Other works

Forrest and his partner, Bob Wright, won a Tony for the Broadway play "Kismet".

Other Broadway musicals the two wrote the music for were "It's a Blue World" (1940); "The Song of Norway" (1944); "Gypsy Lady" (1946); "Magdalena" (1948); "Kean" (1961); "Anya" (1965); and "Grand Hotel" (1989).

By the late 1980s, the pair had written lyrics and music of more than 2,000 compositions for 16 produced stage musicals, 18 stage reviews, 58 motion pictures and numerous cabaret acts.

(2006) Bob Wright and his musical, "Grand Hotel", was performed at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place in Chicago, Illinois with James Rank, Jeff Kuhl, Barbara E. Robertson and Dina DiCostanzo in the cast. The crew included Michael Weber (director), Robert C. Martin (scenic designer), Brian Bembridge (lighting designer), and Tammy Mader (choreographer).

(1946) Edvard Grieg, Bob Wright and his musical, "Song of Norway", was performed in a Charles Hickman production at the Palace Theatre in London, England with Janet Hamilton-Smith, John Hargreaves, Arthur Servent, Halina Victoria, Bernard Ansell, Moyra Fraser, John Pygram and John Lawski in the cast. Robert Helpmann and Pauline Grant were the choreographers.

(1955) Bob Wright and his musical, "Kismet", was performed at the Stoll Theatre in London, England with Alfred Drake, Doretta Morrow and Joan Diener in the cast.

(August 18, 1971) Johann Strauss, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Bob Wright and his musical, "The Great Waltz", was performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, England with Sári Barabás, Walter Cassel, Diane Todd and David Watson in the cast.

