Fred Ebb
As a writer, lyricist, composer and director, Fred Ebb made incalculable contributions to the New York theatrical community. Mr.
Date of Birth: April 08, 1933
Date of Death: September 11, 2004 (71)
Birth Place: USA
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BIO
As a writer, lyricist, composer and director, Fred Ebb made incalculable contributions to the New York theatrical community. Mr. Ebb is a Tony, Grammy, Emmy, Olivier and Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award winning recipient. Fred Ebb's first professional songwriting assignment came in 1953 when he and Phil Springer were hired by Columbia Records to write a song for Judy Garland called "Heartbroken." Mr. Ebb was introduced to composer John Kander in 1964 by music publisher Tommy Valando and became one of the most legendary songwriting teams in American history. The first successful collaboration was on the song "My Coloring Book," recorded by Barbra Streisand. Their second theatrical collaboration, Flora, the Red Menace, created a star out of Liza Minnelli in her Tony Award-winning Broadway debut. In 1966, their collaboration Cabaret, opened and received seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score. A 1972 movie version of Cabaret starring Liza Minnelli was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won eight awards and was nominated for nine Golden Globe Awards and won three including Best Picture, Musical or Comedy. The same year, the songwriting team wrote a number of songs for Minnelli's television special "Liza With a Z," which received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program - Variety or Popular Music. In 1975, the two wrote the Broadway musical Chicago, directed by Bob Fosse and starring Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach. The musical was successfully revived 20 years later at City Center ENCORES! and subsequently transferred to Broadway where it is currently the longest running revival in Broadway history. In 1977, the team collaborated with Martin Scorsese on the movie New York, New York; the title song was introduced by Minnelli and later recorded by Frank Sinatra becoming the unofficial theme song of New York City. The Minnelli Broadway vehicle The Act also opened that year. After a four-year absence, Mr. Ebb and Mr. Kander returned with Woman of the Year (1981), The Rink (1984), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (1985) and Steel Pier (1997). They were honored by the Kennedy Center with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. Miramax's 2002 feature film Chicago was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won six, including Best Picture and was nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards and won three, including Best Picture, Musical or Comedy.
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STAGE CREDITS
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Awards and Nominations
Fred Ebb, The Visit
Fred Ebb, The Visit
Fred Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys
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Fred Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys
Fred Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys
Fred Ebb, Curtains
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Fred Ebb
Fred Ebb, Curtains
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Fred Ebb
Fred Ebb, Steel Pier
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Fred Ebb, Kiss of the Spider Woman
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Fred Ebb, Kiss of the Spider Woman
Fred Ebb, The Rink
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Fred Ebb, Woman of the Year
Fred Ebb, Chicago
Fred Ebb, The Act
Fred Ebb, Chicago
Fred Ebb, Chicago
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Fred Ebb, Zorba
Fred Ebb, The Happy Time
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Fred Ebb, Cabaret
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Fred Ebb, Cabaret
Videos
Video: Milwaukee Rep Releases Trailer for THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND
by Michael Major - 2026-09-17 13:51:27
Video: THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND Cast Performs 'Maybe This Time' at Milwaukee Rep
by Joshua Wright - 2026-08-28 10:42:42
Photos/Video: Korean Pop Star Ivy Takes Her First Bows In CHICAGO On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-08-17 23:18:05
Exclusive: Watch Michael R. Jackson Sing from New Musical, SUBSCRIBERS
by Sam Anctil - 2026-08-16 16:00:07
Video: Mark Ballas Returns to CHICAGO on Broadway; Derek Hough Delivers Opening Monologue
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-07-20 23:43:15
Video: Watch Matteo Lane Perform 'Razzle Dazzle' in CHICAGO on Broadway
by Michael Major - 2026-07-08 13:10:32
Exclusive: Watch Elizabeth Stanley's Rendition of 'Sing Happy' for LIZA! AT 80
by Luka Vonier - 2026-06-22 10:06:52
Video: LIZA WITH A 'Z Concert Film Now Available to Stream for Free
