John Kander
Birth Place: USA
Marc Kudisch, George Salazar and More Set For THE (DISASTER) MARATHON OF 1904 Reading (Jun 11, 2026)
Mark Ballas Will Return to CHICAGO on Broadway (Jun 11, 2026)
Korean Pop Star Ivy Will Make Broadway Debut in CHICAGO (Jun 9, 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 - Jun 11, 2026
Marc Kudisch, George Salazar, and Taylor Trensch are among the cast set for a developmental reading of The (Disaster) Marathon of 1904, a new musical comedy about the chaotic 1904 St. Louis Olympic marathon, presented by New Next Now at Open Jar Studios.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 11, 2026
“Dancing with the Stars” three-time champion, Emmy-nominated choreographer, singer-songwriter, musician, and actor Mark Ballas will return to Chicago on Broadway.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 9, 2026
South Korean pop star Ivy will make her Broadway debut, joining the cast of Chicago beginning this summer at the Ambassador Theatre. Learn more about how to get tickets here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 5, 2026
You can now watch the acceptance speeches from this year’s Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre recipients André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapin, and Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 4, 2026
Tony nominee Damon Daunno (Oklahoma!) and Tony winner Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!) have joined the cast of Liza! at 80: A Celebration in Song and Dance, celebrating the legendary performer and her 80th birthday.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026
Chicago on Broadway will welcome comedian, actor and singer Matteo Lane in the role of Billy Flynn beginning this month at the Ambassador Theatre. Learn more and find out how to get tickets here!
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026
Transport Group announced Ali Stroker and Damon Daunno have joined the cast of LIZA! AT 80: A CELEBRATION IN SONG AND DANCE at Carnegie Hall, with Mo Rocca and Marc Shaiman set to host the one-night tribute.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 1, 2026
Queen Latifah will lead a special tribute performance to the musical Chicago, celebrating the show's 30 years on Broadway, at this year's Tony Awards. Learn more here!
by Adela González Pérez - May 27, 2026
La producción inmersiva de LETSGO anuncia sus nuevos protagonistas titulares de cara a las funciones en el Euskalduna Bilbao
by Stephi Wild - May 26, 2026
The Stage Door Foundation's NEW NEXT NOW series announced directors for three industry readings of original musicals, with Schele Williams, Billie Aken-Tyers, and Jesca Prudencio each helming a new work.
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 A.A. Cristi - May 7, 2026
O’Connell & Company will present the Tony Award–winning musical comedy mystery Curtains, running through May 19 at the Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center. Check out photos of the production.
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.
- 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
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