(1989) Stage Play: Grand Hotel. Musical/drama. Book by Luther Davis. Music by Bob Wright [credited as Robert Wright] and George Forrest. Lyrics by Robert Wright [credited as Robert Wright] and Chet Forrest [credited as George Forrest]. Additional music by Maury Yeston and Wally Harper. Additional lyrics by Maury Yeston. Based on "Grand Hotel" by Vicki Baum. By arrangement with the owner of the motion picture "Grand Hotel," Turner Entertainment Co. Music orchestrated by Peter Matz. Musical and Vocal Direction by Jack Lee. Incidental French dialogue: Michel Moinot. Choreographed by Tommy Tune. Directed by Tommy Tune. Martin Beck Theatre (moved to The George Gershwin Theatre from 3 Mar 1992- close): 12 Nov 1989- 25 Apr 1992 (1017 performances + 31 previews that began on 16 Oct 1989). Cast: Karen Akers (as "Raffaela, the Confidante"), Jennifer Lee Andrews (as "Hildegarde Bratts, Telephone Operator/Trudie, the maid"), David Carroll (as "Felix Von Gaigern, the Baron"), Keith Crowningshield (as "Kurt Krönenberg, Bellboy"), Gerrit de Beer (as "Hanns Bittner, Bellboy"), Pierre Dulaine (as "The Gigolo"), David Elledge (as "Werner Holst, Scullery Worker"), Ben George (as "The Chauffeur"), Henry Grossman (as "Ernst Schmidt, Scullery Worker"), Rex D. Hays (as "Rohna, the Grand Concierge"), Suzanne Henderson (as "Sigfriede Holzhiem, Telephone Operator/The Hotel Courtesan"), David Jackson (as "One of The Jimmys"), Mitchell Jason (as "Sandor, the Impressario"), Ken Jennings (as "Georg Strunk, Bellboy"), J.J. Jepson (as "Willibald, Bellboy captain"), Timothy Jerome (as "General Director Preysing, Saxonia Mills"), Michael Jeter (as "Otto Kringelein, the Bookkeeper"), Jane Krakowski (as "Flaemmchen, the Typist"), Charles Mandracchia (as "The Doorman"), Yvonne Marceau (as "The Countess"), Michel Moinot (as "Witt, the Company Manager"), Liliane Montevecchi (as "Elizaveta Grushinskaya, the Ballerina"), Kathi Moss (as "Madame Peepee"), Lynnette Perry (as "Wolfe Bratts, Telephone Operator"), Hal Robinson (as "Zinnowitz, the Lawyer"), William Ryall (as "Franz Kohl, Scullery Worker/The Detective"), Bob Stillman (as "Erik, Front Desk"), Danny Strayhorn (as "One of The Jimmys"), Walter Willison (as "Gunther Gustafsson, Scullery Worker"), John Wylie (as "Colonel Doctor Otternschlag"). Swings: Michael DeVries (as "Swing"), Niki Harris (as "Swing") and Glenn Turner (as "Swing"). Standbys: Mark Jacoby (as "Colonel Doctor Otternschlag/Felix Von Gaigern/General Director Preysing/Saxonia Mills") and Penny Worth (as "Elizaveta Grushinskaya/Madame Peepee/Raffaela"). Understudies: Gerrit de Beer (as "Sandor"), Michael DeVries (as "Erik/Zinnowitz"), Niki Harris (as "The Countess"), Ken Jennings (as "Witt"), J.J. Jepson (as "Otto Kringelein/The Gigolo"), Lynnette Perry (as "Flaemmchen"), William Ryall (as "Rohna/The Chauffeur") and Glenn Turner (as "One of The Jimmys"). Replacement actors during Martin Beck Theatre run: Brooks Almy (as "Madame Peepee"), Jerry Ball (as "Franz Kohl, Scullery Worker/The Detective"), Brent Barrett (as "Felix Von Gaigern, the Baron"), Caitlin Brown (as "Raffaela, the Confidante"), Michael-Demby Cain (as "One of The Jimmys"), Rene Ceballos (as "Elizaveta Grushinskaya, the Ballerina"), Cyd Charisse (as "Elizaveta Grushinskaya, the Ballerina") [Broadway debut], Valerie Cutko (as "Raffaela, the Confidante"), Debbie de Coudreaux (as "Raffaela, the Confidante"), Michael DeVries (as "General Director Preysing, Saxonia Mills George Dudley The Doorman"), Pascale Faye (as "The Countess"), Merwin Goldsmith (as "Zinnowitz, the Lawyer"), Mark Jacoby (as "Felix Von Gaigern, the Baron"), J.J. Jepson (as "Otto Kringelein, the Bookkeeper"), Delyse Lively-Mekka (as "Flaemmchen, the Typist/Tootsie/Wolfe Bratts, Telephone Operator"), Carlos Lopez (as "Kurt Krönenberg, Bellboy"), Edmund Lyndeck (as "Colonel Doctor Otternschlag") [during John Wylie's vacation], Lisa Merrill McCord (as "Hildegarde Bratts, Telephone Operator/Trudie, the maid"), Austin Pendleton (as "Otto Kringelein, the Bookkeeper"), Luis Perez (as "The Chauffeur"), Michael Piehl (as "Werner Holst, Scullery Worker"), Jill Powell (as "Hildegarde Bratts, Telephone Operator/Trudie, the maid"), Abe Ribald (as "The Detective"), John Schneider (as "Felix Von Gaigern, the Baron"), Rex Smith (as "Felix Von Gaigern, the Baron"), Meg Tolin (as "Tootsie/Wolfe Bratts, Telephone Operator"), Walter Willison (as "Felix Von Gaigern, the Baron") (During John Schneider's vacation Nov 1991- Dec 1991], Greg Zerkle (as "Felix Von Gaigern, the Baron"), Chip Zien (as "Otto Kringelein, the Bookkeeper"). Standbys: Tina Paul (Elizaveta Grushinskaya), Walter Willison (as "Felix Von Gaigern"). Understudy: Meg Tolin (as "Flaemmchen"). Replacement cast during George Gershwin Theatre run: Zina Bethune (as "Elizaveta Grushinskaya, the Ballerina"), Lynnette Perry (as "Flaemmchen, the Typist"). Produced by Martin Richards, Mary Lea Johnson, Sam Crothers, Sander Jacobs, Kenneth D. Greenblatt, Paramount Pictures Corporation and Jujamcyn Theaters (James H. Binger: Chairman. Rocco Landesman: President). Produced in association with Patty Grubman and Marvin A. Krauss. Associate Producer: Sandra Greenblatt, Martin R. Kaufman and Kim Poster.

