Colored Lights

Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb are the longest-running song-writing partnership in Broadway history, having first joined forces in 1962. The creators of such groundbreaking musicals as "Chicago," "Cabaret," and" Kiss of the Spider Woman," Kander and Ebb have helped to push American musical theater in a more daring direction, both musically and dramatically. Their impact on individual performers has been great as well, starting with the handpicked star of their first musical: an untested nineteen-year-old named Liza Minnelli (who writes of this experience in her introduction).
"Colored Lights" covers the major shows of Kander and Ebb's partnership, from "Flora, the Red Menace" (starring a then-unknown Liza) to "The Visit," their newest show, which is set to star another Kander and Ebb favorite, Chita Rivera. The pages and musicals in between reveal what has made theirs such an important and long-lived musical partnership--and one so valued by the artists they have worked with. In recounting the genesis and controversies of "Cabaret," reflecting on the superstar mentality of such artists as Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand, and recalling their work with Bob Fosse on "Chicago" (as well as their thoughts on the Oscar-winning film version), John Kander and Fred Ebb provide a history not only of their own lives but also of the American musical theater of the late twentieth century.
Greg Lawrence is the author or co-author of six books, including Gelsey Kirkland's bestselling "Dancing on My Grave" and a biography of Jerome Robbins. He lives in New York City.
Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb were the longest-running composer-lyricist partnership in Broadway history, having first joined forces in 1962. (Ebb died in 2004.) The fruits of their collaboration--an ever-exciting blend of the traditional and the modern--helped push American musical theater in a more daring direction, both musically and dramatically. At the same time, their influence and impact on individual performers, while less well known, was also substantial. As their longtime friend and protegee Liza Minnelli writes in her introduction, "John and Fred made everything possible."
Told through a dialogue between the two men and enlivened with excerpts from Fred Ebb's lyrics and sixteen pages of photographs, "Colored Lights" is a unique and wonderful work. Starting with "Flora, the Red Menace," their first show together, and continuing with such groundbreaking works as "Cabaret," "Chicago," and "Kiss of the Spider Woman," John Kander and Fred Ebb--ably assisted by Greg Lawrence--discuss their lives and careers with the same wit and acuity that distinguish their work for the stage, concluding with a lively discussion of the recent Academy Award-winning film adaptation of "Chicago" and of their final musical, "The Visit."
Whether they are exploring what goes into creating a truly original work such as "Cabaret," reflecting on what makes a song succeed (and what makes a singer a great singer rather than merely a good one), or discussing how their own collaborative process works, John Kander and Fred Ebb provide a rich, one-of-a-kind history not only of their own careers but also of the American musical theater of the late twentieth century.
"Illuminating . . . A] frank, funny memoir."--Melissa Rose Berbardo, "Entertainment Weekly"
"A wonderful, easy read . . . A must for musical theatre fans."--Andrew Gans, "Playbill"
"Not only endlessly entertaining and revealing about the world of musical theater, but something of a master class in the art of crafting words and music for the stage."--David Cuthbert, "The Times-Picayune" (New Orleans)
"A snappy collaboration . . . Kander and Ebb are an indispensable partnership."--Benjamin Ivry, "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution"
"There is a song in "Flora, the Red Menace" called 'All I Need Is One Good Break.' I got my good break when I met Kander and Ebb. I can't think of a better way to hear the history of Broadway than from the masters themselves."--Susan Stroman
"Even though I've had the privilege and great happiness of collaborating with John Kander and Fred Ebb, I've always wanted to be a fly on the wall of the music room in Fred's apartment, where they write together after I've gone. "Colored Lights" is that fly. It is filled with fascinating, illuminating, and very, very savvy stuff. It is the authentic voice of these two iconic gentlemen themselves."--Terrence McNally
"I recognized Fred Ebb and John Kander's talent at the very beginning, and now the world has. They are the best--a class act "--Kaye Ballard
"A fascinating conversation with Broadway's greatest collaborators. You are constantly moved by John and Fred's warmth, humor, humility, and undeniable brilliance."--Rob Marshall
"I was enthralled reading "Colored Lights." It made me proud that I was fortunate enough to have performed their play, "Woman of the Year." They stood by my side when I wanted to sing a ballad (the title of which escapes me at the moment) that they wrote, and was subsequently taken out, but I wanted to sing the number when I heard the score. They treated all this 'drama' as if I was originating the show. The song was put in because they loved it also. The number was a smash I adore their talents I adore them I loved their book "--Debbie Reynolds
"It was a joy working with Kander and Ebb and this book shows what makes them so special. They are not only brilliantly talented, they are totally honest and have a deep respect for each other, for their colleagues, and for the musical theater. "Colored Lights" gets you to know two wonderful guys who became one creative team."--Joe Stein, co-writer of the musicals "Zorba" the "Greek and Fiddler on the Roof"
"To work with Kander and Ebb is a lovefest beyond compare. To be their friend is even more so. They are words and music. I am theirs, whenever they want me."--Lauren Bacall
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