CAST & CREATIVE

Music & Lyrics

John Kander & Fred Ebb

The Kander and Ebb collaboration of four decades created many Broadway standards and contemporary classics. Their first collaboration “My Coloring Book” became a hit song for Barbra Streisand, earning John and Fred a Grammy nomination. Kander and Ebb’s first Broadway show in 1965 Flora, the Red Menace, was produced by Hal Prince, directed by George Abbott and introduced a rising new star: Liza Minnelli. Followed by Cabaret (Tony Award music and lyrics); The Happy Time; Zorba; 70, Girls, 70; Chicago; The Act; Woman of the Year (Tony Award music and lyrics); The Rink; Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award music and lyrics); and Steel Pier. Along with movies and television writing original material for the Academy Awards; “Liza With a Z” and HBO’s Liza Minnelli’s “Steppin’ Out” (both Emmy winners); “Baryshnikov on Broadway”; “Goldie and Liza Together”; Funny Lady; Lucky Lady, New York, New York; Steppin’Out; and the movie Chicago. In 1985, the song “New York, New York” became the official anthem of New York City. At the time of Mr. Ebb’s death in 2004, Kander and Ebb had several projects in different stages of completion, Tony-nominated Curtains, in 2007; 12-time Tony-nominated The Scottsboro Boys, in 2010; All About Us (an adaptation of The Skin of our Teeth); and The Visit, nominated for five Tonys including best score in 2015 starring Chita Rivera. In 2023, the musical New York, New York opened receiving nine Tony Award nominations and Mr. Kander excepting a Lifetime Achievement Tony. Mr. Kander and author/playwright Greg Pierce collaborated on two musicals, The Landing and Kid Victory debuting at the Signature Theatre and the Vineyard Theatre.