOrchestrator, arrangerBroadway, Richard Rodgers Theatre
2019Freestyle Love SupremeMusical SupervisorBroadway, Booth Theatre
2021
2022& JulietOrchestrator, arrangerBroadway, Stephen Sondheim Theatre

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2007Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding OrchestrationsIn the HeightsNominated
2008Tony AwardsBest OrchestrationsWon
2011Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Original Song – Children’s and Animation"What I Am" from Sesame StreetWon
2015"The Power of Yet" from Sesame StreetWon
Grammy AwardsBest Musical Theater AlbumHamilton as producerWon
2018Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Original Song – Children’s and Animation"A Song About Songs" from Sesame StreetWon
2023Tony AwardsBest Orchestrations& JulietNominated
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding OrchestrationsNominated

External links