Betty Comden Biography (1919-)

Original name, Elizabeth Cohen; born May 3, 1919, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of Leo (a lawyer) and Rebecca (a school teacher; maiden name, Sadvoransky) Cohen; married Steven Kyle (a designer and businessman), January 4, 1942 (died);children: Susanna, Alan. Addresses: Office: c/o The Dramatists Guild,234 West 44th St., New York, NY 10036.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Lyricist, writer, actress
Birth Details
May 3, 1919
Brooklyn, New York, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Stage Appearances
  • (Broadway debut) Claire, On the Town, Adelphi Theatre, 1944
  • A Party (revue based on collection of Comden and Green's previously written songs and sketches), Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1958 thenexpanded version at Golden Theatre, New York City, as A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, 1958 later new version at Morosco Theatre, New York City, 1977 then on tour.
  • Lyrics and Lyricists, Kaufman Auditorium, New York City, 1971
  • An Evening with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, 1971
  • George Abbott ... A Celebration, Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1976 Tasha Blumberg, Isn't It Romantic (two-act), Playwrights HorizonsTheatre, New York City, 1983-1984 then Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City,1984-1985
  • Happy Birthday, Mr. Abbott!; or, Night of 100 Years, Palace Theatre, New York City, 1987
  • The Players Club Centennial Salute, Shubert Theatre, 1989
  • Film Appearances
  • (Uncredited) Revuer, Greenwich Village, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1944
  • (Uncredited) Garbo, Garbo Talks, United Artists, 1984
  • Mrs. Wheeler, Slaves of New York, Tri-Star, 1989
  • Musicals Great Musicals, 1996
  • Television Appearances
  • Movies
  • MC, On the Town, 1992
  • Specials
  • The Fabulous 50s, CBS, 1960
  • The American Film Institute Salute to Gene Kelly (also known as The AFI Salute to Gene Kelly), CBS, 1985
  • Evening at Pops, PBS, 1987 and 1988
  • Tony Bennett (also known as On Stage at Wolf Trap), PBS, 1988
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988 and 1991
  • The 45th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1991
  • Episodic
  • That Was the Week That Was, 1964
  • "Follies in Concert," Great Performances, PBS, 1986
  • "Bernstein at 70," Great Performances, PBS, 1989
  • "Music by Richard Rodgers," Great Performances, PBS, 1990
  • "Broadway Sings: The Music of Jule Styne," Great Performances, PBS, 1991
  • Voice of Linda, "Burying a Grudge," Frasier, ABC, 1994
  • WRITINGS
  • Stage Lyrics
  • with Adolph Green
  • (And sketches) Two on the Aisle, produced at Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1951
  • Wonderful Town (two-act musical), produced at Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1953 then New York State Theatre, 1994
  • Additional lyrics, Peter Pan (three-act musical), produced at Winter Garden Theatre, 1954 then Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1981 and 1991 then Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1992 then Marquis Theatre, New YorkCity, 1999
  • Say, Darling, produced at American National Theatre and Academy, New York City, 1958
  • Do Re Mi (two-act musical; includes song "Make Someone Happy"), produced at St. James Theatre, New York City, 1960 then City Center Theatre, New York City, 1999
  • (And others) Leonard Bernsteins Theatre Songs, produced at TheatreDe Lys, New York City, 1965
  • Hallelujah, Baby! (two-act musical), produced at Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1967
  • Lorelei (two-act musical; based on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), produced at Civic Center Music Hall, Oklahoma City, OK, 1973 then at Palace Theatre, 1974
  • (With others) By Bernstein, produced at Chelsea Theater Center Westside, New York City, 1975
  • (And music; with others) The Madwoman of Central Park West (one-woman show), produced at 22 Steps Theatre, New York City, 1979
  • (And others) Diamonds (two-act musical), produced at Circle in theSquare Downtown, New York City, 1984-1985
  • The Will Rogers Follies, produced at Palace Theatre, 1991
  • Stage Book and Lyrics
  • with Adolph Green:
  • On the Town (two-act musical based on the ballet Fancy Freeby Jerome Robbins), produced at Adelphi Theatre, New York City, 1944
  • Billion Dollar Baby, produced at Alvin Theatre, New York City, 1945
  • Bonanza Bound, produced at Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1947
  • Bells Are Ringing (two-act musical), produced at Shubert Theatre,1956 published by Random House, 1957 then produced at Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 2001
  • Subways Are for Sleeping (two-act musical), produced at St. JamesTheatre, 1961-1962
  • Fade Out--Fade In, produced at Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1964 published by Random House, 1965
  • On the Twentieth Century (two-act musical), produced at St. JamesTheatre, 1978 published by Drama Book Publishers, 1981
  • A Dolls Life (two-act musical), produced at Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1982
  • Stage Book
  • with Adolph Green
  • Applause (two-act musical; based on film All about Eve), produced at Palace Theatre, 1970-1972 published by Random House, 1971
  • Stage Music
  • with Adolph Green
  • (And others) Straws in the Wind (two-act musical), produced at American Place Theatre, 1975
  • Plays
  • with Adolph Green
  • A Party (revue based on collection of Comden and Green's previously written songs and sketches), first produced at Cherry Lane Theatre, 1958 expanded version produced at Golden Theatre as A Party with Betty Comden andAdolph Green, 1958 new version produced at Morosco Theatre, 1977 then ontour.
  • Singin' in the Rain (two-act musical; adaptation of movie of sametitle), produced at Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 1985-1986
  • (And others) Jerome Robbins Broadway, produced at Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1989-1990
  • Screenplays
  • with Adolph Green
  • Good News (based on the musical comedy by Lawrence Schwab, Frank Mandel, Buddy De Sylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1947
  • The Barkleys of Broadway, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
  • (And lyrics) On the Town (based on the musical play by Comden, Green, and Leonard Bernstein), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
  • (And lyrics) Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
  • (And lyrics) Singin' in the Rain, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952 published by Viking, 1972
  • (And lyrics) The Band Wagon, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1953
  • (And lyrics) Its Always Fair Weather, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1955
  • Auntie Mame (based on the novel Mame by Patrick Dennis andthe play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee), Warner Bros., 1958
  • (And lyrics) Bells Are Ringing (based on the musical play), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1960
  • (And lyrics) What a Way To Go! (based on a story by Gwen Davis), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1964
  • Television Lyrics
  • Movies
  • (Additional) Peter Pan, 1955 1956 1960 and 2000
  • Wonderful Town, 1958
  • Television Specials
  • with Adolph Green
  • Let's Celebrate, ABC, 1972
  • Applause (adapted from musical of same title), CBS, 1973
  • Also author of various other musical comedy specials for ABC.
  • Television Series
  • (With others) Buick Circus Hour, NBC, 1952-1953
  • Other
  • Comden and Green on Broadway, Drama Book Publishers, 1981
  • Also author, with Green, of music, book, and lyrics for cabaret group, "The Revuers," 1939-44. Contributor to periodicals, including Esquire, Cahiers du Cinema, and Vogue.
  • A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Capitol.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Betty Comden, Simon & Schuster, 1995

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