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John Kander

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John Kander
Kander in 2023
Kander in 2023
Background information
Birth nameJohn Harold Kander
Born(1927-03-18)March 18, 1927(age 97)
Kansas City, Missouri,U.S.
GenresMusical theatre, film, television
Occupation(s)Composer
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1957–present
Spouse(s)
Albert Stephenson
​
(m.2010)​

John Harold Kander(born March 18, 1927)[1]is an American composer, known largely for his work in the musical theater. As part of the songwriting teamKander and Ebb(with lyricistFred Ebb), Kander wrote the scores for 15 musicals, includingCabaret(1966) andChicago(1975), both of which were later adapted into acclaimed films. He and Ebb also wrote the standard "New York, New York"(also known as" Theme fromNew York, New York").

Early life[edit]

John Kander, the second son of Harold and Bernice (Aaron) Kander, was born on March 18, 1927, inKansas City, Missouri.[2]He has stated that he grew up in a loving, middle-class Jewish family and maintained a lifelong close relationship with his older brother, Edward, who became a sales manager at a brokerage house in the city.[3]John attributes his early interest in music (starting at age four) to the family's love of singing around the piano.[4]His first composition was a Christmas carol, written during second-grade mathematics class; his teacher's encouragement led to the school choir singing it for a holiday assembly.[5]His 2nd grade teacher discreetly asked his parents permission to use the song since, ironically, he is Jewish. He attended his first opera performances at the age of nine, when the San Carlo Opera came to Kansas City with their productions ofAidaandMadama Butterfly.According to Kander, "My mother took me and we sat in the first row. There were these giants on the stage, and my feet were dangling over my seat. It was overwhelming for me, even though I could see the strings that held the beards on the Egyptian soldiers.... My interest in telling a story through music in many ways derived from early experiences like those."[6]

Kander attended Westport High School before transferring tothe Pembroke Country-Day School.DuringWorld War II,Kander joined theU.S. Merchant MarineCadet Corps. After completing his training in California and sailing between San Francisco and Asia, Kander left the Corps on May 3, 1946.[6]However, due to rule changes governing national service, Kander was forced to enlist in theArmy Reservesin September of the same year, after having already completed one semester at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. During theKorean War,Kander was ordered back into active duty, but he was forced to remain in New York City for six months of observation after a medical physical revealed scars on his lungs. He was officially discharged on July 3, 1957.[6]

Kander graduated with a degree in music atOberlin Collegein 1951 and went on to graduate studies atColumbia University,where he was a protégé ofDouglas Moore[7]and studied composition withJack BeesonandOtto Luening.He earned his master's degree from Columbia University in 1953.[1]

Career[edit]

Following his studies, Kander began conducting at summer theaters before serving as a rehearsal pianist[1]for the musicalWest Side StorybyLeonard BernsteinandJerome Robbinsin New York. While working, Kander met the choreographer, Jerome Robbins, who suggested that Kander compose the dance music for the show in 1959.[citation needed]After that experience, he wrote dance arrangements forIrma la Doucein 1960.[8]

Kander's first produced musical wasA Family Affairin 1962, written withJamesandWilliam Goldman.The same year, Kander metFred Ebbthrough their mutual publisher, Tommy Volando.[1]The first song Kander and Ebb wrote together, "My Coloring Book", was made popular by a recording from Sandy Stewart and their second song, "I Don't Care Much", was made famous byBarbra Streisand,and Kander and Ebb became a permanent team.[1]

In 1965, Kander and Ebb wrote music for their first show on Broadway,Flora the Red Menace,produced byHal Prince,directed byGeorge Abbott,and with book by George Abbott andRobert Russell,in whichLiza Minnellimade her Broadway debut.[9]

Kander and Ebb have since been associated with writing material for bothLiza Minnelli[10][11]andChita Rivera(including the musicalsZorba,Chicago,The Rink,andKiss of the Spider Woman) and have produced special material for their appearances live and on television, such asLiza with a Z.[citation needed]

