Anything Goes

The first of a three-part program featuring Tony-winning composer-lyricist, Maury Yeston who won Tony’s for both his musicals NINE and TITANIC on Broadway. Yeston talks about early days and his songs for the adaptation of Federico Fellini’s film, “8 1/2.” He also discusses his incidental score and song for the original production of CLOUD NINE Off-Broadway.    Featured songs: “Overture Delle Donne...

The conclusion of a three-part program featuring Broadway lyricist and librettist, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, the writer behind such iconic works as FINIAN’S RAINBOW, JAMAICA, and the film musical THE WIZARD OF OZ. Known as the “Master of Whimsy” and “Broadway’s Social Conscience,” Harburg describes his lyric writing process and the way he tailors songs to particular performers. He even sings some of his...

The second of a three-part program featuring Broadway lyricist and librettist, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, the writer behind such iconic works as FINIAN’S RAINBOW, JAMAICA, and the film musical THE WIZARD OF OZ. Known as the “Master of Whimsy” and “Broadway’s Social Conscience,” Harburg describes his lyric writing process and the way he tailors songs to particular performers. He even sings some of his own...

The first of a three-part program featuring Broadway lyricist and librettist, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, the writer behind such iconic works as FINIAN’S RAINBOW, JAMAICA, and the film musical THE WIZARD OF OZ. Known as the “Master of Whimsy” and “Broadway’s Social Conscience,” Harburg describes his lyric writing process and the way he tailors songs to particular performers. He even sings some of his own...

The conclusion of a three-part program featuring Broadway composer-lyricist Craig Carnelia, known for IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?, and his contributions to WORKING under Stephen Schwartz. Carnelia takes us through his songwriting process, including how shows evolve and songs are added even after the out-of-town tryout. He also performs several of his own compositions at the piano. Featured so...

The second of a three-part program featuring Broadway composer-lyricist Craig Carnelia, known for his original score for IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?, and his contributions to WORKING under Stephen Schwartz. Carnelia takes us through his songwriting process, including how his work evolves and songs are added even after the out-of-town tryout. He also performs several of his own compositions at...

The first of a three-part program featuring composer-lyricist Craig Carnelia, known for his score to IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?, and his contributions to the innovative Broadway show, WORKING. Carnelia takes us through his earliest theatrical experiences, his songwriting process, including how shows evolve and songs are added even after the out-of-town tryout. He also performs several of his...

The conclusion of a two-part program featuring Broadway composer, Charles Strouse, known for BYE BYE BIRDIE, GOLDEN BOY, ANNIE, APPLAUSE and THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY’S. Strouse discusses his life and career, including his collaborations with lyricist Lee Adams, writer Clifford Odets, director William Friedkin, as well as stars like Ray Bolger, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Linda Lavin. Together with Le...

The first of a two-part program featuring Broadway composer, Charles Strouse, known for BYE BYE BIRDIE, GOLDEN BOY, ANNIE, and APPLAUSE. Strouse discusses his life and career, including his collaborations with lyricist Lee Adams, writer Michael Stewart, and director Gower Champion, as well as stars like Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde. Together with Adams and Martin Charnin, Strouse performs some of...

The final installment of a three-part program featuring Broadway legend Cy Coleman, composer of SWEET CHARITY, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, BARNUM and countless pop hits. Coleman discusses his life and career, including his collaborations with writers Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Barbara Fried as well as directors like Hal Prince and Joe Layton, among others. He even performs some of his own songs...

The second of a three-part program featuring Broadway legend Cy Coleman, composer of SWEET CHARITY, SEESAW, I LOVE MY WIFE and countless pop hits. Coleman discusses his life and career, including his collaborations with wordsmiths Dorothy Fields, Michael Stewart and Neil Simon as well as directors Joe Layton and Michael Bennett, among others. He even performs some of his own songs live at the pian...

The first of a three-part program featuring Broadway legend Cy Coleman, composer of SWEET CHARITY, LITTLE ME, WILDCAT and countless pop hits. Coleman discusses his life and career, including his collaborations with wordsmiths Carolyn Leigh, Michael Stewart and Neil Simon as well as directors Bob Fosse and Michael Bennett, among others. He even performs some of his own songs live at the piano recor...

Lyricist and bookwriter Tom Jones and composer Harvey Schmidt discuss their musical theatre collaborations, including their work on the long-running classic THE FANTASTICKS. Jones and Schmidt recount their early days and their collaborations on other shows such as 110 IN THE SHADE, I DO! I DO! and CELEBRATION. They also sing some of their own songs from THE FANTASTICKS. Featured songs: “THE FANTAS...

