Anything Goes

Burton Lane, composer of such celebrated Broadway shows as FINIAN’S RAINBOW and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, along with songs for over thirty films including ROYAL WEDDING and BABES IN ARMS, discusses his career. He recounts his early songwriting efforts in Hollywood with Frank Loesser and Harold Adamson, Broadway collaborations with E.Y. “Yip” Harburg and Alan Jay Lerner, writing songs for...

Richard Maltby, Jr., director and lyricist of such shows as STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW, BABY, and the multi-award-winning Fats Waller tribute AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, discusses his career from his earliest beginnings. He reflects on his work with composer David Shire, having their songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, and the challenges of adapting Fats Waller’s music for the theater. Featured songs: “We...

Sheldon Harnick, acclaimed writer of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, FIORELLO!, SHE LOVES ME, THE ROTHSCHILDS, and more, shares highlights from his oevre. He speaks about his career beginnings after leaving the Army, the advice he got from his idol, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, and how he almost didn’t get the job writing for FIORELLO! Harnick talks about Jerome Robbins, finding the overall theme of FIDDLER ON THE RO...

Jim Wann, composer, lyricist, and performer of PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES talks about the Country and American Roots-influenced scores he brought to the stage. He discusses his early work Off-Broadway, including DIAMOND STUDS and HOT GROG, and explains the origins of both the Pump Boys and the Dinettes, and how they eventually made their way to Broadway. A marvelous guitarist and singer in his own rig...

Maury Yeston, composer-lyricist of the Tony-winning musical NINE, talks about his score for the adaptation of Federico Fellini’s film, “8 1/2.” Yeston also discusses his incidental score and song for the original production of “Cloud Nine” Off- Broadway as well as some of the pop songs he has written. Recalling the Broadway production of Nine, he explains writing music for the large, predominantly...

Part two of our conversation with John Kander and Fred Ebb, songwriters for such Broadway shows as WOMAN OF THE YEAR, 70, GIRLS, 70, THE RINK, THE HAPPY TIME, and ZORBA. They talk about their writing process and share several anecdotes about working with luminaries like Hal Prince, George Abbott, Liza Minnelli, Robert Goulet and more. Kander and Ebb share their love of writing together and going b...

John Kander and Fred Ebb, the writing team behind such shows as CHICAGO, CABARET, FLORA THE RED MENACE, are interviewed about their over twenty-year collaboration. They discuss how they first met, the early stages of their partnership, writing special material and how much they enjoy the time they spend writing together. They sing several of their own compositions together and share their experien...

Gretchen Cryer, writer of I’M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER AND TAKING IT ON THE ROAD, and Carol Hall, songwriter of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, speak about their careers on the musical theater stage. Cryer details her inspirations and choices for I’M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER… and sings several songs from the show. She also discusses her collaboration with composer Nancy Ford on the award-winnin...

The legendary book writer of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and THE BAKER’S WIFE, Joseph Stein, shares his writing process and his insights into what contributes to a good book of a musical. Together with Elisa Loti and Jeff Keller, Stein reads scenes from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and ZORBA, discusses the challenging task of adapting existing work into musical form, and explains the importance of establishing the...

Composer-lyricist Craig Carnelia talks IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, his contributions to WORKING under Stephen Schwartz, and an un-produced show titled, THE NEWCOMERS. Carnelia takes us through his songwriting process, including how shows evolve and songs are added even after the premiere. A talented performer in his own right, Carnelia performs several of his own songs, some of which have nev...

Betty Comden and Adolph Green walk us through BELLS ARE RINGING, SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING, FADE OUT – FADE IN, HALLELUJAH, BABY!, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, and A DOLL’S LIFE. They describe their experiences working with composers Cy Coleman and Jule Styne and star performers like Carol Burnett, Judy Holliday, Leslie Uggams, John Cullum and Madeline Kahn. The conclusion of a two-part retrospective...

Betty Comden and Adolph Green, famed musical theatre writing team discuss their careers. Authors of arguably the best film musical ever, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, and countless Broadway musicals including PETER PAN, TWO ON THE AISLE, and WONDERFUL TOWN recall how their career began with THE REVUERS singing satirical songs at the Village Vanguard, and their notable collaborations with legendary composer...

