{{Short description|American composer (1939–1987)}} '''Edward "Ed" Kleban''' (April 30, 1939 – December 28, 1987) was an American musical theatre composer and lyricist. Kleban was born in the Bronx, New York City, in 1939 and graduated from New York's High School of Music & Art and Columbia University, where he attended with future playwright Terrence McNally.<ref name="kaufman">{{cite news| title=His Lyrics Made It to Broadway, Now His Songs| work=New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/11/theater/theater-his-lyrics-made-it-to-broadway-now-his-songs.html| author=David Kaufman| date=March 11, 2001| access-date=2011-03-11}}</ref>
Kleban is best known as lyricist of the Broadway hit ''A Chorus Line''. He and composer Marvin Hamlisch won the 1976 Tony Award for Best Original Score, and he shared the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976 with Hamlisch and three other contributors to the musical. The one-woman Phyllis Newman show, ''The Madwoman of Central Park West'' (1979), featured a few tunes with his lyrics.{{cnl|date=January 2022}}
For several years, he worked at Columbia Records, where he produced albums by performers as diverse as Igor Stravinsky and Percy Faith,<ref name="Profile 2001">{{cite episode| network=NPR| title=Looking at Ed Kleban, Broadway songwriter, and ''A Class Act'', the musical about his life| airdate=10 March 2001| url=https://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=7&prgDate=3-10-2001| series=Weekend Edition Saturday| access-date=2011-03-11}}</ref> and the albums for the Off-Broadway musicals ''Now Is The Time For All Good Men'' and ''Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://masterworksbroadway.com/music/jacques-brel-is-alive-and-well-and-living-in-paris-original-off-broadway-cast-recording-1968/|website=Masterworks Broadway|title=Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris|access-date=January 16, 2021}}</ref>
He was a teacher for many years at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop.<ref name="times">{{cite news| work=New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/30/obituaries/edward-kleban-48-chorus-line-lyricist.html| title=Edward Kleban, 48, 'Chorus Line' Lyricist| date=December 30, 1987| access-date=2011-03-11}}</ref>
==Death== Kleban died of complications from throat cancer, aged 48, on December 28, 1987 at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York.<ref name=times/>
== Kleban Foundation == In his will, Kleban established the Kleban Foundation, which grants the annual Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre. The prize is given in the amount of $100,000, paid over two years, to the most promising librettist and lyricist in American musical theatre. The awards are administered by BMI in association with New Dramatists and ASCAP.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233232 | publisher=bmi.com| date=6 June 2001| access-date=2011-03-11| title=Kleban Awards}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author=Andrew Gans| url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117311| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908000144/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117311| url-status=dead| archive-date=8 September 2012| title=Lindsay-Abaire Snags Kleban Award for Lyrics; Harrington, Solly and Ward Also Honored| work=Playbill| publisher=playbill.com| date=1 May 2008| access-date=2011-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newdramatists.org/how/awards-fellowships|title=Awards & Fellowships|website=New Dramatists|language=en|access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref>
The prize has been given to 63 musical theatre artists over the past 27 years, awarding a total of around $5,000,000. Notable Kleban Prize winners include Jason Robert Brown, Steven Lutvak, John Bucchino, Robert Lopez, Adam Gwon, John Weidman, and Robert L. Friedman.<ref name="2017 winners">{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2017-Kleban-Prize-Winners-Announced-20170117|title=2017 Kleban Prize Winners Announced|author=BWW News Desk|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2017-11-15|language=en}}</ref>
'''Kleban Prize Winners:'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://theandygram.com/broadway-press-release-retweet/2010-11-theatre-press-releases/21st-Annual-Kleban-Prize-for-Musical-Theatre-Winners-Announced.html|title=21st Annual Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre Winners Announced - The AndyGram|last=McGibbon|first=Andrew C.