Charles Strouse, legendary composer of ANNIE, APPLAUSE, GOLDEN BOY, and BYE BYE BIRDIE, recounts his illustrious career. He recalls his work with lyricist Lee Adams and iconic stars like Dick Van Dyke, Mel Brooks, Lauren Bacall, Ray Bolger, and Sammy Davis Jr. Strouse also discusses lesser-known works like IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN, the Off-Broadway revue MAYOR, and his lyrics for N...

The conclusion of a three-part program featuring legendary writing partners Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, known for such amazing shows as THE FANTASTICKS, I DO, I DO, and 110 IN THE SHADE. Jones and Schmidt discuss the success of “My Cup Runneth Over,” developing THE FANTASTICKS, and the show’s subsequent long-running success.   Featured songs: “My Cup Runneth Over” from I DO, I DO, and from THE F...

The second of a three-part program featuring legendary writing partners, lyricist and book writer, Tom Jones and composer, Harvey Schmidt, known for such amazing shows as THE FANTASTICKS, I DO, I DO, and 110 IN THE SHADE. Jones and Schmidt discuss the reception for 110 IN THE SHADE, developing the titular songs and writing “Thousands of Flowers” for I DO, I DO.   Featured numbers: a cut song perfo...

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of THE FANTASTICKS, the first of a three-part program featuring legendary writing partners, lyricist and librettist, Tom Jones, and composer, Harvey Schmidt, known for such amazing shows as I DO, I DO, and 110 IN THE SHADE. In this episode, Jones and Schmidt recount their early days in Texas, working for Julius Monk, and writing the music for 110 IN THE SHADE...

The conclusion of a two-part program featuring Broadway performer and composer-lyricist Micki Grant, known for her score to DON’T BOTHER ME, I CAN’T COPE, YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD, and her amazing contributions to WORKING. Grant discusses her writing process, her experiences as a performer, and her collaborations with Vinnette Carroll and Stephen Schwartz. Featured songs: “It’s Too Late...

The first of a two-part program featuring Broadway performer and composer-lyricist Micki Grant, known for her scores to DON’T BOTHER ME, I CAN’T COPE, YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD, and her amazing contributions to WORKING. Grant discusses her early days, writing process, experiences as a performer, and collaborations with Vinnette Carroll and Stephen Schwartz. Featured songs: “I Gotta Keep...

Dorothy Fields, daughter of comedy star, Lew Fields, lyricist and librettist of such stage classics as A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, SWEET CHARITY and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, along with numerous memorable films such as the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers SWING TIME and ROBERTA, discusses her life and career. She recounts growing up in a theatrical household, breaking through in the Broadway of the 1920’s, and...

E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, renowned lyricist and book writer for Broadway and film, the writer behind such iconic works as FINIAN’S RAINBOW, JAMAICA, and the film musical, THE WIZARD OF OZ, recounts his illustrious career. Known as the “Master of Whimsy” and “Broadway’s Social Conscience,” Harburg who gave us “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” among hundreds of other well-known songs, describes his lyric wr...

Thomas Z. Shepard, legendary record producer whose countless cast albums include the Houston Grand Opera production of PORGY AND BESS, 1776, DAMES AT SEA, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, SWEENEY TODD, COMPANY, and much more, discusses his career. Shepard describes his typical approach to recording a Broadway cast album, his many collaborations with composer/lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, and his joy...

A look at The Art of Orchestration, featuring four of Broadway’s greatest: Robert Russell Bennett (Show Boat, Oklahoma), Hans Spialek (Anything Goes, On Your Toes), Jonathan Tunick (Company, Pacific Overtures), and Michael Starobin (Falsettos, Sunday in the Park with George). The four artists describe their different techniques and discuss their collaborations with writers and performers to bring...

Marc Blitzstein, composer and lyricist noted for THE CRADLE WILL ROCK, THE AIRBORNE SYMPHONY, JUNO, and REGINA, discusses his life and work. He recalls the political controversy around THE CRADLE WILL ROCK, the challenges of bringing it to the stage with director Orson Welles and producer, John Houseman, and his translation/adaptation of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s The THREEPENNY OPERA. Additi...

Excerpts from an interview with Jule Styne, famed composer of FUNNY GIRL, BELLS ARE RINGING, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, PETER PAN and Broadway classic GYPSY. Styne discusses his life and career and performs one of the first songs he ever wrote. The interview took place in 1979 on the occasion of the release of Styne’s biography simply entitled, Jule. The legendary composer recalls his early days in...