Comden and Green wrote the lyrics and dialogue for some of the most popular shows in the history of American musical comedy. Betty Comden (1917-2006) and Adolph Green (1914-2002) also wrote scripts and songs for several successful movie musicals, and they were a popular performing team in theaters and in nightclubs.
Comden and Green are probably best known for writing the lyrics and dialogue for two “New York” musicals. The shows are On the Town (1944), with music by Leonard Bernstein, an American composer, and Bells Are Ringing (1956) with music by Jule Styne, another American composer. Comden and Green also wrote the lyrics for two other “New York” musicals, Wonderful Town (1953), with music by Bernstein, and Subways Are for Sleeping (1961), with music by Styne. Comden and Green’s other major shows were Peter Pan (1954), with music by Styne and the American composer Mark Charlap; Say, Darling (1958), Do Re Mi (1960), Fade Out-Fade In (1964), and Hallelujah, Baby! (1967), all with music by Styne; Applause (1970), with music by the American composers Charles Strouse and Lee Adams; and On the Twentieth Century (1978) and The Will Rogers Follies (1991), both with music by the American composer Cy Coleman.
In Hollywood, Comden and Green wrote the script for Singin’ in the Rain (1952), one of the greatest musicals in movie history. They also wrote the musicals Good News (1947), The Barkleys of Broadway and the movie adaptation of On the Town (both 1949), The Band Wagon (1953), It’s Always Fair Weather (also composing the music with Andre Previn, 1955), and the film adaptation of Bells Are Ringing (1960). In addition, they wrote the script for the comedy Auntie Mame (1958).
Several songs from Comden and Green musicals and movies have become popular music standards. They include “Just in Time” and “The Party’s Over” from Bells Are Ringing, “Make Someone Happy” from Do Re Mi, “Never Never Land” from Peter Pan, and “New York, New York” and “Lonely Town” from On the Town.
Comden and Green were both born in New York City. Comden was born on May 3, 1917. Her real name was Elizabeth Cohen. Green was born on Dec. 2, 1914. The two met in the late 1930’s and formed a nightclub act with the actress Judy Holliday called the Revuers. They wrote nightclub material for themselves until they turned to Broadway after the success of On the Town. The team also played on Broadway, performing their songs in a popular show called A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1958 and 1977). Green died on Oct. 23, 2002. Comden died on Nov. 23, 2006.
