Book, Guys and Dolls

Burrows was a songwriter, composer, writer, panelist, director, singer and pianist. Born in New York City, he began his writing career in radio as a scriptwriter for Duffy’s Tavern, and later, the Rudy Vallee program. He sang in his own radio shows, in night clubs and on television. Burrows wrote, doctored or directed Make a Wish; Two on the Aisle; Three Wishes for Jamie; Say, Darling; Guys and Dolls; Cactus Flower; Four on a Garden; Can-Can; Silk Stockings; Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Good News (1974 revival) and many others. With collaborator Frank Loesser, Burrows won a Pulitzer Prize and Tony and New York Drama Critics awards for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He wrote the Broadway libretto for Guys and Dolls and received a Tony award and a New York Drama Critics award in 1951. He composed the popular songs “The Girl with the Three Blue Eyes” and “Leave Us Face It (We’re in Love).” Burrows also became a famous script doctor. For many years, “get me Abe Burrows!” remained Broadway shorthand for a script that needs repair.