Adolph Green Biography (1915-2002)
Born December 2, 1915, in Bronx, NY; son of Daniel and Helen (maiden name, Weiss) Green; married Elizabeth Reitell, June 20, 1941 (divorced); married Allyn Ann McLerie (a singer and actress; divorced); married Phyllis Newman (an actress), January 31, 1960; children: (third marriage) Adam (a comedian), Amanda Green Kaplan (an actress). Addresses: Agent: William Morris Agency,Inc., 1325 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019-6026.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Lyricist, writer, actor
- Birth Details
- December 2, 1915
- Bronx, New York, United States
- Death Details
- October 24, 2002
- Manhattan, New York
Famous Works
- CREDITS
- Stage Appearances
- (Broadway debut) Ozzie, On the Town, Adelphi Theatre, 1944
- A Party (revue based on collection of Green and Comden's previously written songs and sketches), Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1958 thenexpanded version as A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, John Golden Theatre, New York City, 1958 later new version, Morosco Theatre, New York City, 1977
- The Cradle Will Rock, Theatre at Philharmonic Hall, New York City,1964
- Lyrics and Lyricists, Theatre at 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
- Voices, Phyllis Newman in Vamps and Rideouts, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge, MA, 1982
- Shimmel Shitzman and Jerry Hollingsworth, The New Yorkers, Morse Center Trinity Theatre, New York City, 1984
- Happy Birthday, Mr. Abbott!; or, Night of 100 Years, Palace Theatre, New York City, 1987
- The Players Club Centennial Salute, Shubert Theatre, 1989
- Show Tunes, Theatre at Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1999
- Comden and Green: It's Always Fair Weather (tribute performance ofLyrics and Lyricists), Theatre at 92nd Street "Y", New York City, 2000
- Major Tours
- Toured in a presentation of A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, in the late 1970s.
- Film Appearances
- Member of The Revuers, Greenwich Village, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1944
- Commune leader, Simon, Warner Bros., 1980
- Leo Silver, My Favorite Year, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists,1982
- Himself, Garbo Talks, United Artists, 1984
- Jerry Silber, Lily in Love (also known as Playing for Keeps), New Line Cinema, 1985
- Himself, Funny, Original Cinema, 1988
- Joey Wellman, Je veux rentrer a la maison (also known as I Wantto Go Home), MK2 Diffusion, 1989
- Mr. Musselblatt, The Substance of Fire, Miramax, 1996
- Musicals Great Musicals, 1996
- Television Appearances
- Specials
- The American Film Institute Salute to Gene Kelly (also known as The AFI Salute to Gene Kelly), CBS, 1985
- Theodore Whitman, "Follies in Concert," Great Performances, PBS, 1986
- Song performer, "Broadway Sings: The Music of Jule Styne," Great Performances, PBS, 1987
- Evening at Pops, PBS, 1987 and 1988
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988
- Dr. Pangloss, Martin, and narrator, Candide (also known as Bernstein Conducts Candide), 1989
- "Music by Richard Rodgers," Great Performances, PBS, 1990
- The 45th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1991
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1991
- Master of ceremonies, On the Town, 1992
- Episodic
- Voice of Walter, "Burying a Grudge," Frasier, NBC, 1994
- Also appeared on That Was the Week That Was.
- RECORDINGS
- A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Capitol, c. 1959
- Lady in the Dark, 1998
- Songs have been recorded for several cast albums and soundtrack recordings, including Bells Are Ringing, Do Re Mi, On the Twentieth Century, and The Will Rogers Follies.
