Comden, Betty

orig. Basya Cohen

(born May 3, 1917, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.—died Nov. 23, 2006, Manhattan, N.Y.) U.S. musical-comedy writer and lyricist. Comden formed a nightclub act in 1938 with Adolph Green (b. Dec. 2, 1915, Bronx, N.Y.—d. Oct. 23, 2002, Manhattan, N.Y.), Judy Tuvim (later known as Judy Holliday), and others. In 1944 Comden and Green wrote the book and lyrics for Leonard Bernstein's On the Town. They later collaborated with Jule Styne on musicals such as Peter Pan (1954), Bells Are Ringing (1956), and Hallelujah, Baby! (1967, Tony Award). Their work on Wonderful Town (1953), Applause (1970), On the Twentieth Century (1978), and The Will Rogers Follies (1991) won them six more Tony Awards. Their screenplays include Singin' in the Rain (1952) and Auntie Mame (1958). “Just in Time” and “The Party's Over” are two of their best-known songs.

Comden, Betty (1915– ) librettist, lyricist; born in New York City. With lyricist Adolph Green and the Revuers, she performed original songs and sketches at New York clubs in the 1930s and 1940s. She and Green established a reputation as librettists and lyricists of the musical On the Town (1944), in which they also appeared. For over four decades they collaborated on librettos and/or lyrics for a string of other Broadway hits or Hollywood musicals such as Wonderful Town (1953) and The Bells are Ringing (1956). They enjoyed their last hit with the lyrics for The Will Rogers Follies (1991).