Mark Charlap

Who was Mark Charlap?

Mark "Moose" Charlap was a Jewish-American Broadway composer. Born Morris Isaac Charlip in Philadelphia, he was best known for Peter Pan, for which Carolyn Leigh wrote the lyrics. The idea to do the show came from Jerome Robbins, who planned to have a few songs by Charlap and Leigh. However, the show evolved into a full blown musical, with additional songs by Jule Styne and Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It starred Mary Martin as Peter Pan and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook.

Moose Charlap is also listed as the composer for the movie musical "Hans Brinker", which starred Eleanor Parker, Richard Basehart, John Gregson, Robin Askwith, Roberta Torey, Sheila Whitmill, and Cyril Ritchard. It was based on the novel by Mary Mapes Dodge.

Charlap was married to singer Sandy Stewart, whose biggest hit was My Coloring Book in 1962. They had one son--Bill Charlap, a well-known jazz pianist, and a daughter, Katherine. Charlap had a daughter Anne Charlap and son Tom Charlap, a bass player, from a previous marriage.