Betty Comden
BETTY COMDEN, best known as a long time collaborator of Adolph Green wrote the lyrics and often the librettos for some of the most celebrated musicals of stage and screen. During a professional partnership that lasted for more than 60 years, the Comden-Green blend of sophisticated wit and musical know-how lit up stage shows like On the Town, Wonderful Town, Peter Pan and Bells Are Ringing. Their Hollywood credits included the screenplays for two landmark film musicals, Singin' in the Rain and The Band Wagon. Ms. Comden and Mr. Green went on to write Subways Are for Sleeping and Fade Out-Fade In, both shows with music by Mr. Styne; the lyrics for Hallelujah, Baby, which had music by Mr. Styne, a book by Arthur Laurents, and then wrote the book for Applause, adapted from the film All About Eve, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. In the years that followed they teamed up with the composer Cy Coleman for On the Twentieth Century. In 1982 they wrote the book and lyrics - Larry Grossman wrote the music - for the musical sequel to Ibsen's A Doll's House,, A Doll's Life. Their last major Broadway show was The Will Rogers Follies, a 1991 Ziegfeld-style extravaganza with music by Mr. Coleman, book by Peter Stone and direction and choreography by Tommy Tune. Bio as of September, 2009. American Theatre Wing programs, interviews and/or credits include: TBL - This Is Broadway (audio) Betty Comden and Adolph Green - Listen Now. Internet Broadway Database Listing (IBDB.com)