Ode to Kander & Ebb brings ray of light to dark times

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 9:36 a.m.

Only songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb could take the stories of a murderous chorus girl in 1920s Chicago, the rise of Nazi power in Berlin and two men jailed in a South American prison, and create a slew of brassy, energetic and uplifting songs that bring a ray of light to the worst of times.

This weekend local theater company Jade Productions presents a colorful, jazzy review of Kander and Ebb songs in "And the World Goes Round: The Songs of Kander & Ebb" at the Whitney Library Concert Hall.

The revue features a long list of memorable songs by the lyricist and composers, including "New York, New York," "All That Jazz" and "Cabaret."

The show, choreographed by David Tapper and Betsie Sanders, stars Joy Demain, Russ Grieve, Judy Lombino and Keala Settle, as well as Tapper.

Armed with a variety of props, performers will sing, dance -- and roller skate -- to such songs as "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup," "Sara Lee" and "The Grass is Always Greener."

Kander and Ebb began working together in the early 1960s, and have composed music for both stage and screen, including the musicals "Cabaret," "Chicago" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and the movie-musicals "Funny Lady" and "New York, New York."

Jade Productions' first performed "And the World Goes Round" when the company formed six years ago. Demain, its president and artistic director, said the company chose to present it again simply because "the music is so great."