Fred Ebb

New York Public Library

Profession: Musical Theater Lyricist

Nationality:

Biography: American theater lyricist Fred Ebb, along with his songwriting partner composer John Kander, have created 16 Broadway productions including such classics as Cabaret; and Chicago and are the winners of three Tony awards, an Emmy and two Emmys.

Their first successful musical was "Flora the Red Menace", with Liza Minnelli in her Broadway debut in 1965. "Cabaret" opened in 1966 and won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. It was later adapted into a hugely successful film directed by Bob Fosse and also starring Liza Minnelli.

Kander and Ebb had another major hit in 1975 with "Chicago", which ran on Broadway for over 2 years, and was followed by an even more successful revival in 1996 that is still production as of 2023. The show was also made into a film starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger, in 2002.

Other important productions include "Woman of the Year" with Lauren Bacall and "The Kiss of the Spider Woman", which starred Chita Rivera. Both Musicals won the Tony for Best Musical.

Born: April 8, 1928
Birthplace: NYC, New York, USA

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Aries

Died: September 11, 2004 (aged 76)
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Historical Events

1965-05-11 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "Flora, the Red Menace", Their first collaboration stars Liza Minnelli (19) in her Broadway debut, opens at Alvin Theater, NYC; runs for 87 performances and earns Liza a Tony Award
1965-07-24 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "Flora, the Red Menace", Their first collaboration stars Liza Minnelli (19) in her Broadway debut, closes at Alvin Theater, NYC, after 87 performances and a Tony Award for Liza
1966-11-20 John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret" opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 1166 performances, wins 8 Tony Awards
1968-01-18 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "The Happy Time", starring Robert Goulet, opens at Broadway Theater, NYC; runs for 286 performances
1968-09-28 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "The Happy Time", starring Robert Goulet, closes at Broadway Theater, NYC, after 286 performances
1968-11-17 John Kander and Fred Ebbs' musical "Zorba" opens at Imperial Theater New York City for 305 performances
1969-09-06 John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret" closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 1166 performances and 8 Tony Awards
1971-04-15 John Kander and Fred Ebbs' musical "70, Girls, 70", starring Hans Conried and Mildred Natwick, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 35 performances
1971-05-15 John Kander and Fred Ebbs' musical "70, Girls, 70", starring Hans Conried and Mildred Natwick, closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 35 performances
1972-02-13 Film adaptation of "Cabaret", directed by Bob Fosse, based on John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical of the same name, starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York, and Joel Grey is released
1975-06-01 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "Chicago" opens at 46th St Theater, NYC; runs for 947 performances
1977-08-27 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "Chicago" closes at 46th St Theater, NYC, after 936 performances
1977-10-29 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "The Act", starring Liza Minnelli and directed by Martin Scorsese, opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 233 performances and wins a Tony Award for Liza
1978-07-01 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "The Act", starring Liza Minnelli and directed by Martin Scorsese closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 233 performances
1978-10-09 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "Ballroom" premieres in NYC
1984-02-09 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "The Rink", based on Terrence McNally's novel, and starring Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 204 performances, winning a Tony Award
1984-08-08 John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "The Rink", based on Terrence McNally's novel, and starring Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, closes at Martin Beck Theater, NYC, after 204 performances and a Tony Award for Rivera,
1984-09-02 Revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "Zorba" closes at Broadway Theater, NYC, after 362 performances, winning one Tony Award
1987-10-22 Revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret" opens at Imperial Theater, NYC; runs for 262 performances
1988-06-04 Revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret" closes at Imperial Theater, NYC, after 262 performances
1996-11-14 Revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical "Chicago" opens at Richard Rodgers Theater, NYC
1997-06-28 John Kandor and Fred Ebb's musical "Steel Pier" closes at Richard Rodgers Theater, NYC, after 76 performances
1998-03-15 Revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret", starring Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson, opens at Club Expo Theater, NYC; runs for 2,377 performances and wins 4 Tony Awards
2002-12-27 "Chicago" (Best Picture 2003), film based on John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical, directed by Rob Marshall, starring Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is released. in NYC, Los Angeles, and select North American cities