BWW TV: John Kander Looks Back Part 2 - CHICAGO, Chita Rivera & the Fred Ebb 'Golden' Years

Welcome to Part 2 of BroadwayWorld's exclusive sit down with musical theater icon John Kander, maestro to some of the most important musicals of our time.  Last time, John took us through his career from his first fateful meeting with later partner Fred Ebb to the movie musical phenomenon of Cabaret and upcoming The Dramatists Guild Fund honor on June 3, 2012.

This time, John takes a walk down memory lane, remembering the ups and downs of creating such musical treasures - and misses - as Chicago, The Rink, The Visit, The Act, The Happy Time, Curtains, that little tune "New York New York," and his muses Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera. Click here to revisit Part 1 of this fascinating discussion.

The Dramatists Guild Fund honors Kander's lifetime achievement in a special ceremony this Sunday, June 3, in association with the organization's 50th Anniversary.  His body of work includes Cabaret and Chicago - also major motion pictures - Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Act, Woman of the Year, The Rink, Curtains, The Scottsboro Boys, Steel Pier, The Visit, Flora the Red Menace, Zorba and more.  

The event will take place at the Mandarin Oriental and will be hosted by Jon Cryer. Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Smash", How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Promises, Promises, "Chicago," "Hairspray") are serving as honorary co-chairs of the special night. 

Performances and tributes will be given by well-known members of the theater community including Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, Christie Brinkley, Stockard Channing, Joel Grey, Rob Marshall, Susan Stroman, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba and Joshua Henry. For tickets and more information on the starry affair, visit www.dramatistsguildfund.org/programs/gala.

Richard Ridge fell in love with the theatre at the age of five when he went through his parents record cabinet and stumbled upon their original cast album collection and the rest is history.He has toured the world as a performer and for the past twenty years he has been the host of the television program Broadway Beat and now, BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE.

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