Philip LaZebnik (born February 8, 1953) is an American screenwriter and producer. He is known for writing the animated films Pocahontas (1995), Mulan (1998), The Prince of Egypt (1998), and The Road to El Dorado (2000).
Early life and education He grew up in Columbia, Missouri, attended Hickman High School, and graduated from Harvard College in 1976, with a B.A. in classics. His brothers are Ken LaZebnik and Rob LaZebnik.
Career LaZebnik has written screenplays for films including Pocahontas, Mulan, The Prince of Egypt, and The Road to El Dorado. LaZebnik also wrote episodes for Wings, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Torkelsons and Almost Home. LaZebnik has served on the board of directors of the Writers Guild of America West (2001–02) and the Writers Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2001–03). The screenplay for Mulan won the 1998 Annie Award for best animation screenplay. He has written numerous films and television series in Europe and the US.
He wrote the book for the musical "Fairy Tale" about Hans Christian Andersen with songs by Stephen Schwartz, and wrote the book and lyrics for "Oktoberfest: the Musical" (2016) with music by Harold Faltermeyer. In collaboration with Mads Æbeløe Nielsen he wrote the book for the theatrical musical version of Djævelens lærling (or The Devil's Apprentice), a best-selling Danish fantasy novel of the same name by Kenneth B. Andersen, with songs and music by Madeline Myers.
He co-wrote the book for the theatrical musical "Snow White and Me" with Ronald Kruschwak, music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, which premiered in Brno, Czech Republic at Meska Divadlo in 2022. He wrote book and lyrics for "Oktoberfest" with music by Harold Faltermeyer, which premiered in Los Angeles and opens in Berlin, Germany at the Renaissance Theatre on July 7, 2024.
He wrote the book for DreamWorks' theatrical musical version of The Prince of Egypt with songs by Stephen Schwartz which opened October 14, 2017, at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, California and then April 6, 2018, at Fredericia Theatre in Denmark. The Prince of Egypt premiered at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End February 25, 2020. The London West End production was filmed live and is available digitally.
Filmography Film Year Title Role1995 Pocahontas Writer 1998 Mulan 1998 The Prince of Egypt 2000 The Road to El Dorado 2006 The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar 2006 Asterix and the Vikings 2007 The Treasure of the Templar Knights 22007 The Three Investigators and the Secret of Skeleton Island 2000 The Treasure of the Templar Knights 32009 The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle 2014 Asterix and Obelix: Mansion of the Gods 2015 Emma and Santa Claus2019 The Shamer's Daughter 22022 Richard the Stork and the Mystery of the Great Jewel2023 The Prince of Egypt: Live from the West End
Television Year Title Role Notes1988-1989 Day by Day Writer 33 episodes 1990-1991 Wings Writer / Co-producer 5 episodes1991-1992 The Torkelsons Writer / Producer 5 episodes1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation Writer 2 episodes1993 Almost Home Writer / Producer 3 episodes 1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Writer Episode: Fascination 2011 Ludwig and Santa Claus Writer 2013 Hindenburg: the Last Flight Writer 2013 The Hong Kong Affair Writer
Theatre Year Title Role Notes2004 Hans Christian Andersen: My Fairytale Writer 2016 Octoberfest The Musical Writer Los Angeles2020 The Prince of Egypt Writer Fredericia Theatre, later West End2019 Djævelens lærling (The Devil's Apprentice) Writer 2022 Snow White and Me Writer
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Project Result1995 CableAce Award Children's Programming Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Children's Series 1998 Annie Award Outstanding Writing for an Animated Feature Mulan
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