John Kander
Birth Place: USA
CABARET to Open at Santa Fe Playhouse's Alhambra Theater This Summer (May 20, 2026)
Krysta Rodriguez Will Join CHICAGO as 'Roxie Hart' (May 20, 2026)
CHICAGO to Open at The TADA Theatre in June (May 19, 2026)
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
Productions
Writing
Music
Composer
Bookwriter/Composer/Lyricist
Composer
Author
Composer
Awards and Nominations
John Kander, New York, New York
John Kander, The Visit
John Kander, The Visit
John Kander, The Scottsboro Boys
John Kander, Curtains
John Kander, Curtains
winner
John Kander
John Kander, Cabaret
John Kander, Curtains
winner
John Kander
winner
John Kander, Chicago
John Kander, Steel Pier
John Kander, Steel Pier
John Kander, Cabaret
John Kander , Kiss of the Spider Woman
winner
John Kander, Kiss of the Spider Woman
John Kander, Kiss Of The Spider Woman
winner
John Kander, Kiss of the Spider Woman
John Kander, Kiss of the Spider Woman
John Kander, The Rink
winner
John Kander, Woman of the Year
John Kander, Chicago
John Kander, The Act
John Kander, Chicago
John Kander, The Happy Time
winner
John Kander, Cabaret
winner
John Kander, Cabaret
Videos
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: Jennifer Lopez New Musical Clip from KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN on THE TONIGHT SHOW
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-08 11:12:13
Video: Jennifer Lopez Opens Up About Seeing Her First Broadway Show
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-06 13:44:57
Video: Jennifer Lopez Talks Lifelong Love of Musicals on CBS SUNDAY MORNING, Previews KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-09-29 11:43:08
Listen: Tonatiuh Sings 'She's a Woman' From KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-09-26 11:49:34
Video: Jennifer Lopez, Tonatiuh, & More on Bringing KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN to Life
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-09-22 15:43:17
Video: Watch CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB Take Its Final Bow on Broadway
by Michael Major - 2025-09-22 09:48:28
Video: Jennifer Lopez Sings Title Song From KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
by Stephi Wild - 2025-09-05 07:51:03
Video: Watch Jacqueline B. Arnold Sing 'When You're Good to Mama' in CHICAGO
by Michael Major - 2025-08-28 14:01:40
Video: KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Film Trailer, Starring Jennifer Lopez
by Stephi Wild - 2025-08-20 09:34:10
Video: Billy Porter on the Difference Between His Directing and Performance Styles: 'I'm About Love'
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-25 10:25:23
Video: Billy Porter Says He is Returning to a 'Better' Broadway in CABARET
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-23 10:20:16
Video: Billy Porter Talks Fulfilling Dream Role as Emcee in Broadway’s CABARET
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-21 12:00:41
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 20, 2026
Santa Fe Playhouse has revealed the cast and creative team for Cabaret, directed by producing artistic director Anna M. Hogan, with performances at the Scottish Rite Temple's Alhambra Theater in Santa Fe.
by Stephi Wild - May 20, 2026
Krysta Rodriguez will join the cast of Chicago as Roxie Hart. She will begin performances in June at the Ambassador Theatre. Rodriguez most recently appeared on Broadway in SMASH.
by A.A. Cristi - May 19, 2026
TADA Productions will present the Broadway musical CHICAGO at The TADA Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska's Historic Haymarket District, featuring Bailey Domann as Roxie Hart and Matt Nesmith as Billy Flynn.
by Adela González Pérez - May 18, 2026
Los alumnos de 4ºM de Interpretación Musical se despiden de las aulas con un montaje de intriga metateatral, orquesta en directo y funciones con fines solidarios.
by Andrew Poretz - May 16, 2026
Ella Mae Dixon brought jazz swagger and Broadway heart to 54 Below with SWINGIN’ SHOWTUNES on 5/10! Blending powerhouse vocals, vulnerable storytelling and inventive arrangements, Dixon turned classic musical theater into vibrant late-night jazz.
by Josh Sharpe - May 21, 2026
With The Late Show with Stephen Colbert coming to an end this week, we are looking back at some of our favorite Broadway performances and musical theater-themed moments from over the past ten years.
by Stephi Wild - May 14, 2026
Broadway’s original cast album of “Chicago” is among the selections joining the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2026. Learn more about the full list here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 8, 2026
Dawn Derow will bring her MAC Award-winning cabaret show Sing Happy back to The Triad in New York City, celebrating Broadway's iconic women through the music of Kander & Ebb.
by A.A. Cristi - May 7, 2026
The Smith Center in Las Vegas announced its upcoming season lineup, including Broadway productions SHUCKED and Alicia Keys' HELL'S KITCHEN, plus concerts from Natalia Lafourcade, Boney James, and others.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 5, 2026
Chicago is currently playing at The Auditorium in Chicago now through May 10. With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history,
by Stephi Wild - May 5, 2026
Atlanta-based entertainment lawyer James Walker, an investor in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, has filed a second lawsuit against several of the show’s producers. Learn more here!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 30, 2026
The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced that André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapine will each receive the 2026 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 29, 2026
NEW YORK CITY CENTER announced programing for the 2026 –2027 Season—the largest in the institution’s history. It will include Encores! productions of Kiss of the Spider Woman, Hallelujah Baby, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and more.
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 28, 2026
TheatreZone and Florida Gulf Coast University will co-produce CABARET, the Tony Award-winning Kander and Ebb musical, at the FGCU TheatreLab in Fort Myers, with FGCU students performing alongside Actors' Equity professionals.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 28, 2026
Chicago will welcome back Rachel Schur in the role of “Roxie Hart” and will welcome to the cell block for the first time Nik Walker as “Billy Flynn” at the Ambassador Theatre. Learn more here!
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 24, 2026
O'Connell & Company will present CURTAINS, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy mystery by Kander & Ebb, at Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center in Williamsville, NY.
by Michael Major - Apr 24, 2026
Mark Ballas has made his return to Chicago on Broadway after facing an illness that kept him out of performances. The Dancing With the Stars pro took to his Instagram Story to thank audiences for their support after he was cleared to resume.
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 23, 2026
Transport Group announced tickets on sale for LIZA! AT 80: A CELEBRATION IN SONG AND DANCE, a one-night-only tribute at Carnegie Hall featuring Kristin Chenoweth, Donna Murphy, Andrew Rannells, and more honoring Liza Minnelli's 60-year career.
by Charlie Thomas - Apr 22, 2026
Palm Springs' vibrant theatre scene is abuzz with anticipation as 'Kiss of the Spiderwoman' takes center stage at the Palm Canyon Theatre. Running through April 26, this compelling production invites audiences into a world of fantasy and harsh reality, brilliantly brought to life by a stellar creative team and cast.
by Michael Major - Apr 21, 2026
Mark Ballas was forced to step out of Monday's performance of Chicago on Broadway mid-show due to illness. After missing performances over the weekend due to illness, Ballas that after trying to return for act one, he apologized for having to leave.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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).
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.
John Kander has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, 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
Videos
