Stephen Trask
Stephen Trask (born August 29, 1966) is an American composer, lyricist, and musician recognized for his contributions to musical theater and film scores.[1]Trask co-created the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch with John Cameron Mitchell, providing the music and lyrics for the production that premiered off-Broadway in 1998 and explored the life of a East German performer who underwent a botched genital surgery to facilitate escape from the communist regime via a sham marriage.[2][3] The work gained cult status, leading to a 2001 film adaptation directed by Mitchell and a 2014 Broadway revival that secured the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, along with Drama Desk Awards for Trask's outstanding music and lyrics.[4][5] Beyond theater, Trask has scored films such as Little Fockers (2010) and The Nice Guys (2016), and earlier served as music director and house band leader at the New York nightclub Squeezebox, where he honed his rock performance style.[1] A graduate of Wesleyan University in 1989, Trask's oeuvre emphasizes raw, punk-influenced compositions that prioritize emotional directness over conventional Broadway polish.[6]