Twenty years before he wrote WICKED, Stephen Schwartz talks about GODSPELL, PIPPIN and other early shows. The composer-lyricist explains how he got his start on Broadway with the title song for BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE, and even sits down at the piano to perform some of his most personal songs. Hear about Schwartz’s process as he composed the scores to THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER’S WIFE, and the musical...

The conclusion of a three-part program paying tribute to renowned composer Arthur Schwartz. Schwartz is perhaps best known for his collaborations with lyricist Howard Dietz, whom he worked with on such famous musicals as THE BAND WAGON, REVENGE WITH MUSIC, and AT HOME ABROAD. Schwartz also collaborated with Dorothy Fields on BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA and A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. The legendary composer...

The second of a three-part program paying tribute to renowned composer Arthur Schwartz. Schwartz is perhaps best known for his collaborations with lyricist Howard Dietz, whom he worked with on such famous musicals as THE BAND WAGON, REVENGE WITH MUSIC, and AT HOME ABROAD. Schwartz also collaborated with Dorothy Fields on BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA and A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. The legendary composer, wh...

The first of a three-part program paying tribute to renowned composer Arthur Schwartz. Schwartz is perhaps best known for his collaborations with lyricist Howard Dietz, whom he worked with on such famous musicals as THE BAND WAGON, REVENGE WITH MUSIC, and AT HOME ABROAD. Schwartz also collaborated with Dorothy Fields on BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA and A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. The legendary composer, who...

The second of a two-part program celebrating the 25th anniversary of musical theatre classic, The Fantasticks, which went on to become the longest running musical in history. In 1984, associate producer Jeff Lunden and Paul Lazarus gathered a group of talented performers who had appeared at different times in the New York Production and together with musical director/pianist Jeff Saver, harpist, W...

The first of a two-part program celebrating the 25th anniversary of musical theatre classic, The Fantasticks, which went on to become the longest running musical in history. In 1984, associate producer Jeff Lunden and Paul Lazarus gathered a group of talented performers who had appeared at different times in the New York Production and together with musical director/pianist Jeff Saver, harpist, Wi...

The conclusion of a three-part program paying tribute to famed conductor, composer, author, and teacher Lehman Engel. Engel is best known for having conducted over 150 musicals and shows, six of which earned him the Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director. He is widely credited for changing the landscape of musical theater literature through the many books he wrote on the subject and fo...

The second of a three-part program paying tribute to famed conductor, composer, author, and teacher Lehman Engel. Engel is best known for having conducted over 150 musicals and shows, six of which earned him the Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director. He is widely credited for changing the landscape of musical theater literature through the many books he wrote on the subject and foundi...

The first of a three-part program paying tribute to famed conductor, composer, author, and teacher Lehman Engel. Engel is best known for having conducted over 150 musicals and shows, six of which earned him the Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director. He is widely credited for changing the landscape of musical theater literature through the many books he wrote on the subject and foundin...

The conclusion of a three-part program surveying twenty years of the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence on Broadway, more commonly referred to as the Tonys. In this program, Paul Lazarus and associate producer, Jeff Lunden build up anticipation for the 1984 Awards by playing and discussing music from the previous twenty Best Musical Tony winners, starting with 1964. Featured songs: “It’s the H...

The second of a three-part program surveying twenty years of the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence on Broadway, more commonly referred to as the Tonys. In this program, Paul Lazarus and associate producer, Jeff Lunden build up anticipation for the 1984 Awards by playing and discussing music from the previous twenty Best Musical Tony winners, starting with 1964. Featured songs: “The Egg,” “Wel...

The first of a three-part program surveying twenty years of the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence on Broadway, more commonly referred to as the Tonys. In this program, Paul Lazarus and associate producer, Jeff Lunden build up anticipation for the 1984 Awards by playing and discussing music from the previous twenty Best Musical Tony winners, starting with 1964. Featured songs: “Hello, Dolly,”...

Guest hosted by Jeff Lunden; this is the conclusion of a three-part program paying tribute to acclaimed lyricist Howard Dietz. Dietz is perhaps best known for his collaborations with composer Arthur Schwartz. He penned the lyrics to numerous hit songs like “Dancing in the Dark,” “By Myself,” and “That’s Entertainment.” In this program, Lunden celebrates Dietz’s impressive oeuvre by playing songs f...