- WRITINGS
- Stage Lyrics
- with Betty Comden
- Two on the Aisle, Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1951
- Wonderful Town (two-act musical), Winter Garden Theatre, New YorkCity, 1953
- Additional lyrics, Peter Pan (three-act musical), Winter Garden Theatre, 1954
- Say, Darling, American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, New York City, 1958
- Do Re Mi (two-act musical; includes song "Make Someone Happy"), St. James Theatre, New York City, 1960
- (With Comden and others) Leonard Bernstein's Theatre Songs, Theatre de Lys, New York City, 1965
- Hallelujah, Baby! (two-act musical), Martin Beck Theatre, New YorkCity, 1967
- Lorelei (two-act musical; based on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Civic Center Music Hall, Oklahoma City, OK, 1973 then Palace Theatre, 1974
- (With Comden and others) By Bernstein, Chelsea Theater Center Westside, New York City, 1975
- (With others) The Madwoman of Central Park West (solo show), 22 Steps Theatre, New York City, 1979
- (With Comden and others) Diamonds (two-act musical), Circle in theSquare Downtown, New York City, 1984-1985
- The Will Rogers Follies, Palace Theatre, 1991
- Give My Regards to Broadway, 1991
- Stage Librettos and Lyrics
- with Comden
- On the Town (two-act musical based on the ballet Fancy Freeby Jerome Robbins), Adelphi Theatre, 1944
- Billion Dollar Baby, Alvin Theatre, New York City, 1945
- Bonanza Bound, Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1947
- Bells Are Ringing (two-act musical), Shubert Theatre, 1956 published by Random House (New York City), 1957
- Subways Are for Sleeping (two-act musical), St. James Theatre, 1961-1962
- Fade Out--Fade In, Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1964 published by Random House, 1965
- On the Twentieth Century (two-act musical), St. James Theatre, 1978 published by Drama Book Publishers, 1981
- A Doll's Life (two-act musical), Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1982
- Stage Librettos
- with Comden
- Applause (two-act musical; based on film All about Eve), Palace Theatre, 1970-1972 published by Random House, 1971
- Die Fledermaus, Metropolitan Opera, New York City, 1999
- Stage Music
- (With Comden and others) Straws in the Wind (two-act musical), American Place Theatre, 1975
- (With Comden) The Madwoman of Central Park West (solo show), 22 Steps Theatre, 1979
- Plays
- with Comden
- A Party (revue based on collection of Green and Comden's previously written songs and sketches), produced at Cherry Lane Theatre, 1958 expandedversion as A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, John Golden Theatre 1958, new version, Morosco Theatre, 1977
- Singin' in the Rain (two-act musical; adaptation of screenplay), produced at Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 1985-1986
- (With Comden and others) Jerome Robbins' Broadway, produced at Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1989-1990
- Other Stage Writings
- Sketches, Two on the Aisle, produced at Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1951
- Screenplays
- with Comden
- 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
- On the Town (based on the musical play by Green, Comden, and Leonard Bernstein), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
- Singin' in the Rain, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952 published by Viking, 1972
- The Band Wagon, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1953
- It's 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
- Bells Are Ringing (based on the musical play), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1960
- What a Way to Go (based on a story by Gwen Davis), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1964
- Film Lyrics
- with Comden
- Song, "The French Lesson," Good News, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1947
- On the Town, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame (also known as Everybody's Cheering), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
- Song, "Make 'em Laugh," Singin' in the Rain, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,1952
- The Band Wagon, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1953
- It's Always Fair Weather, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1955
- Bells Are Ringing, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1960
- Song, "I Think That You and I Should Get Acquainted" and "Musical Extravaganza," What a Way To Go, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1964
- Song, "Just in Time," Blue Sunshine, 1977
- Song, "Million Dollar Baby," Frances, 1982
- Song, "New York New York," The Return of Captain Invincible, 1983
- Song, "Moses Supposes," Bert Rigby, You're a Fool, 1989
- Song, "Just in Time," 29th Street, 1991
- Song, "Mamushka," The Addams Family, Paramount, 1991
- Song, "The Party's Over," Dr. Giggles, 1992
- Song, "Make Someone Happy," Sleepless in Seattle, 1993
- Song, "Baby, You Knock Me Out," That's Entertainment! III, 1994
- Song, "Our Favorite Son," Ronin, 1998
- Song, "Just in Time," Small Time Crooks, 2000
- Television Series
- (With Comden and Nat Hiken) Buick Circus Hour, NBC, 1952-1953
- Television Specials
- with Comden
- Stage 67 (including song lyrics, "I'm Getting Married"), ABC, 1967
- Let's Celebrate, ABC, 1972
- Applause (adapted from musical of same title), CBS, 1973
- Candide (also known as Bernstein Conducts Candide), 1989
- On the Town, 1992
- Contributor of additional lyrics to special presentations of Peter Pan, 1955, 1956, 1960, and 2000. Also author of other musical comedy specials for ABC.
- Other Writings
- (With Comden) Good Morning, Good Night (juvenile book; based on authors' song "I Said Good Morning"), Holt (New York City), 1972
- Also writer, with Comden, of scripts, music, and lyrics for the cabaret group The Revuers, 1939-44. Contributor to periodicals, including AmericanFilm and Saturday Review.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
- Celebrity Register 1990, Gale, 1990
- Contemporary Authors, Volume 110, Gale, 1984