|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-gb}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" !Year !Lyricist !Librettist !Judges |- |'''2025'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Culwell-Block|first=Logan|url=https://playbill.com/article/madeline-myers-benjamin-velez-win-2025-kleban-prize|title = Madeline Myers, Benjamin Velez Win 2025 Kleban Prize|website=Playbill|date = 14 January 2025}}</ref> |Benjamin Velez |Madeline Meyers |Raja Feather Kelly, Clint Ramos, Rachel Sussman |- |'''2024'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Margaret|url=https://playbill.com/article/rona-siddiqui-and-lisa-loomer-receive-2024-kleban-prize-for-musical-theatre|title = Rona Siddiqui and Lisa Loomer Receive 2024 Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre|website=Playbill|date = 16 January 2024}}</ref> |Rona Siddiqui |Lisa Loomer |Michael R. Jackson, Christine Toy Johnson, Elissa Adams |- |'''2023'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Margaret|url=https://playbill.com/article/ryan-scott-oliver-and-ethan-lipton-receive-2023-kleban-prize-for-musical-theatre|title = Ryan Scott Oliver and Ethan Lipton Receive 2023 Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre|website=Playbill|date = 17 January 2023}}</ref> |Ryan Scott Oliver |Ethan Lipton |Leah C. Gardiner, Julia Jordan, Orville Mendoza |- |'''2022'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre {{!}} New Dramatists |url=https://newdramatists.org/kleban-prize-musical-theatre |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=newdramatists.org}}</ref> |César Alvarez |Isabella Dawis |Sarah Hammond, Or Matias, Manu Narayan |- |'''2021'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meyer|first=Dan|url=https://playbill.com/article/lyricist-benjamin-scheuer-and-co-librettists-melissa-li-and-kit-yan-win-2021-kleban-prize|title = Lyricist Benjamin Scheuer and Co-Librettists Melissa Li and Kit Yan Win 2021 Kleban Prize|website=Playbill|date = 18 January 2021}}</ref> |Benjamin Scheuer |Melissa Li & Kit Yan |Raul Esparza, Mike Lew, Seret Scott |- |'''2020'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2020/01/16/the-kleban-foundation-announces-2020-winners/|title = The Kleban Foundation Announces 2020 Winners|website=American Theater|date = 16 January 2020}}</ref> |Daniel Messé |Rehana Lew Mirza & Mike Lew |Gerard Alessandrini, Victoria Clark, Robyn Goodman |- |'''2019'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/shaina-taub-sarah-hammond-charlie-sohne-named-winners-of-29th-annual-kleban-prize-for-musical-theatre|title = Shaina Taub, Sarah Hammond, Charlie Sohne Named Winners of 29th Annual Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre|website=Playbill|date = 9 January 2019}}</ref> |Sarah Hammond / Shaina Taub (TIE) |Charlie Sohne |Alison Fraser, Amanda Green, Eric Schaeffer |- |'''2018'''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Clement |first=Olivia |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/3-musical-theatre-writers-awarded-100-000-kleban-prize |title=3 Musical Theatre Writers Awarded $100,000 Kleban Prize |work=Playbill |date=2018-01-09}}</ref> |Alan Schmuckler / Amanda Yesnowitz (TIE) |Christian Duhamel |Marin Mazzie, Dave Malloy, Laurence Maslon |- |'''2017'''<ref name="2017 winners"/> |Daniel Zaitchik |Lisa Kron |Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Mary Testa, Ira Weitzman |- |'''2016'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BREAKING-2016-Kleban-Prize-Recipients-Announced-20160114|title=BREAKING: 2016 Kleban Prize Recipients Announced!|last=Robbins|first=Caryn|work=BroadwayWorld.com|date=2016-01-14|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en}}</ref> |Stacey Luftig |Daniel Goldstein |Judith Ivey, Michael Price, Andrew Zerman |- |'''2015'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/winners-of-2015-ed-kleban-prizes-named-com-346775|title=Winners of 2015 Ed Kleban Prizes Named|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2017-11-17|date=2015-04-14}}</ref> |Sam Willmott |Sam Carner |Kerry Butler, Wiley Hausam, David Shire |- |'''2014'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Nathan-Tysen-and-Arthur-Perlman-Win-2014-Kleban-Prizes-for-Musical-Theatre-20140502|title=Nathan Tysen and Arthur Perlman Win 2014 Kleban Prizes for Musical Theatre|last=Rosky|first=Nicole|work=BroadwayWorld.com|date=2014-05-02|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en}}</ref> |Nathan Tysen |Arthur Perlman |Jason Danieley, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Bill Rosenfield |- |'''2013'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/23rd-Annual-Kleban-Prize-Winners-Announced-20130425|title=23rd Annual Kleban Prize Winners Announced|last=Denette|first=Kelsey|work=BroadwayWorld.com|date=2013-04-25|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en}}</ref> |Daniel Maté |Alan Gordon |Sean Hartley, Henry Krieger, Michele Pawk |- |'''2012'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://theandygram.com/broadway-press-release-retweet/2011-12-theatre-season-press-releases/2012-kleban-prize-winners-announced.html|title=2012 Kleban Prize Winners Announced - The AndyGram|last=McGibbon|first=Andrew C.