First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb
A national PBS special, First You Dream is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the legendary Broadway songwriting of Kander & Ebb, whose shows include Cabaret, Chicago, New York New York, Kiss of The Spider Woman, The Scottsboro Boys, Zorba, Liza With a Z and many other shows as well as TV and film scores. John Kander has been one of our dearest friends for more than 40 years, and our most trusted mentor even before HMS was officially born… so you can imagine how special it was for us to produce First You Dream.
The one-hour concert was shot at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL. It premiered as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival, then an annual cornerstone of PBS’ Friday primetime lineup that reached more than 15 million viewers. It’s a fast-paced, funny, poignant and celebratory glimpse into the extraordinary Kander & Ebb song catalog, from the dark comedy of “Cell Block Tango” to a beautiful ballad rendition of “Cabaret,” to a surprising and thrilling take on “New York, New York." The cast boasts an impressive cast of leading Broadway performers including Kate Baldwin, Heidi Blickenstaff, James Clow, Norm Lewis, Julia Murney and Matthew Scott.
First You Dream is one of our happiest achievements and is proof positive of Kander & Ebb’s standing as landmark composers of some of the most influential and beloved Broadway songs ever created.
“The equation couldn't be simpler: a suave songbook plus the right singers equal bang-up entertainment.”
- The Washington Post
“Not only will it enchant audiences, it should be required viewing.”
-Variety