Kander and EbbComposer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb collaborated for more than forty years, longer than any such partnership in Broadway history. Together they wrote over twenty musicals. Their two most successful works, Cabaret and Chicago, had critically acclaimed Broadway revivals and were made into Oscar-winning films. This book, the first study of Kander and Ebb, examines their artistic accomplishments as individuals and as a team. Drawing on personal papers and on numerous interviews, James Leve analyzes the unique nature of this collaboration. Leve discusses their contribution to the concept musical; he examines some of their most popular works including Cabaret, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spider Woman; and he reassesses their flops as well as their incomplete and abandoned projects. Filled with fascinating information, the book is a resource for students of musical theater and lovers of Kander and Ebbs songs and shows. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 12 | |
CHAPTER 2 The Divinely Decadent Lives of Cabaret | 35 |
Broadway to Hollywood | 77 |
CHAPTER 4 Fred Without John and John Without Fred | 103 |
Sex Politics and the Diva Musical | 150 |
Flora the Red Menance The Happy Time Zorbá 70 Girls 70 The Rink and Steel Pier | 170 |
The Act and The Woman of the Year | 229 |
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actors Angel Anna audience ballad Berlin Billy book scenes book songs Broadway musical Cabaret called camp character Chicago Chita Rivera chorus Cioffi Cliff collaboration Colored Lights composer concept musical critics Curtains dance David David Merrick demo recording director dramatic Ebb wrote Ebb's emcee Ethan Mordden example film final Flora Fred Ebb Girls Hal Prince Happy Harry Hollywood homosexual incorporated Jazz Jewish John Kander Kander and Ebb Karen Ziemba Kiss Liza Minnelli Mama Masteroff McNally melody minor Minstrel Show Molina movie musi musical comedy musical theater never novel opening opera orchestrations original performance piano play Puig Red Menace reprise Rink role romantic Roxie Sally scale degree score Scottsboro Boys script sexual sings Sondheim Spider Woman stage star Steel Pier story Tambo Tango Mogador television Teresa theme Thompson Tony Award Valentin vamp vaudeville Velma waltz write York Zorbá