Betty Paraskevas
Encyclopedia
Betty Paraskevas was a New York writer and lyricist
best known for her work on Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
. She is partnered with her son, illustrator Michael Paraskevas
. Born in New Jersey
, Betty Paraskevas moved to Southampton in the mid 1980s. Prior to becoming a children's author, Paraskevas worked for many years as a playwright
and lyricist on Broadway
, working with producer Harry Rigby
on shows such as "Sugar Babies
" and "No, No, Nannette". Her collaboration with her son began in the early 1980s when Michael – already a successful illustrator – encouraged her to write a story which he could then illustrate. They produced "On the Edge of the Sea", which was published by Dial Books in 1982. Their second book, which she once again penned, was "Junior Kroll". Published in 1993, it led to their first series. Since then the pair have written over 20 books, three of which have been turned into television series.
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
best known for her work on Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast is an animated TV series based on the books by Michael Paraskevas and his mother Betty. It currently airs on the American Channel Nick Jr.....
. She is partnered with her son, illustrator Michael Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas is an artist best known for creating Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. He is partnered with his mother Betty. They have authored 20 children's books and created three very popular animated series: Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Marvin the Tap Dancing Horse, and The Kids from Room...
. Born in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Betty Paraskevas moved to Southampton in the mid 1980s. Prior to becoming a children's author, Paraskevas worked for many years as a playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and lyricist on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, working with producer Harry Rigby
Harry Rigby
Harry Rigby was a Tony Award-winning American theatre producer and writer.Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rigby joined forces with Jule Styne and Alexander H. Cohen to produce the short-lived 1951 Hugh Martin musical Make a Wish as his first Broadway outing...
on shows such as "Sugar Babies
Sugar Babies
Sugar Babies is a musical revue conceived by Ralph G. Allen and Harry Rigby, with music by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and Al Dubin and various others. The show is a tribute to the old burlesque era...
" and "No, No, Nannette". Her collaboration with her son began in the early 1980s when Michael – already a successful illustrator – encouraged her to write a story which he could then illustrate. They produced "On the Edge of the Sea", which was published by Dial Books in 1982. Their second book, which she once again penned, was "Junior Kroll". Published in 1993, it led to their first series. Since then the pair have written over 20 books, three of which have been turned into television series.