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Creator
Kleban, Edward
Call number
*T-Mss 1988-007
Physical description
2.75 linear feet (7 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Edward Kleban Papers, *T-Mss 1988-007, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply
Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online.

The Edward Kleban Papers include correspondence, scripts, lyrics, production materials and ephemera. The bulk of the papers document Kleban's involvement in the creation of A Chorus Line. A Chorus Line, one of Broadway's most successful musicals, won both a Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1976. Various versions of the script and lyrics illustrate the progression of the show from the original production at the New York Shakespeare Festival (1975) to Broadway (1975). Also included are several drafts of the screenplay, and lyrics for the new song created for the film which was released in 1985. Transcripts of early taped sessions with cast members also help to document the evolution of the story. The scripts, lyrics and production materials series are exclusively related to A Chorus Line.

Biographical/historical information

Edward Kleban was born in New York City. He studied at the High School of Music and Art, and Columbia University, and worked as a record producer at Columbia Records before turning to writing lyrics full time. Kleban, who is best known as the lyricist for A Chorus Line, also wrote for television and films.

Scope and arrangement

The Edward Kleban Papers include correspondence, scripts, lyrics, production materials and ephemera. The bulk of the papers document Kleban's involvement in the creation of A Chorus Line. A Chorus Line, one of Broadway's most successful musicals, won both a Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1976. Various versions of the script and lyrics illustrate the progression of the show from the original production at the New York Shakespeare Festival (1975) to Broadway (1975). Also included are several drafts of the screenplay, and lyrics for the new song created for the film which was released in 1985. Transcripts of early taped sessions with cast members also help to document the evolution of the story. The scripts, lyrics and production materials series are exclusively related to A Chorus Line.

The Edward Kleban papers are arranged in five series:

  • Series I: Correspondence,.
    1972-1985
    9 folders

    Correspondence (incoming only) is primarily made up of notes, letters and telegrams of congratulations. A few letters of a more personal nature are also included. Two major events sparked the largest volume of correspondence: the critically successful opening of A Chorus Line at the Public Theater in May 1975, and Kleban's Tony Award in April, 1976. The most frequent correspondents are friends and colleagues delighted to hear of Kleban's success. The collection also includes some fan letters.

  • Series II: A Chorus Line Scripts
    1974-1984
    20 folders

    Scripts for A Chorus Line, including various versions for stage and publication. Many of the scripts have handwritten annotations. Also included are several versions of Arnold Schulman's screenplay for the movie of A Chorus Line, which was released in 1985.

  • Series III: A Chorus Line Lyrics,.
    1974-1975
    20 folders

    Handwritten and typescript lyrics for A Chorus Line, including some numbers that were deleted or changed significantly during rehearsals. A few of the folders also contain musical notation for the songs.

  • Series IV: A Chorus Line Production Materials,.
    1974-1977
    23 folders

    Production materials include resumes of original cast members, transcripts of taped sessions with performers, research notes, liner copy for the cast album, and contracts, all related to the stage and film versions of A Chorus Line.

  • Series V: Ephemera,.
    1960-1986

    Ephemera includes clippings, invitations, photographs, programs, and playbills. Most of the clippings are reviews and related articles covering the stage and screen productions of A Chorus Line. Other Chorus Line material includes 3 photographs, a calendar, programs, and playbills. Miscellaneous items include programs from other Kleban work, the earliest being a review at Brooklyn College in 1960.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The Edward Kleban Papers were given to the Billy Rose Theatre Division of The New York Public Library in 1988 by the Estate of Edward Kleban.

Source of acquisition

Gift, Estate of Edward Kleban, 1988

Processing information

Processed by Francesca Pitaro.

Separated material

Audiovisual materials separated from archival collections are cataloged individually and can be found in the Library catalog. Search CATNYP, The New York Public Library catalog.

The following material has been separated from the Edward Kleban Papers:

Cassette tapes - Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound [9 tapes of sessions with Chorus Line performers]

Musical scores - Music Division [unbound piano-vocal score; bound piano-conductor score; photocopy of the piano-conductor score]

Three dimensional objects - Theatre Collection three-dimensional cabinet [small Tony Award 4/18/76; New Year's Eve box office sign for Chorus Line with list of prices 12/31/80] Playbills (except Chorus Line) and

poster - Theatre Collection [Irene, 3/73 & 4/74; The Desert Song 9/73; long Chorus Line poster with dates and names of performers, 1975-1983]

Caricature - Theatre Collection/Originals [Photoreproduction of Hirshfield drawing of original Chorus Line cast]

Related Material

Kleban, Edward Papers

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Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.