The Broadway musicalsCabaretandChicagohave been made into films. The film version ofChicagowon several 2002Academy Awards,including for best picture, film editing, costume design, art direction and sound.[12]In his musicological and biographical study of the collaboration of Kander and Ebb, James Leve discusses the full history ofCabaretandChicagoin chapters titled "The Divinely Decadent Lives ofCabaret"and"Chicago:Broadway to Hollywood ". As Leve notes,Cabaret,which is a musical adaptation ofChristopher Isherwood'sThe Berlin Stories,was an "ideal vehicle for Kander and Ebb's brittle and self-referential brand of musical theater."[13]This insight also holds true forChicago.

Kander, along with Ebb, also wrote songs forThornton Wilder'sThe Skin of Our Teeth,and it was set to premiere in London, but the rights were pulled by Wilder's nephew. He also says thatHarvey SchmidtandTom Jones,the writers ofThe Fantasticks,wrote a musical of Wilder'sOur Townand it took them thirteen years to write, only to have the rights pulled as well by the nephew.[14]

Kander's first musical without Ebb in many years,The Landing,with book and lyrics by Greg Pierce, premieredoff-Broadwayat theVineyard Theatreon October 23, 2013.[15]The musical, which was a series of three "mini-musicals", was directed by Walter Bobbie and starredDavid Hyde PierceandJulia Murney.[16]Kander's musicalKid Victory,with book and lyrics by Greg Pierce, had its world premiere February 28, 2015 at theSignature TheatreinArlington, Virginia.[17]Kid Victorypremiered off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre on February 1, 2017 in previews, and opened officially on February 22, 2017. Direction is by Liesl Tommy with choreography by Christopher Windom. The cast features Jeffry Denman andKaren Ziemba.[18]

Kander (music) and David Thompson (lyrics) wrote the dance playThe Beast in the Junglewhich opened off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. The play is directed and choreographed bySusan Stroman,and features Tony YazbeckandIrina Dvorovenko.[19]Kander collaborated withLin-Manuel Mirandafor Miranda'sHamildropseries: “Cheering for Me Now” (lyrics Miranda and music Kander) is an uplifting track about New York's ratification of the constitution.[20]

James Leve discusses Kander's prolific career and his late musical style in the essay "John Kander: the First Ninety-Two Years".[21]

Personal life[edit]

In 2010, Kander married dancer and choreographer Albert Stephenson, his partner since 1977, in Toronto.[22][23]Kander's grand-nephewJason Kanderwas formerly theMissouri Secretary of State.[24]

Works[edit]

Lyrics by Fred Ebb unless otherwise noted

Stage musicals[edit]

Film and television[edit]

Kander and Ebb also contributed songs for the following movies:

Film scores
Television

Awards[edit]

The team also received numerous nominations, which include five additional Tony Awards, twoAcademy Awards,and fourGolden Globe Awards.

Kander, like Ebb, is also a member of theAmerican Theater Hall of Fame,having been inducted in 1991.[28]

In 1998, Kander and Ebb received theKennedy Center Honorsaward for Lifetime Achievement.[29]

In 2018, Kander was awarded the Stephen Sondheim award by Tony-winningSignature Theater.[30]

