David Landay

David S. Landay (sometimes credited as David Landay) is an American attorney, theatrical producer, and librettist. He is best known in the theatre world for co-writing the book for the stage musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (with Lawrence Kasha). Over his career he has moved between legal, publishing, and theatrical endeavors, combining artistic interests with practical professional work.

Landay’s theatre credits include producing Woman of the Year (the stage show starring Lauren Bacall, Raquel Welch, and Debbie Reynolds) and writing the book for Seven Brides when it arrived on Broadway in 1982. According to the Broadway database, he was credited as “book by David Landay” for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers during its Broadway run. His producing credits reflect that he has been active both behind the scenes and in authorship in the theatre world.

Beyond theatre, Landay has also written non-fiction. He is the author of Be Prepared: The Complete Financial, Legal and Practical Guide to Living With Cancer, HIV and Other Life-Challenging Conditions, published by St. Martin’s Press. That book suggests a deep interest in combining practical legal and financial guidance with empathy for people facing serious health and life challenges.

In later years, Landay has also returned to Seven Brides in a revising capacity. For instance, when the Muny (St. Louis) staged a new version of Seven Brides, they engaged David Landay (an original co-writer) to do rewrites and editing. This underscores his lasting connection to that show and his ongoing engagement with its adaptations.