Tom Kitt
Tom Kitt CC '96 shared the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama with Brian Yorkey for the rock musical Next to Normal. Kitt composed the production's music.
He came to Columbia after being recruited to play soccer, and he majored in econ. But he soon gave up soccer and sang for the Kingsmen in addition to solo gigs at The West End. He got an early start in the 99th Varsity Show when its musical director took off to study abroad in England and took the show's music with him, leaving the show with no one to turn to but the freshman, whom a cast member - Kitt's future wife, Rita Pietropinto-Kitt - approached in his John Jay Hall room. He continued to write for the Varsity Show, collaborating with Yorkey, with whom he would eventually share his Pulitzer.
Kitt was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and the Kingsmen. After college, he turned down a job offer from Morgan Stanley to continue writing music.
He was the 2022 Class Day Speaker for Columbia College.
External links
| Preceded by Mario Van Peebles |
Columbia College Class Day Speaker 2022 |
Succeeded by Katori Hall |
