Chita Rivera, Maria Friedman, et al. Set for Kander & Ebb Gala at Drury Lane Theatre, 4/24

According to published reports, stage veterans Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Elaine Paige, Janie Dee, Maria Friedman and Marvin Hamlisch will perform in a Kander & Ebb gala tribute on April 24. The event, which will take place at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, will feature songs from some of their best-know shows, including Chicago, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and Cabaret.

Kander's and Ebb's greatest acclaim came from the musical Cabaret (1966) and the 1972 film version. The musical, directed by frequent collaborator Harold Prince, was a major success, with a Broadway run of over 1,100 performances. It won a Tony Award as the season's best musical, and its original cast recording won a Grammy Award. The film, directed by Bob Fosse, won eight Academy Awards.

The musical Chicago (1975) after an excellent initial run of 936 performances was revived on Broadway in 1996 to become an even greater hit. It has become the longest-running revival in Broadway history, and the 2002 film version was also a great success, including an Oscar nomination for the collaboration.

Other Broadway successes included Woman Of The Year (1981), Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992), and, posthumously for Ebb, Curtains (2006).

 

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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