| . | 02/29/2008
LIFE IS A CABARET: A TRIBUTE TO FRED EBB
By: Linda Amiel Burns
Fred Ebb
Rob Fisher served as Artistic and Music Director for Life Is A Cabaret: A Tribute to Fred Ebb the weekend of February 23, 24, & 25, 2008 at the 92nd Street Y’s 38th season of the Lyric & Lyricist Series. At the 3rd season, Fred Ebb was the guest and it has been 35 years since the Y honored this remarkable talent who “has made an indelible mark on the NY theatrical community and American musical culture, winning Tony’s, Emmys, Grammy’s and even an Olivier Award.” In 1998, he received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award. Fred Ebb was born to a Jewish family on April 8, his birth year being somewhat of a mystery as many sources give the year either as 1928, 1933 or 1936. He died of a heart attack at his home on Central Park West on Sept. 11, 2004.
Rob Fisher put together a fabulous band of musicians: Scott Cady on piano, Andrew Sterman on reeds, Bob Milllikan, trumpet, Kevin Kuhn on guitar, Jeff Carney on bass and David Ratajczak on drums. A stellar cast performed the songs: Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, Diana Canova and the Award-winning Tyne Daly. David Garrison served as an amiable host and is also credited as the scriptwriter for a well-written and intelligent presentation. There are so many Kander & Ebb songs, it must have been a chore deciding what to include and what to leave out. David opened the show with the perfect song “Wilkommen” from Cabaret (music: John Kander) and Diana performed the philosophical “But The World Goes Round” from the film of New York, New York.
Ebb was born to a Jewish family, and during the early 1950’s worked bronzing baby shoes, as a trucker’s assistant, was employed in a department store credit office and at a hosiery company. In 1955, he graduated from New York University with a BA in English Literature, and two years later, he earned a Master’s from Columbia University. His first professional writing experience was with Phil Springer, and the first song they wrote together was “I Never Loved Him Anyhow” sung by Carmen McRae. However, their next song “Heartbroken” (1953) was recorded by Judy Garland and, at this show, the wonderful Judy Blazer performed this little known song. Ebb’s next collaborator was Paul Klein and they contributed songs to the Broadway revue from A to Z and Simon Says. David Harrison sang the clever song “Think” from that show.
In 1962, the music publisher Tommy Valando, introduced Ebb to pianist, choreographer John Kander, and, for the next 40 years, they became one of the most legendary songwriting teams in American history. Their first successful song collaboration “My Coloring Book” (recorded by Barbra Streisand) was well acted by Judy Blazer and then Brent Barrett gave a moving rendition of “Seeing Things” (The Happy Time – 1968). The writing team’s first professional production, the George Abbott-directed musical Flora The Red Menace made Liza Minnelli a star and earned her a Tony Award. Judy Blazer sang the special love song “A Quiet Thing” from that show.
In 1966, Kander & Ebb secured their place in theatrical history with Cabaret, which won 8 of the 11 Tony’s it was nominated for. Ebb is quoted as saying that “Cabaret is one of the happiest memories I have because [the final product] was what I had in mind, and I think mostly is the best you can do." Diana Canova sang “I Don’t Care Much” from that show, and then a thrilling “Maybe This Time” but it was the film clip of Fred Ebb singing “Cabaret” that was most touching and showed the love he had for performing.
This brilliant team was responsible for 12 musicals and a legion of memorable songs. The tribute jumped around the catalog demonstrating the amazing songs from their many shows including Chicago, which first opened in 1975 and was revived by City Center’s Encores! In 1995. It is now the longest running revival in Broadway history. Tyne Daly sang a bang-up version of Mama Morton’s “When You’re Good To Mama” and she and David performed the raunchy duet “Class.” Tyne and Diana’s duet from Woman of the Year “The Grass Is Always Greener” was a comic standout.
One of the highlights of this terrific show was the entire cast singing “Show People” from Curtains, now running on Broadway. The women showed their stuff when Judy sang the sexy “Arthur in the Afternoon” (The Act), Diana wowed the crowd with “Ring Them Bells” (Liza with a Z) and Judy and Diana were joined by Brent in the immortal “All That Jazz.” Another interesting pairing were songs about marriage. Brent sang an emotional medley of “Married (Cabaret) and “Marry Me” (The Rink) and Tyne’s “Isn’t This Better?” from Funny Lady followed and Judy completed the relationship with “My Own Space” (The Act) which in 1977 was a very modern concept.
Tyne and the cast closed with the positive and fun “Yes” from 70, Girls ,70 – but no L & L would be complete without a sing-a-long and the audience gave their all in the famed “New York, New York,” as the lyrics appeared on the screen. Fred said in an interview that his philosophy was “Come to the cabaret, and make the most of it!” That is good advice to follow!
This concert was a “fitting testimonial to the brilliance of Fred Ebb’s talent and proof that his lyrics and songs will live as long as there’s a stage on which to perform – and all that jazz!”
For more info:
http://www.92Y.org/lyrics , call 212 415-5500 or visit the Box Office
The next concert in the series is:
“I’ve Got Your Number: Romance, The Rat Pack & Carolyn Leigh”
with Deborah Grace Winer, artistic director & host on
March 29, 30 & 31
Linda Amiel Burns
Founder and Director of The Singing Experience, popular cabaret and musical theater performance workshops since 1977, have been featured on “CBS Sunday Morning” with Charles Osgood and, recently, the subject of a profile in Back Stage by David Finkle. Linda is a sought after vocal coach & director and has written, booked and directed hundreds of cabaret acts, was a MAC nominee as “Best Director” of 2007 and will be presented with a special Board of Directors MAC Award by Danny Aiello at the MAC Awards ceremony on May 6 at BB Kings. She produces and stars in The Singing Experience Cable TV Show on MNN and RCN and is President Of The New York Sheet Music Society (http://www.NYSMS.org .) and a Trustee of Arts Horizons, bringing art programs to schools. (http://www.artshorizons.org ).
E-mail: SingLAB@aol.com Phone: 212 315-3500
Website: http://www.SingingExperience.com
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