George Furth

George Furth was a playwright, composer and actor. He is best known for penning the book for the musical Company, for which he earned both Tony and Drama Desk Awards. George’s other works include the cult classic, 1972 movie adaptation of Cabaret, and multiple other plays, television dramas and movies.

Born in 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, George initially chose acting as his career path while attending Los Angeles City College in California. In the early 1950s and 1960s, he was a regular player on the regional circuit in the San Francisco area. His earliest theatrical works can also be attributed to this period, such as the musical revues at the San Francisco Actor's Workshop.

In 1966, George collaborated with Stephen Sondheim to create the musical adaptation of George S. Kaufman's play The Butter and Egg Man. This venture opened at the Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, to critical acclaim, but failed to gain further commercial success. In the same year, he wrote the screenplay for the musical adaptation of John Cheever’s short stories for the musical The Golden Rain. This show also become known for its Tony-draining cast.

In 1970, he joined with Stephen Sondheim again to create the musical Company, which was a critical and commercial success. The show is widely recognized among theater lovers, claiming the Tony Award for Best Musical and running for a total of 705 performances. The book, including all of the dialogue, was widely credited to George.

George’s other works include the play Precious Sons, which opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre in 1986, earning multiple award nominations and a Tony Award for best direction. This 10-character drama has since become a popular production choice for college theatre departments. He also wrote the book for a number of revivals, including Baker Street, Eleven, A Hay Fever and Moonbirds.

Throughout his career, George wrote several movies, including the highly acclaimed adaptation of Cabaret (1972), the drama Junior (1979), and the lighthearted comedy Oh, God! Book II (1980). He did not write the screenplays for but appeared in several TV shows, such as M*A*S*H and All in the Family, in addition to performing on Broadway.

George passed away in 2008 due to complications arising from diabetes. Although he will be remembered for his theatrical works, George leaves behind a lasting legacy of creativity injected into a variety of media forms. His plays, movies, television works and other works offer viewers a unique insight into the human experience.