|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-gb}}</ref> |Marcy Heisler |Andrew Gerle / Matt Schatz (TIE) |Marshall Brickman, Ted Chapin, Debra Monk |- |'''2011''' |Adam Gwon |Michelle Elliott |Stephen Flaherty, Michael Korie, David Zippel |- |'''2010''' |Peter Mills |Barry Wyner |Craig Carnelia, Susan Drury, Jeffrey Sweet |- |'''2009''' |Beth Falcone |Kait Kerrigan |Sheldon Harnick, Thomas Z. Shepard, Sherman Yellen |- |'''2008''' |David Lindsay-Abaire |Laura Harrington / Bill Solly and Donald Ward (TIE) |Beth Blickers, Linda Kline, Gilbert Parker |- |'''2007''' |Joe Iconis |Jeremy Desmon |Rick Elice, Carol Hall, Charles Koppelman |- |'''2006''' |Alison Louise Hubbard / Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak (TIE) |Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman |Cheryl L. Davis, Susan Drury, Ken Stone |- |'''2005''' |David Javerbaum |Cheryl L. Davis and Ken Stone (TIE) |Julia Jordan, Michael John LaChiusa, Jeffrey Sweet |- |'''2004''' |Laurence O'Keefe |Julia Jordan |Susan DiLallo, Bill Goldstein, Lonny Price |- |'''2003''' |Nell Benjamin |Susan DiLallo |Arthur Kopit, Charles Leipart, Frank Wildhorn |- |'''2002''' |Jason Robert Brown |Lori McKelvey |Jerome Coopersmith, Marvin Hamlisch, Marsha Norman |- |'''2001''' |John Bucchino and Patrick Cook |Charles Leipart |Nan Knighton, Michael John LaChiusa, Glenn Slater |- |'''2000''' |Marion Adler, Chad Beguelin, Robert Lopez / Jeff Marx and David Spencer (TIE) |Stephen Cole |Fred Ebb, Henry Krieger, William Russell<!--Bill Russell (lyricist)?--> |- |'''1999''' |Kirsten Childs |Michael John LaChiusa |Lynn Ahrens, John Jiler, John Kander |- |'''1998''' |Sarah Schlesinger |Lissa Levin / Luis Santiero (TIE) |Ellen Fitzhugh, John Morris, John Weidman |- |'''1997''' |Michael Korie |Brian Crawley |Martin Charnin, James Freydberg, David Shire |- |'''1996''' |Glenn Slater |John Weidman |Carol Hall, William Finn, Jonathan Tunick |- |'''1995''' |Mark Waldrop |John Jiler |Sheldon Harnick, Charles Strouse, Wendy Wasserstein |- |'''1994''' |Joe Keenan / Jim Morgan (TIE) |William Strzempek |Susan Birkenhead, Craig Carnelia, Jack Viertel |- |'''1993''' |Barry Kleinbort |Lanie Robertson |Jerry Bock, Betty Comden, Gretchen Cryer |- |'''1992''' |Craig Carnelia | |Lee Adams, Mary Rodgers, Stephen Schwartz |- |'''1991''' |Mark Campbell |Gretchen Cryer |Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim, Joseph Stein |}
== ''A Class Act'' == His will also granted rights to his collection of unpublished songs to friends Avery Corman and Wendy Wasserstein with the request that they incorporate them into a new musical. Their attempts failed and the rights reverted to Kleban's longtime companion, librettist Linda Kline. Kline sought someone who did not know or work with Kleban, but who would learn about him through the material. She admired previous work of Lonny Price and sought him as a collaborator.<ref name="kaufman" /><ref name="Profile 2001" />
After six years of work, with Price and Kline as co-authors, Price directed and played the role of Ed in ''A Class Act'', a musical biography of Kleban with a score consisting of songs he wrote for numerous unproduced musicals. After a two-month run at the Manhattan Theatre Club, it transferred to the Ambassador Theatre on March 10, 2001 and ran for three additional months. Almost 14 years after his death, Kleban earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score and Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics.<ref name="weber">{{cite news| title=What a Songwriter Couldn't Do in Life, Friends Have Done| author=Bruce Weber| date=12 March 2001| work=New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/12/theater/theater-review-what-a-songwriter-couldn-t-do-in-life-friends-have-done.html}}</ref><ref name="ibdb">{{cite web| title=A Class Act| access-date=2011-03-11| publisher=ibdb.com| url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=12818}}</ref>
==References== <references/>
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120322225709/http://www.edwardkleban.com/ EdwardKleban.com] * {{IBDB name}} * {{IMDb name|458505}} * [http://www.nypl.org/archives/4460 Edward Kleban papers, 1960-1986], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
{{Navboxes |title = Awards for Edward Kleban |list = {{DramaDesk Lyrics 1976–2000}} {{PulitzerPrize DramaAuthors 1976-2000}} {{TonyAward MusicalScore 1976–2000}} }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kleban, Edward}} Category:1939 births Category:1987 deaths Category:American musical theatre composers Category:American male musical theatre composers Category:Broadway composers and lyricists Category:Jewish American songwriters Category:Columbia University alumni Category:The High School of Music & Art alumni Category:Pulitzer Prize for Drama winners Category:Tony Award winners Category:Drama Desk Award winners Category:20th-century American composers Category:Deaths from throat cancer in the United States Category:Deaths from laryngeal cancer in the United States Category:20th-century American Jews Category:20th-century American male composers