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-06-18 11:12:00
Video: CHICAGO's Newest Star Krysta Rodriguez Takes Her First Bows
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-06-15 23:13:55
Video: Mark Ballas & Whitney Leavitt Perform 'We Both Reached For the Gun' in CHICAGO
by Michael Major - 2026-04-14 12:58:43
Video: Watch Mark Ballas Sing 'All I Care About Is Love' in CHICAGO on Broadway
by Michael Major - 2026-04-09 12:47:01
Video: Mark Ballas Shares How DANCING WITH THE STARS Performance Led to CHICAGO
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-08 14:06:52
Video: Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt Take First Bows Together in CHICAGO On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-04-06 23:04:12
Video: Whitney Leavitt Gets Tattoo to Celebrate Breaking CHICAGO Ticket Record
by Michael Major - 2026-03-18 16:25:40
Video: Watch Alex Newell Sing 'When You're Good to Mama' in CHICAGO
by Michael Major - 2025-11-25 13:40:31
Video: Diego Luna on How KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Is a Celebration of Cinema and Theater
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-11 14:00:20
Video: Tonatiuh Is Fulfilling Musical Theater Dreams in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-12 14:00:20
Video: Bill Condon on How KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Completes the CABARET and CHICAGO Trilogy
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-10 15:13:51
News
by Andrew Poretz - Oct 9, 2026
Deborah Grace Winer's Songbook Sundays celebrated the legendary Kander and Ebb at Dizzy's, starring Karen Ziemba and Matthew Scott, and Vanisha Gould, with a terrific quartet delivering fresh takes on some of Broadway's most beloved songs.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 8, 2026
The Broadway company of CHICAGO will celebrate 30 years on Broadway this November, with a special star-studded one-night-only event, featuring original company members Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton.
by Sandra Arias Muñoz - Oct 8, 2026
Tras el éxito cosechado, CABARET regresa a la capital apostando de nuevo por un formato que transporta al espectador directamente al vibrante del Berlín de 1929, convirtiendo todo el recinto en un auténtico club clandestino de la época
by Oliver Oliveros - Oct 7, 2026
Broadway’s most dazzling and dangerously seductive musical is coming back to the Theatre at Solaire! GMG Productions, in association with legendary Broadway producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Crossroads Live Group CEO David Ian, has officially announced that 'Chicago The Musical' will play in Manila for a limited run from March 9 to 28, 2027—fresh off performances in Seoul, Dubai, and India.
by Sandra Arias Muñoz - Oct 8, 2026
El bullicioso y clandestino ambiente del Berlín de 1929 vuelve a instalarse en la capital con el estreno de CABARET en el Espacio Delicias.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2026
Det Norske Teatret will present a new production of the musical Cabaret on the theater's Main Stage in Oslo, Norway. Learn more about the upcoming production here.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2026
Ballet dancer Tiler Peck will moderate a post-show discussion with Reece Weaver, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and Netflix personality, following a performance of the long-running Broadway musical.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2026
Joey Contreras' musical IN PIECES will extend its London run by five weeks after initial performances sold out in two hours. The production is set to run at The Other Palace with casting to be announced.
by Rachel Stone - Oct 5, 2026
Laurie Rose Savage's new family drama, a finalist in Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest, will premiere in a limited Off-Off Broadway engagement at Matthew Corozine Studio Theater in Manhattan.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 1, 2026
Prospect Musicals has revealed the complete cast for CELEBBRATION: A Concert Evening of Songs from the Fred Ebb Award Winners. The concert will take place at Symphony Space and feature Santino Fontana and more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026
Broadway's longest-running American musical, Chicago, will perform at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre's Grand Theatre for a limited engagement of 14 shows, marking the production's first run in India.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026
D. Sabella, Broadway's original Mary Sunshine in CHICAGO, will celebrate the iconic musical's 30th anniversary with a behind-the-scenes one-man show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 29, 2026
Emmy Award honoree Kelli Finglass, who has directed the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for 35 years, will deliver the opening monologue at a Broadway performance of CHICAGO.
