There is an instructive article over at The New York Times that I have been meaning to post for anyone who may have missed it. Kander without Ebb, Start Spreading the News, is a marvelous piece about one of the greatest writing teams of the 20th century. Best known for their hit musicals Chicago and Cabaret, this writing team has had an almost unparalleled string of artistic and commercial hits.
“Constant to their themes and to each other, Kander and Ebb were among the most
successful songwriting partners in musical theater, and among the longest
lasting. Most of the great composers and lyricists either hooked up serially
(Rodgers with Hart then Hammerstein) or were, like Cole Porter, professionally
celibate. But from “Flora, the Red Menace” in 1965 through “Steel Pier” in 1997,
and for a few years on either side, Kander and Ebb, who seldom socialized with
each other, wrote almost nothing with anyone else. (Mr. Ebb even declined an
offer to work with Rodgers, post-Hammerstein, on “Rex.”) In all, 11 Kander and
Ebb musicals appeared on Broadway; when Mr. Ebb died, at 76, another four were
waiting in the wings.”
Kander and Ebb’s library of works may not be quite finished. Their final musical Curtains recently opened in Los Angeles to successful reviews. It will be interesting to watch the path of this show, and to hear the melodious music of Mr. Kander yet again.
“Constant to their themes and to each other, Kander and Ebb were among the most
successful songwriting partners in musical theater, and among the longest
lasting. Most of the great composers and lyricists either hooked up serially
(Rodgers with Hart then Hammerstein) or were, like Cole Porter, professionally
celibate. But from “Flora, the Red Menace” in 1965 through “Steel Pier” in 1997,
and for a few years on either side, Kander and Ebb, who seldom socialized with
each other, wrote almost nothing with anyone else. (Mr. Ebb even declined an
offer to work with Rodgers, post-Hammerstein, on “Rex.”) In all, 11 Kander and
Ebb musicals appeared on Broadway; when Mr. Ebb died, at 76, another four were
waiting in the wings.”
Kander and Ebb’s library of works may not be quite finished. Their final musical Curtains recently opened in Los Angeles to successful reviews. It will be interesting to watch the path of this show, and to hear the melodious music of Mr. Kander yet again.
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