Mark Hollmann

Mark Hollmann is a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist, best known for creating the score and lyrics for the Broadway musical Urinetown. While he is primarily a man of the theater rather than a business author, his work as a writer (of the "book" and lyrics) places him in the realm of published authors of dramatic literature. Urinetown is celebrated for its sharp satirical bite, parodying the legal system, capitalism, and bureaucracy—themes that resonate deeply with political and economic observers. Hollmann’s work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of genre and social commentary.\n\nHollmann’s journey with Urinetown—which started as a fringe festival entry and went on to win three Tony Awards—is a testament to creative risk-taking. His writing style is characterized by its wit, its subversion of musical theater tropes, and its Brechtian approach to storytelling. By creating a musical about a water shortage and a corporation that charges for restroom use, Hollmann crafted a modern classic that questions sustainability and corporate greed. His contribution to the literary world lies in his ability to use the structure of musical comedy to deliver serious, often dark, messages about the human condition. He continues to write and develop new works for the stage, influencing a new generation of theater makers.