by Rebecca Kaplan - Sep 28, 2026
Here are a few top picks to consider this week including a Karen Mason’s album release concert, Ariana DeBose’s Café Carlyle debut show, a program celebrating the work of Kander and Ebb, and more
by Rebecca Kaplan - Oct 1, 2026
See some of the biggest names performing at cabaret venues this month - at a range of budget points. Tickets to these shows are limited and they are likely to sell out, so make sure to check this list when you plan out your month!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 24, 2026
Prospect Musicals will present a concert evening celebrating a decade of Fred Ebb Award-winning songwriters, with a cast including Tony Award winner Santino Fontana and stars from WICKED, SIX, and COME FROM AWAY.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 24, 2026
The Broadway production of CHICAGO will extend the run of former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Reece Weaver in the role of Roxie Hart at the Ambassador Theatre due to demand.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 22, 2026
Desdemona Chiang, Cheeyang Ng, and Eric Sorrels' new musical THE PHOENIX has been chosen for Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's Triple R Program, with a staged reading set for NYC.
by Michael Quintos - Sep 22, 2026
To kick-off the 2026-2027 run of their often Broadway-centric Cabaret Series, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa tapped not only a proven Broadway star, but an OC native, too for a triumphant homecoming concert: Krysta Rodriguez. Marking her Center cabaret debut, Rodriguez performed to rapturous crowds for three consecutive nights at the Samueli Theater from September 10-12, 2026.
by Michael Major - Sep 17, 2026
Milwaukee Repertory Theater shared a trailer for THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, its Kander and Ebb revue running in the Stackner Cabaret through October 25.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Fred Ebb has written 34 shows including By Jupiter (Additional Material), Put It in Writing (Material), Morning Sun (Bookwriter), Flora, the Red Menace (Lyricist), Go Fly a Kite (Lyricist), Cabaret (Lyricist), The Happy Time (Lyricist), Zorba (Lyricist), 70, Girls, 70 (Bookwriter), An Evening with Fred Ebb and John Kander (Lyricist), Liza (Bookwriter), Chicago (Bookwriter), Shirley MacLaine (Bookwriter), 2 by 5 (Lyricist), The Act (Lyricist), The Madwoman of Central Park West (Lyricist), Woman of the Year (Lyricist), The Rink (Lyricist), Diamonds (Lyricist), How Lucky Can You Get? (Lyricist), And the World Goes 'Round (Lyricist), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lyricist), Steel Pier (Lyricist), Over and Over (Lyricist), Fosse (Lyricist), Minnelli on Minnelli (Bookwriter), The Visit (Lyricist), Barbara Cook's Broadway! (Lyricist), Curtains (Lyricist), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (Lyricist), First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb (Lyricist), The Scottsboro Boys (Lyricist), Come Fly Away (Lyricist), New York, New York (Lyrics).
Fred Ebb has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his notable nominations include Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Visit," Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "The Visit" and "The Scottsboro Boys," Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Scottsboro Boys," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "Curtains," Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre at the Drama League Awards, Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "Curtains," The American Express Tribute at the Helen Hayes Awards, Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "Steel Pier," Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "Kiss of the Spider Woman," Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "Kiss of the Spider Woman," Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "The Rink," Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "Woman of the Year," Musical of the Year at the Olivier Awards for "Chicago," Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "The Act," Best Book of a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Chicago," Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "Chicago," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "Zorba," Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "The Happy Time," Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for "Cabaret," and Best Original Score at the Tony Awards for "Cabaret."
Fred Ebb has won several awards throughout his career. He received the Outstanding Lyrics award at the Drama Desk Awards for his work on The Scottsboro Boys. He was also honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award at the Drama League Awards. The Helen Hayes Awards presented him with The American Express Tribute. Ebb's musical Kiss of the Spider Woman won the Best Musical award at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and he was also recognized with the Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre award at the Tony Awards for this production. Additionally, Ebb won the Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre award at the Tony Awards for Woman of the Year. He received the Outstanding Lyrics award at the Drama Desk Awards for Zorba. Lastly, Ebb's musical Cabaret won the Best Musical award at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and he was honored with the Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre award at the Tony Awards for this production as well.