In 2021, Kander was honored as a Columbia alum with the I.A.L. Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts byThe Varsity Show[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdeGreen, Stanley (1984).The World of Musical Comedy: The Story of the American Musical Stage as Told through the Careers of Its Foremost Composers and Lyricists.New York, NY: Da Capo. p. 331.ISBN0498023443.
  2. ^Kander, John, and Fred Ebb with Greg Lawrence.Colored Lights: Forty Years of Words and Music, Show Biz, Collaboration, and All That Jazz.Faber and Faber, 2003, p.3
  3. ^Kander, Ebb and Lawrence, pp. 5-7.
  4. ^Kander, Ebb and Lawrence, pp. 5-6.
  5. ^Kander, Ebb and Lawrence, pp. 4-5.
  6. ^abcLeve, James (2009).Kander and Ebb (Yale Broadway Masters Series).New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 12.ISBN978-0300114874.
  7. ^John Kander (April 7, 2010)."Passing Through Curtains".NewMusicBox(Interview). Interviewed byFrank J. Oteri(published May 1, 2010).
  8. ^"Person List".Playbill.RetrievedJanuary 10,2018.
  9. ^"Flora, the Red Menace Broadway @ Alvin Theatre - Tickets and Discounts".Playbill.RetrievedJanuary 10,2018.
  10. ^"Liza Broadway @ Winter Garden Theatre - Tickets and Discounts".Playbill.RetrievedJanuary 10,2018.
  11. ^Schillinger, Liesl (23 February 2006)."Suddenly Liza".New York.New York Media, LLC.RetrievedJanuary 10,2018.
  12. ^Lyman, Rick (March 24, 2003)."'Chicago' Is Big Oscar Winner, but 'Pianist' Surprises; Hollywood Glamour Still Stars at Ceremony, but Security and War Play Supporting Roles ".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 10,2018.
  13. ^Leve, James (2009).Kander and Ebb.Yale University Press. p. 35.ISBN978-0-300-11487-4.
  14. ^Cerasaro, Pat (November 2, 2010)."InDepth InterView: John Kander".Broadway World.RetrievedNovember 24,2010.
  15. ^"John Kander, Greg Pierce and Nicky Silver announced for 2013-14 Season".Vineyard Theatre.23 April 2013.RetrievedJuly 4,2014.
  16. ^"The Verdict: Critics Review John Kander-Greg Pierce MusicalThe Landing,Starring David Hyde Pierce, Off-Broadway ".Playbill.October 24, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 1,2017.
  17. ^Clement, Olivia (February 28, 2015)."New John Kander Musical Kid Victory Opens Tonight at the Signature".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 28,2015.
  18. ^Clement, Olivia (February 22, 2017)."John Kander'sKid VictoryMusical Opens Off-Broadway ".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 22,2017.
  19. ^Clement, Olivia (May 23, 2018)."World Premiere ofBeast in the JungleOpens Off-Broadway ".Playbill.RetrievedMay 23,2018.
  20. ^Legaspi, Althea (2019-11-17)."See Lin-Manuel Miranda Celebrate Diversity in 'Cheering for Me Now' Video".Rolling Stone.
  21. ^Leve, James (2019). "John Kander: the first Ninety-Two Years".The Routledge Companion to the Contemporary Musical.
  22. ^Teeman, Tim (October 16, 2012)."John Kander: Life is still a cabaret".The Times.RetrievedDecember 2,2015.
  23. ^"Broadway Composer John Kander Reflects On A Career Of 'Hidden Treasures'".Fresh Air. November 25, 2015.RetrievedDecember 2,2015.
  24. ^Newmark, Judith (June 24, 2012)."John Kander brings his memories to Muny's 'Chicago'".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.RetrievedDecember 2,2015.
  25. ^Jones, Kenneth (March 22, 2007)."With Curtains, Kander Writes a Love Letter to Theatre — and to Absent Friends".Playbill.
  26. ^"Baryshnikov on Broadway".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.23 October 2017.RetrievedJanuary 10,2018.
  27. ^O'Connor, John J. (May 29, 1986)."'LIZA IN LONDON' PRESENTED ON HBO ".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 10,2018.
  28. ^"Notes for John Kander".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedJuly 4,2014.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^"List of Kennedy Center Honorees".John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2013.RetrievedJuly 4,2014.
  30. ^Gans, Andrew (December 12, 2017)."Tony Winner John Kander Will Receive Signature's Stephen Sondheim Award".Playbill.RetrievedApril 7,2018.
  31. ^"General 1".The Varsity Show.Retrieved19 September2021.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Kander&oldid=1217211925"