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John Kander

Birth Place: USA

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BIO

American composer John Kander (b. Kansas City, MO, March 18, 1927) is the musical partner of the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb, who together created at least sixteen Broadway shows, Flora the Red Menace (1965), Cabaret (1966), Chicago (1975), and Curtains (2007) among them. They also contributed material to fourteen films and television specials over their forty-year association. Independently John Kander supplied the scores to many films, including Something For Everyone (1970), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Places in the Heart (1984), and Billy Bathgate (1991).

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Off-Broadway]
Concert [Off-Off-Broadway], 1973
Performer

Productions

 
[West End, 2021]
Music
 
[Broadway, 2015]
Music
 
[West End, 2014]
Music and Lyrics
 
[Williamstown, MA (Regional), 2014]
Music
 
[Broadway, 2014]
Music and Lyrics
 
[Broadway, 2008]
Dance Music Arranger
 
[West End, 2006] [Replacement]
Music[Replacement]
 
[Broadway, 2003]
Dance Music Arranger
 
[Broadway, 1993]
Musical Director
 
[Broadway, 1991]
Musical Director
 
[Broadway, 1989]
Dance Music Arranger
 
[Broadway, 1974]
Dance Music Arranger
 
[Broadway, 1962]
Composer
 
[US Tour, 1962]
Dance Music
 
[Broadway, 1960]
Dance Music
 
[Broadway, 1959]
Rehearsal Pianist
Dance Music Arranger
 
[West End, 1958]
Dance Music

Writing

Music, Story
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Lyricist
Composer
Composer
Composer
Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Author
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer

Awards and Nominations

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2023 - Outstanding New Score

John Kander, New York, New York

Drama Desk Awards - 2015 - Outstanding Music

John Kander, The Visit

Tony Awards - 2015 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, The Visit

Tony Awards - 2011 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, The Scottsboro Boys

Drama Desk Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Lyrics

John Kander, Curtains

Drama Desk Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Music

John Kander, Curtains


winner
Drama League Awards - 2007 - Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre

John Kander

Olivier Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Musical Production

John Kander, Cabaret

Tony Awards - 2007 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, Curtains


winner
Helen Hayes Awards - 1999 - The American Express Tribute

John Kander


winner
Olivier Awards - 1998 - Outstanding Musical Production

John Kander, Chicago

Drama Desk Awards - 1997 - Outstanding Music

John Kander, Steel Pier

Tony Awards - 1997 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, Steel Pier

Olivier Awards - 1994 - Best Musical Revival

John Kander, Cabaret

Drama Desk Awards - 1993 - Outstanding Music

John Kander , Kiss of the Spider Woman


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1993 - Best Musical

John Kander, Kiss of the Spider Woman

Olivier Awards - 1993 - The American Express Award for Best New Musical

John Kander, Kiss Of The Spider Woman


winner
Tony Awards - 1993 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, Kiss of the Spider Woman

Tony Awards - 1993 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, Kiss of the Spider Woman

Tony Awards - 1984 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, The Rink


winner
Tony Awards - 1981 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, Woman of the Year

Olivier Awards - 1979 - Musical of the Year

John Kander, Chicago

Tony Awards - 1978 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, The Act

Tony Awards - 1976 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, Chicago

Tony Awards - 1968 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, The Happy Time


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1967 - Best Musical

John Kander, Cabaret


winner
Tony Awards - 1967 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

John Kander, Cabaret

Videos

News


Broadway Buying Guide: December 23, 2024- HAMILTON Is Back on Top

Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, December 23, 2024.
Roundabout Theatre Will Celebrate John Kander at Benefit Hosted By Alan Cumming

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced a special one-night event Ring Them Bells: A Birthday Celebration for John Kander, hosted by Alan Cumming. Learn more here!
CHICAGO Welcomes Back Max von Essen This Month

Actor Max von Essen will rejoin the razzle dazzle company of Broadway's Chicago on December 23, 2024.
Erika Jayne to Return to CHICAGO as 'Roxie Hart' in January

Chicago on Broadway will welcome back singer, actress and TV sensation Erika Jayne in the role of 'Roxie Hart'. Learn more about Jayne's return to Broadway and learn how to purchase tickets.
Broadway Buying Guide: December 16, 2024- WICKED and HAMILTON Are on Top

Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, December 16, 2024.
THE RINK is Now Available For Licensing From Concord Theatricals

The Rink is now available for licensing from Concord Theatricals. The musical features a book by Terrence McNally, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
CHICAGO Comes to Toledo in January

