Edward Kleban
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Edward Kleban (1939- December 28, 1987), known professionally as Ed Kleban, was an American musical theatre composer and lyricist.
A graduate of Columbia University, Kleban wrote the lyrics for the smash Broadway hit A Chorus Line. He and composer Marvin Hamlisch won the 1976 Tony Award for Best Original Score.
The one-woman Phyllis Newman show, The Madwoman of Central Park West (1979), featured a few tunes with his lyrics.
In 2000, Lonny Price co-wrote (with Linda Kline), directed, and starred in A Class Act, a musical biography of Kleban with a score comprised of songs he had written for numerous unproduced musicals. After a two-month run at the Manhattan Theatre Club, it transferred to the Ambassador Theatre, where it closed after three months. Fourteen years after his death from throat cancer, Kleban earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score and Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics.
Kleban created the Kleban Foundation, which awards grants to aspiring theatre lyricists.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charlie Smalls for The Wiz |
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics 1975-1976 for A Chorus Line |
Succeeded by none, separate awards for music and lyrics after this year |
