Kander and Ebb (Yale Broadway Masters Series) [Hardcover]

Professor James Leve (Author)

Book Description

Series: Yale Broadway Masters Series | Publication Date: March 10, 2009

Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb collaborated for more than forty years, longer than any such partnership in Broadway history. Together they wrote over twenty musicals. Their two most successful works, Cabaret and Chicago, had critically acclaimed Broadway revivals and were made into Oscar-winning films.

 

This book, the first study of Kander and Ebb, examines their artistic accomplishments as individuals and as a team. Drawing on personal papers and on numerous interviews, James Leve analyzes the unique nature of this collaboration. Leve discusses their contribution to the concept musical; he examines some of their most popular works including Cabaret, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spider Woman; and he reassesses their “flops” as well as their incomplete and abandoned projects.  Filled with fascinating information, the book is a resource for students of musical theater and lovers of Kander and Ebb’s songs and shows.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The first important study of Kander and Ebb. A very useful book, thoughtfully presenting material not otherwise readily available.”—Raymond Knapp, UCLA

(Raymond Knapp )

“James Leve beautifully distills and clarifies the fundamental reasons for Kander and Ebb’s popularity and long term significance. This is a wise and musically informed interpretation of the team’s remarkable creative process, rich in fascinating detail.”—Thomas L. Riis, author of Frank Loesser

(Thomas L. Riis )

About the Author

James Leve is associate professor of musicology and coordinator of music history, Northern Arizona University. He has a forthcoming textbook on musical theater. He lives in Flagstaff, AZ.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1 edition (March 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300114877
• ISBN-13: 978-0300114874
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,425,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treat for musical theatre lovers, March 3, 2009

By 

Kathleen Donaldson "jverder537" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kander and Ebb (Yale Broadway Masters Series) (Hardcover)

Kander and Ebb's autobiography Colored Lights, while a fine glimpse into their creative process, is not nearly as informative and interesting as this book. Thoroughly analyzing and covering their work for the theatre and creating unique portraits of each man (Kander being the warm, loving one and Ebb being acerbic and brash), this is a must read for musical theatre lovers!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, January 24, 2010

By 

Jeffrey Dunn "JDSHOW" (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kander and Ebb (Yale Broadway Masters Series) (Hardcover)

Well-written, well-researched and revelatory in many ways. This book is a necessity for anyone interested in Musical Theatre. A perfect example of how to examine a Musical Theatre writer's career (in this case writers'). One of the very best books I have read on Musical Theatre.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Kander and Ebb book a bust, February 6, 2010

By 

Steve S. "Steve S." (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kander and Ebb (Yale Broadway Masters Series) (Hardcover)

When I purchased this book, I thought it would be more about the lives of the composers; more of their background, their experiences in greater detail, stories that told of their interaction with the directors and actors in their shows. Instead, this book reads like a music theory text-book; modalities, raising and lowering of scale degrees, vamp examples, etc. It took a lot of self-motivation to get from cover to cover. And the spelling errors and typos are too many to mention. Shame on the editors! Wait for a better book to come along about this fascinating team.