Stars including Chita Rivera, Liza Minnelli, Mario Cantone, Kristin Chenoweth, Jason Danieley, Norm Lewis, Debra Monk, Julia Murney, Karen Ziemba, Heidi Blickenstaff celebrated all things Kander and Ebb last night at the Vineyard Theatre's Annual Gala yesterday evening, March 8. Lead by Tony Award-winning host David Hyde Pierce (Kander & Ebb's CURTAINS), the crowd paid tribute to the work of Kander and his late collaborator Fred Ebb.
Vineyard Theatre honored John Kander in conjunction with its world premiere of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS -- with music and lyrics by John Kander &Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson, and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman - currently in previews and opening officially on March 10 at Vineyard Theatre.
John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote some of the most beloved and enduring musicals in theatre history during their four decade-long partnership, the longest of its kind in musical theatre history. Their works include: FLORA, THE RED MENACE; CABARET (two Tony Awards - Best Musical and Best Composer and Lyricist); ZORBA; CHICAGO (Olivier Award); WOMAN OF THE YEAR (Tony Award, Best Original Score); KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Tony Award, Best Original Score); CURTAINS; THE VISIT and ALL ABOUT US. Kander and Ebb also collaborated for film and television on such memorable works as LIZA WITH A Z (Emmy Award); HBO's Liza Minnelli'S STEPPING OUT (Emmy Award); the films FUNNY LADY (Oscar nominated for "How Lucky Can You Get"); LUCKY LADY; NEW YORK, NEW YORK; STEPPING OUT and CHICAGO (Oscar nominated for Best Song). They are the recipients of two Grammy Awards - for the Original Cast Album of CABARET and for the Musical Show Album of CHICAGO, and in 1998, they received the Kennedy Center Honors award for Lifetime Achievement.
The 2010 Gala tribute performance was directed by Jen Bender, with musical direction and accompaniment by Paul Masse.
Vineyard Theatre opened its 2009-10 season with the critically acclaimed A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo. This spring, in addition to the aforementioned production of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, The Vineyard will produce the world premiere of Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN, starring Billy Crudup and the new musical THE BURNT PART BOYS, by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Calarco; which will be a co-production with Playwrights Horizons.
Vineyard Theatre is under the guidance of Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, Executive Director. For more information, visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
