John Kander
Birth Place: USA
CURTAINS To Be Presented At Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center (Apr 24, 2026)
Mark Ballas Returns to CHICAGO on Broadway After Illness: 'Great to Be Back' (Apr 24, 2026)
LIZA! AT 80 Celebration To Feature Kristin Chenoweth, Donna Murphy, Beth Leavel and More (Apr 23, 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 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.
by Marissa Faith Curley - Apr 19, 2026
The Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO will return to Philadelphia's Forrest Theatre for the first time since 2009, presented by Ensemble Arts Philly and The Shubert Organization.
by Michael Major - Apr 14, 2026
Chicago has released the first footage of Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt performing together on Broadway! Watch a video of the pair performing 'We Both Reached For the Gun' during their first week together at the iconic musical.
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 14, 2026
Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt have reunited and are now starring together in Chicago on Broadway. Their Dancing with the Stars friend, Julianne Hough, paid a visit to the show. Check out photos here!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 14, 2026
TheatreZone announced its 2026–2027 season featuring six musicals and four concerts, including a world premiere by Naples-based playwright Mike Ruffolo and one of the first regional productions of HARMONY following its Broadway run.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 13, 2026
Elvira Tortora will bring her Bistro Award-winning and MAC Award-nominated show The Bookmaker's Daughter to Josephine's Cabaret at Club Café in Boston.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 10, 2026
New casting has been announced for the West End production of CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB. West End star and Olivier Award nominee Jamie Muscato will play Emcee and Tony and Grammy Award nominated Broadway star Joy Woods will play Sally Bowles.
by Michael Major - Apr 9, 2026
Watch Mark Ballas make his debut as 'Billy Flynn' in Chicago on Broadway with a performance of 'All I Care About Is Love,' featuring the musical's ensemble. In a new video shared to his Instagram, Ballas makes his entrance as 'Billy Flynn.'
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 9, 2026
Kiss of the Spider Woman, the 2025 film adaptation of the Broadway musical, is getting a physical media release, courtesy of boutique label Kino Lorber.
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 9, 2026
There is a lot of razzle dazzle happening at the Ambassador Theatre! Dancing with the Stars couple Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt officially took their first Broadway bows together in Chicago on Broadway. The duo will appear in the production through May 3. Check out photos here!
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 8, 2026
Production photos have been released for the new UK revival of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. The co-production is now running at Curve Leicester before stops in Bristol and Southampton.
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 8, 2026
After competing together on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars last year, Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt have reunited on Broadway's Chicago and caught up with Good Morning America to commemorate this milestone. Watch the segment now.
by Neil Brewer - Apr 7, 2026
Chicago is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. It premiered on Broadway in 1975, inspired by real-life 1920s murder cases reported by journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins. Initially overshadowed by A Chorus Line, the show achieved iconic status following its 1996 Broadway revival, which went on to become one of the longest‑running productions in Broadway history.
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 7, 2026
Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt have made their first Broadway appearance together in CHICAGO. Leavitt is making her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart, while Ballas returns as Billy Flynn. The pair will perform in the production for a limited engagement. Check out photo and videos from inside their first performance together.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 3, 2026
Lakewood Theatre Company will present FLORA THE RED MENACE on April 10 and 11 as part of its Lost Treasures Collection series, featuring the first Broadway collaboration of Kander and Ebb in a concert-style production in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
by Mary Lincer - Apr 2, 2026
When the original production of Chicago opened on Broadway in 1975, its subtitle read “A Musical Vaudeville.” And as distinctively Bob Fosse-style as it was (and is in this excellent touring production of the 1996 revival), Chicago has always been a slight history of vaudeville.
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's awards include: - 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