Guest hosted by Jeff Lunden, this is the first of a three-part program paying tribute to iconic lyricist Ira Gershwin known for his collaborations with his brother George, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen, to name a few, and his numerous Broadway shows including FUNNY FACE, GIRL CRAZY, PORGY AND BESS and OF THEE I SING. This episode features a tribute to Gershwin as star-studded guests share personal anecdotes and perform his songs including Hal David, Margaret Whiting, Cab Calloway, Jonathan Sprague, Priscilla Baskerville, and Bruton Lane.

Featured songs: “MY SHIP,” “SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME,” “IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO,” “BESS, YOU IS MY WOMAN NOW,” “OF THEE I SING,” and “PUT ME TO THE TEST.”

Originally produced and broadcast in 1983. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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The conclusion of a three-part program featuring musical theater historian Alfred Simon discussing iconic composer Vincent Youmans, best known for writing the hit song “TEA FOR TWO.” On what would have been Youmans’ 83rd birthday, this tribute explores the composer’s prolific career and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his untimely death. The episode includes songs from TAKE A CHANCE and FLYING DOWN TO RIO. Additionally, there is a bonus tribute to composer George Gershwin and features music from OF THEE I SING, PORGY AND BESS, and LADY BE GOOD.

Featured songs: “I WANT TO BE WITH YOU,” “RISE AND SHINE,” “MUSIC MAKES ME,” “CARIOCA,” “FLYING DOWN TO RIO,” “HELLO, GOOD MORNING,” “PORGY AND BESS,” “FASCINATING RHYTHM” and “TEA FOR TWO.”

Originally produced and broadcast in 1981. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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The second of a three-part program featuring musical theater historian Alfred Simon discussing iconic composer Vincent Youmans, best known for writing the hit song “TEA FOR TWO”. On what would have been Youmans’ 83rd birthday, this tribute explores the composer’s early work and features songs from HIT THE DECK, RAINBOW, GREAT DAY, SMILES, and THROUGH THE YEARS.

Featured songs: “HALLELUJAH,” “SOMETIMES I’M HAPPY,” “THE ONE GIRL,” “MORE THAN YOU KNOW,” “GREAT DAY,” “WITHOUT A SONG,” “IF I WERE YOU, LOVE,” “THROUGH THE YEARS,” and “DRUMS IN MY HEART.”

Originally produced and broadcast in 1981. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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The first of a three-part program featuring musical theater historian Alfred Simon discussing iconic composer Vincent Youmans, best known for writing the hit song “TEA FOR TWO”. On what would have been Youmans’ 83rd birthday, this tribute explores the composer’s early life and prolific career. The episode features songs from WILDFLOWER, OH, PLEASE! and NO, NO, NANETTE. Additionally, a rare recording of Youmans himself at the piano. 

Featured songs: “Medley from NO, NO NANETTE,” “WILDFLOWER,” “I WANT TO BE HAPPY,” “PEACH ON THE BEACH,” “A MOMENT AGO,” “LIKE HE LOVES ME,” and “I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW.”

Originally produced and broadcast in 1981. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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Guest hosted by Associate Producer Jeff Lunden, this is the conclusion of a two-part program featuring director/choreographer Martha Clarke and composer Richard Peaslee. Clarke is known as one of the founders of Pilobolus Dance Theater, and Peaslee for composing scores to such shows as Peter Brook’s MARAT/SADE and TELL ME LIES. Clarke and Peaslee discuss their collaboration on the dance/music/theatre piece THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS based on the Hieronymus Bosch painting.

Featured music: Instrumental selections from “THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS,” featuring musicians Eugene Friesen (cello), William Ruhl (percussion), and Steven Silverstein (18 reed instruments), recorded exclusively for this program.

Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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Guest hosted by Associate Producer Jeff Lunden, this is the first of a two-part program featuring director/choreographer Martha Clarke and composer Richard Peaslee. Clarke is known as one of the founders of Pilobolus Dance Theater, and Peaslee for composing scores to such shows as Peter Brook’s MARAT/SADE and TELL ME LIES. Clarke and Peaslee discuss their collaboration on the dance/music/theatre piece THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS based on the Hieronymus Bosch painting. Part One also features early work by Peaslee.

Featured music: “Medley of songs from MARAT/SADE,” “THE CORDAY WALTZ,” “BRANCHES” and “LET’S HAVE A PARTY” from a Peaslee/ Jean Claude Van Italie collaboration entitled KING OF THE U.S., plus a song called “ALICE” featuring the words of Lewis Caroll. Instrumental selections from “THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS” featuring the musicians, Eugene Friesen, Bill Ruyle, and Steven Silverstein.

Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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The conclusion of a three-part program featuring legendary composer Richard Rodgers, known for OKLAHOMA!, BABES IN ARMS, PAL JOEY, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. On what was then the fifth anniversary of his passing, this tribute explores Rodgers entire career focusing on his most noteworthy collaborations with wordsmiths Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. The episode employs rarely heard songs and “off-the-beaten track” performances. Part Three features archival interviews with Rodgers, Sheldon Harnick, Liv Ullmann and George Hearn and a discussion about the origin of OKLAHOMA.

Featured songs: “LONELY ROOM,” “MY GIRL BACK HOME,” “IN MY OWN LITTLE CORNER,” “NO SONG MORE PLEASING,” “YOU COULD NOT LOVE ME MORE.”

Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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The second of a three-part program featuring legendary composer Richard Rodgers, known for OKLAHOMA!, BABES IN ARMS, PAL JOEY, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. On what was then the fifth anniversary of his passing, this tribute explores Rodgers entire career focusing on his most noteworthy collaborations with wordsmiths Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. The episode employs rarely heard songs and “off-the-beaten track” performances. Part Two focuses on Rodgers’ work with lyricist, Lorenz Hart. In an archival interview with Arnold Michaelis, Rodgers discusses the inspiration for "My Heart Stood Still.”

Featured songs: “THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE,” “WHERE THE HUDSON RIVER FLOWS,” “MY HEART STOOD STILL,” “A TREE IN THE PARK,” “IT’S EASY TO REMEMBER,” “I’VE GOTTA GET BACK TO NEW YORK,” THE LADY IS A TRAMP,” and “WAY OUT WEST ON WEST END AVENUE.”

Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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The first of a three-part program featuring legendary composer Richard Rodgers, known for OKLAHOMA!, BABES IN ARMS, PAL JOEY, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. On what was then the fifth anniversary of his passing, this tribute explores Rodgers entire career focusing on his most noteworthy collaborations with wordsmiths Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. The episode employs rarely-heard songs and off-the-beaten track performances. Part One covers both editions of THE GARRICK GAIETIES in the 20s. Additionally, three songs are featured from a then contemporary show, THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI by Mark St. Germain and Randy Courts.

Featured songs: “THE CAROUSEL WALTZ,” “MANHATTAN,” “WHAT’S THE USE OF TALKING,” “THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI,” “BUM LUCK,” “POCKETS.” 

Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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The conclusion of a two-part program featuring talented composer-lyricist William Finn, known for his musicals FALSETTOS, A NEW BRAIN and SPELLING BEE. In this program, Finn discusses writing MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS and his collaboration with orchestrator Michael Starobin. Additionally, Finn performs a rare-to-find song cut from IN TROUSERS.

Featured songs: “THE PASSION OF RHODA,” “THE CHESS GAME,” “MAKING A HOME,” “THE GAMES I PLAY,” “MARVIN HITS TRINA,” “I NEVER WANTED TO LOVE YOU,” and “FATHER TO SON.”

 Originally produced and broadcast in 1981. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus.

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