The American Theatre Guild will present Broadway’s favorite razzle-dazzle smash hit musical, CHICAGO. This production will kick off the 24–25 BROADWAY IN TOLEDO Series at the Stranahan Theater.
Interview: Andrew Lippa of LIPPA @ 60: A BIRTHDAY BENEFIT FOR THEATREWORKS at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley

BroadwayWorld chats with composer Andrew Lippa about 'Lippa @ 60' his one-night-only gala concert to benefit TheatreWorks Silicon Valley on December 16th
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Movie Sets World Premiere at 2025 Sundance Festival

Kiss of the Spider Woman has set its world premiere. The upcoming movie musical, based on the Broadway show of the same name, will make its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Broadway Buying Guide: December 9, 2024- Give the Gift of Broadway This Holiday Season

Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, December 9, 2024.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld December 9, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is December 9, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.
Video: Adam Lambert Performs 'I Don't Care Much' From CABARET

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club has released a music video and single of GRAMMY Award nominee Adam Lambert singing “I Don't Care Much” from the production, by John Kander and Fred Ebb. Watch here!
President Joe Biden to Attend Performance of THE EYES OF THE WORLD at The White House

On Friday, December 6, The White House will host a special live performance of American History Unbound’s The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day, to be attended by President Joe Biden. Learn more!
19 Theater Books for Your Winter 2025 Reading List

From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theater history; check out our collection of 19 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's winter reading list.
20th Annual Fred Ebb Award To Be Presented Tonight at The Todd Haimes Theater

The Fred Ebb Foundation in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company will present the twentieth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to the team of Cheeyang Ng & Eric Sorrels. Learn more!
CHICAGO Breaks Its All Time Gross Record For Thanksgiving

Chicago beat its prior Thanksgiving week gross record. Learn more about the show's grosses and see how to purchase tickets to upcoming performances, starring Sebastian Yatra.
CHICAGO Will Take the Century II Concert Hall Stage in December

CHICAGO will be performed as part of the 24–25 Broadway in Wichita Series and will take the Century II Concert Hall stage this December. Learn more about when to catch the show here!
Billy Porter and Marisha Wallace Will Lead London Production of CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB

The London production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club is getting a new cast! Beginning next month, Emmy, Tony and Grammy award winner Billy Porter will play The Emcee and double Olivier award nominee Marisha Wallace will play Sally Bowles
Student Blog: Life is a Cabaret

Student Blogger Piper Greisl recently performed in a production of 'Cabaret' in Tallahassee, Florida. In this article, she reflects on her personal experience in the show, as well as the importance of pieces of art like 'Cabaret'.
Review: Roxie Has Moxy! CHICAGO at the Fox Theatre, St. Louis

The perfect synergy of sight, sound, song and dance, Chicago is gloriously glamourous, grimy and cheeky. Murder and mayhem has never been this much fun!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has John Kander written?

John Kander has written 33 shows including A Family Affair (Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist), Flora, the Red Menace (Composer), Go Fly a Kite (Composer), Cabaret (Composer), The Happy Time (Composer), Zorba (Composer), 70, Girls, 70 (Composer), An Evening with Fred Ebb and John Kander (Composer), Liza (Composer), Chicago (Composer), 2 by 5 (Composer), The Act (Composer), Joe Masiell Not at the Palace (Material), The Madwoman of Central Park West (Composer), Woman of the Year (Composer), The Rink (Composer), Diamonds (Composer), How Lucky Can You Get? (Composer), And the World Goes 'Round (Composer), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Composer), Steel Pier (Composer), Over and Over (Composer), Fosse (Composer), The Visit (Composer), Curtains (Lyricist), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (Composer), First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb (Composer), The Scottsboro Boys (Composer), Come Fly Away (Composer), The Landing (Composer), Kid Victory (Music, Story), The Beast in the Jungle (Composer), New York, New York (Music).

What awards has John Kander been nominated for?

Outstanding New Score (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for New York, New York, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for The Visit, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Visit, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Scottsboro Boys, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Curtains, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Curtains, Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Outstanding Musical Production (Olivier Awards) for Cabaret, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Curtains, The American Express Tribute (Helen Hayes Awards) for , Outstanding Musical Production (Olivier Awards) for Chicago, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Steel Pier, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Steel Pier, Best Musical Revival (Olivier Awards) for Cabaret, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, The American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Rink, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Woman of the Year, Musical of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Chicago, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Act, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Chicago, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Happy Time, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Cabaret and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Cabaret.

What awards has John Kander won?

John Kander has received several prestigious awards, including: - Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards) - The American Express Tribute (Helen Hayes Awards) - Outstanding Musical Production (Olivier Awards) for Chicago - Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Woman of the Year - Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Cabaret - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Cabaret.

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