(1944) Stage Play: Song of Norway. Musical/operetta. A New Operetta based on the Life and Music of Edvard Grieg. Musical Adaptation by Bob Wright [credited as Robert Wright] and Chet Forrest [credited as George Forrest]. Lyrics by Bob Wright [credited as Robert Wright] and Chet Forrest [credited as George Forrest]. Book by Milton Lazarus. Based on the play by Homer Curran. Musical Director: Arthur Kay. Additional lyrics by Arthur Kay. Orchestral and Choral Arrangements by Arthur Kay. Choreography and Singing Ensembles Staged by George Balanchine. Book Direction by Charles Freeman. Imperial Theatre (moved to The Broadway Theatre from 15 Apr 1946- close): 21 Aug 1944- 7 Sep 1946 (860 performances). Cast: Sylvia Allen (as "Child"), Ann Andre (as "Marghareta/Chorus"), Sig Arno (as "Count Peppi Le Loup"), Robert Bailes (as "Chorus"), Robert Bernard (as "Maestro Pisoni"), Robert Bernoff (as "Ensemble"), Helena Bliss (as "Nina Hagerup"), Elizabeth Bockoven (as "Hilda/Chorus"), Lewis Bolyard (as "Innkeeper/Chorus"), Barbara Boudwin (as "Signora Eleanora/Chorus"), Mary Bradley (as "Chorus"), Patti Brady (as "Grima") [final Broadway role], Frank Brenneman (as "Chorus"), Lawrence Brooks (as "Edvard Grieg"), Betty Burge (as "Ensemble"), Grace Carroll (as "Child"), William Carroll (as "Eric"), Marjorie Castle (as "Ensemble"), John Chaloupka (as "Chorus"), Dudley Clements (as "Henrik Ibsen"), Shirley Conklin (as "Chorus"), Kaye Connor (as "Chorus"), Alexandra Danilova (as "Chorus"), Paul De Poyster (as "Member of the Faculty"), Audrey Dearden (as "Chorus"), Paul DePoyster (as "Chorus"), Kent Edwards (as "Einar"), Jean Faust (as "Ensemble"), Milton Feher (as "Ensemble"), Pauline Goddard (as "Chorus"), Cameron Grant (as "Butler/Chorus"), Audrey Guard (as "Member of the Faculty/Mother Grieg [Alternate]/Chorus"), Roland Guerard (as "The Minstrel/Ensemble"), Leone Hall (as "Chorus"), Janet Hamer (as "Sigrid"), Harold Haskin (as "Ensemble"), Larry Haynes (as "Chorus"), Hal Horton (as "Chorus"), Gwen Jones (as "Greta/Nina Hagerup [Alternate]/Chorus"), Jeanne Jones (as "Ensemble"), Raymond Keast (as "Rikard Nordraak [Alternate]/Chorus"), Francis Kiernan (as "Ensemble"), Walter Kingsford (as "Father Grieg"), Eric Kristen (as "Ensemble"), Jackie Lee (as "Helga"), Dorothie Littlefield (as "Adelina/Ensemble"), Karen Lund (as "Hedwig/Chorus"), Gerald Matthews (as "Gunnar"), Hal McMurrin (as "Chorus"), Ewing Mitchell (as "Member of the Faculty"), Pat O'Rourke (as "Child"), Sonya Orlova (as "Miss Anders/Ensemble"), Irra Petina (as "Louisa Giovanni"), Adda Pourmel (as "Waitress at Tito's/Ensemble"), Yura Radine (as "Ensemble"), Carlye Ramey (as "Ensemble"), Sharon Randall (as "Elvera/Chorus"), Shannon Randolph (as "Child"), Margaret Ritter (as "Chorus"), Ivy Scott (as "Mother Grieg") [final Broadway role], Rosine Sedova (as "Waitress at Tito's/Ensemble"), Robert Shafer (as "Rikard Nordraak"), James Starbuck (as "Freddy/Tito/Ensemble"), Gloria Stone (as "Ensemble"), Nat Stoudenmire (as "Ensemble"), Toni Stuart (as "Ensemble"), Olga Suarez (as "The Maiden Norway/Ensemble"), Sviatoslav Toumine (as "Ensemble"), Mary Walker (as "Chorus"), Arthur Waters (as "Chorus"), Nora White (as "Maid"), Philip White (as "Father Nordraak"), Doreen Wilson (as "Frau Professor Norden/Chorus"), Louisa Giovanni (as "Alternate"), Anna Wiman (as "Ensemble"), Maurice Winthrop (as "Chorus"), Stanley Wolfe (as "Chorus"), Walter Young (as "Chorus"). Replacement cast: Norvel Campbell (as "Chorus"), Grace Carroll (as "Grima"), Carl Cleighton (as "Ensemble"), Barbara Cole (as "Ensemble"), Kaye Connor (as "Marghareta"), Harry Day (as "Ensemble"), Paul Elmer (as "Chorus/Edvard Grieg"). Produced by Edwin Lester. Notes: (1) On 6 Sep 1946 (one day before the stage musical ended its Broadway run), Universal announced its purchase of the screen rights for $200,000 plus 25 percent of the film's profits. The studio planned for the movie adaptation to be produced in Technicolor by Sam Spiegel (then known as S.P. Eagle) and to star Deanna Durbin, with shooting to start in January, 1948. However, because of a projected high budget and a related tax problem which was holding back Hollywood film exports to Britain, Mr. Eagle revealed on 21 Aug 1947 that the picture was being postponed indefinitely. (2) Produced on film by ABC Pictures as Song of Norway (1970).

