STEPHEN LLOYD HELPER is an adventuresome award-winning playwright, devisor, librettist and lyricist whose work has strong social conscience, emotion and humor. He tackles important issues regarding health, loss, the plight of refugees, aging, and capitalism.
A graduate of Yale (BA) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (MFA), his musical SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE (co-conceiver) remains the record holder for the longest running revue in Broadway history . His play with music, CAFE REBETIKA!, about Greek refugees sold out its season at the Sydney Opera House and toured throughout Australia.
In October 2026, his blues musical written with Grammy Award winning artist, Bobby Rush, will premiere at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, MS. Titled SLIPPIN' THROUGH THE CRACKS, The Bobby Rush Musical...
STEPHEN LLOYD HELPER is an adventuresome award-winning playwright, devisor, librettist and lyricist whose work has strong social conscience, emotion and humor. He tackles important issues regarding health, loss, the plight of refugees, aging, and capitalism.
A graduate of Yale (BA) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (MFA), his musical SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE (co-conceiver) remains the record holder for the longest running revue in Broadway history . His play with music, CAFE REBETIKA!, about Greek refugees sold out its season at the Sydney Opera House and toured throughout Australia.
In October 2026, his blues musical written with Grammy Award winning artist, Bobby Rush, will premiere at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, MS. Titled SLIPPIN' THROUGH THE CRACKS, The Bobby Rush Musical, it tells his story of joy, hope, hardship and resilience. It is an inspirational Black American success story.
His three character play, UP AND DOWN, explores the hope, determination and reality of caring for one's loved one.
Other current work includes the new musical H IS FOR HAPPINESS with award-winning songwriter Sara Storer about a dynamic, crazy imaginative young girl trying to bring happiness back into her family.
Also, he is creating a new opera with London composer Dom Bouffard based on the 14th century frescos The Allegories of Good and Bad Government by Ambroglio Lorenzetti in the Palazzo Publico in Siena, Italy.
He is also helping director Sir Richard Eyre develop his play THE WOLVES, directing an industry reading in NYC.
Steve's play, A SIGN OF THE TIMES, premiered at Ars Nova Off-Broadway but was shuttered by the pandemic lockdown in March 2020 after only a few performances in previews. It starred Javier Muñoz. It is a one person play about a man who is grieving the loss of his young son. This play was originally performed to stellar reviews and full houses in Sydney.
Steve connects audiences with stories to stick with their hearts and minds. His humor helps him create rich, complex characters that people can recognize in themselves.