(1992) Robert Wright and his musical, "Grand Hotel," was performed at the Dominion Theatre in London, England with Liliane Montevecchi, Brent Barrett, Barry James, Barry Foster, Pierre Dulaine, and Yvonne Marceau in the cast. Tommy Tune was director.

(2000) Robert Wright, and his musical, "Grand Hotel," was performed at the Guildhall School of Drama and Music in London, England with Rosanna Mason, Javier Alcina, Alexander McIntosh, Viv Weatherall, Erin Hurme, Richard Glaves, and Gareth Nicolls in the cast. Martin Connor was director.

(1997) Robert Wright and his musical, "Kismet," was performed at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago, Illinois with Alene Robertson, James Fitzgerald and Susan Moniz in the cast. Dominic Missimi was director.

(August 2, 1965 - November 1965) He and Robert Wright wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, "Kismet," in the national tour first at O'Keefe Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and closed at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.

(June 22, 1965 - July 21, 1965) He and Robert Wright wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, "Kismet," at the New York State Theater in New York City for 39 performances.

(September 20-27, 1965) Robert Wright and he wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, "Kismet," in a Music Theater of Lincoln Center production at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio with Alfred Drake, Anne Jeffreys, Henry Calvin, Richard Banke, Patricia Welting, Don Beddoe, Truman Gaige, Beatrice Kraft, Alfred Toigo, Reiko Sato, Earle MacVeigh, Sally Neal, Rudy Vejar, Buddy Bryan, Eddie James, Robert Lamont, Nancy Roth, Diana Banks and Anita Alpert in the cast. Charles Lederer and Luther Davis wrote the book based on the play by Edward Knoblock. Robert Wright and he wrote the music and lyrics based on the themes by Alexander Borodin. Lemuel Ayers was set designer. Frank Thompson was costume designer. Jack Cole was choreographer. Edward Greenberg was director. Richard Rodgers was producer.

(September 25, 1979) Robert Wright and he wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, "Timbuktu!," at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio with Bruce Hubbard and Eartha Kitt in the cast. Robert Wright and Luther Davis wrote the book.

(July 1954) He and Robert Wright wrote the musical adaptation and lyrics for the musical, "Song of Norway," at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. The musical was based on the life and music of Edvard Grieg. Milton Lazarus wrote the book.

(August 1982) He and Robert Wright wrote the lyrics and musical adaptation for the musical, "Kismet," at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine with John Reardon in the cast. Charles Lederer and Luther Davis wrote the book. Alexander Borodin was original composer.

(April 2 to May 12, 2019) He was composer and lyricist for the musical, "Grand Hotel," at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia with Bobby Smith; Natascia Diaz; Kevin McAllister and Nick Elledge in the cast. Eric Schaeffer was artistic director and director. Luther Davis wrote the book. Robert Wright was also composer and lyricist. Maury Yeston wrote additional lyrics and music. Mike Blank, Michele and Ted Leber were sponsors.

(April 15 to May 27, 2018) He and Robert Wright were composers and lyricists for the musical, "Grand Hotel," in the Kokandy Productions at the Theater Wit in Chicago, Illinois with Michelle Jasso (Elizaveta Grushinskaya) and Jonathan Scwart (Otto Kringelein) in the cast. Brenda Didier was choreographer. John Nasca was costume designer.