Anything Goes

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 own compositions at the piano. Featured songs: “The Kid Inside,” “The Things I Learned In High School,” “Privacy,” “I Met A Man Today,” and “Two Birds.” 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Lee Adams, Strouse performs some of his own songs live at the piano, recorded at the 92nd Street Y. Featured songs: “Once Upon A Time,” “What A Country,” “I Want To Be With You,” “Don’t Forget 127th Street,” “Revenge,” “You’ve Got Possibilities,” “The Night They Raided Minsky’s,” and “Take Ten Terrific Girls.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 his own songs live at the piano, recorded at the 92nd Street Y.   Featured songs: “Ditto,” “Take Ten Terrific Girls,” “The Arts,” “I Lost The Rhythm,” “Overture to BYE BYE BIRDIE,” “The Telephone Hour, “Rosie,” “Put On A Happy Face,” and “Hymn For A Sunday Evening.”   Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 live at the piano, recorded exclusively for this program.   Featured songs: “On the Twentieth Century,” “The Way I See It,” “Come Follow The Band,” “On the Day You Leave Me,” and “Hey There Good Times.”   Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 piano recorded exclusively for this program.   Featured songs: “I’m A Brass Band,” “My Personal Property,” “Pink Taffeta Sample Size 10,” “Where Am I Going,” “Nobody Does It Like Me,” and “I Love My Wife.”   Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 recorded exclusively for this program. Featured songs: “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Witchcraft,” “A Moment of Madness,” “Hey Look Me Over,” “I’ve Got Your Number,” and “Real Live Girl.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 FANTASTICKS Overture,” “I Can See It,” “Opening from 110 IN THE SHADE,” “Another Hot Day,” “A Man and a Woman,” “Wonderful Music,” “I Do! I Do!” “My Cup Runneth Over,” “Celebration,” “Never Say No,” “They Were You,” the rare “Come Along With Me,” and “Try To Remember.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 NIGHTINGALE. Featured songs: “Put On A Happy Face,” “Those Were The Days,” “Hymn for A Sunday Evening (Ed Sullivan),” “Applause,” “Tomorrow,” “A Lot of Living To Do,” “Telephone Hour,” “What A Country,” “Once Upon A Time,” “I Wanna Be With You,” “You’ve Got Possibilities,” “Welcome to the Theatre,” “The Overture from ANNIE,” “Hard-Knock Life,” “NYC,” “I’m the Mayor,” and “The Emperor Is A Man.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 FANTASTICKS: the writers performing “Come on Along” the original opening number and “Try to Remember” the show’s ultimate opening song, “Plant a Radish,” featuring Bert Lahr and Stanley Holloway from the TV version and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” “Try to Remember,” and the reprise of “Try to Remember.”   Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 performed by the writers, “Too Many People Alone,” and from the original cast recording; “A Man and a Woman,” and “Wonderful Music” from 110 IN THE SHADE, three title songs and “Thousands of Flowers” for I DO, I DO.   Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.   Featured songs: “Much More” from THE FANTASTICKS, “The Holy Man and the New Yorker” and “Mr. Off-Broadway” from DEMI DOZEN, and “Gonna Be Another Hot Day” from 110 IN THE SHADE.   Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Judas,” “It’s Lonely,” “Consider,” “Workin’ For The Man,” “Never Jam Today,” “Lovin’ Al,” “Cleanin’ Women,” “If I Could’ve Been,” “Unguentine Commercial,” “Roll Jordan,” and “Who’s Gonna Teach The Children.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Movin’,” “Harlem Streets,” “Lookin’ Over From Your Side,” “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope,” and “Questions.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1980. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 her collaborations with many legendary composers, including Jimmy McHugh, Jerome Kern, Fritz Kreisler, Oscar Levant, Harry Warren, Harold Arlen, Burton Lane, Arthur Schwartz, and Cy Coleman. Featured songs: “On The Sunny Side Of The Street,” “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “A Fine Romance,” “I’m In The Mood For Love,” “Make The Man Love Me,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Diga Diga Doo,” “Collegiana,” “It’s All Yours,” “There Must Be Something Better Than Love,” “He Had Refinement,” and “Big Spender.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 writing process, the way he tailors songs to particular performers, and even sings some of his own works, including a cut song from THE WIZARD OF OZ. Featured songs: “Napoleon,” “The Springtime Cometh,” “Evelina,” “Never Trust A Virgin,” “Sunday in Cicero Falls,” “Down With Love,” “Something Sort of Grandish,” “How Are Things In Glocca Morra,” “Jamaica,” “When I’m Not Near The Girl I Love,” “I Like The Likes Of You,” “You’re A Builder Upper,” “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” “If I Only Had A Brain,” “If I Were King Of The Forest,” “The Jitterbug,” “Lydia The Tattooed Lady,” and “It’s Only A Paper Moon.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 in getting to produce the recording of the Houston Grand Opera production of PORGY AND BESS and the first major revival of SHOW BOAT. Featured songs: “Overture from THE KING AND I,” “Why Do I Love You?” “Unexpected Song,” “I Don’t Want To Know,” “Don’t Get Around Too Much,” “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart,” “I’m On My Way,” “Hello, Young Lovers,” and the “1776 Finale.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 out the best in a score for a show. Featured songs: “Overture to CAROUSEL,” “Four Jews In A Room Bitching,” “March of the Falsettos,” “Overture to THE KING AND I,” “A Terrific Band and A Real Nice Crowd,” “The Twenty-Fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “There’s A Small Hotel,” “Overture to NINE,” “I Happen To Like New York,” and “I Never Wanted To Love You.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Additional commentary by Dr. Eric Gordon, author of “Marc the Music, The Life and Work of Marc Blitzstein.” Featured songs: “Finale from The Cradle Will Rock,” “Nickel Under The Foot,” “Moll’s Song,” “Ballad of Hurry Up,” “Ballad of the Bombardier,” “Mack the Knife,” “One Kind Word,” “Make A Quiet Day (Rain Quartet),” “The Best Thing of All,” and the rarely sung “Zipperfly” introduced and performed by Leonard Bernstein. Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 London as a Harry Lauder imitator, and growing up in Chicago, playing in jazz bands with Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Jack Teagarden, meeting Al Capone, his Hollywood career with Frank Loesser and Sammy Cahn, evenings in Los Angeles with Frank Sinatra and Jerome Kern, and of course, his Broadway shows with Busby Berkeley, Jerome Robbins, George Abbott, Comden & Green, Bob Merrill, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. Featured songs performed by Styne at the piano: “The Guy With The Polka-Dotted Tie,” and “Never Never Land.“ Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Fred Astaire, and discovering a young Judy Garland when she was performing as part of The Gumm Sisters. Featured songs: “Overture from FINIAN’S RAINBOW,” “Everything I Have Is Yours,” “How D’ya Like to Love Me?” “I Hear Music,” “The Lady’s In Love With You,” “How About You?” “Don’t Let It Get You Down,” “The World Is In My Arms,” “Old Devil Moon,” “Look to the Rainbow,” “When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich,” “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I’ve Been A Liar All My Life,” “Too Late Now,” “On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever,” “Come Back To Me,” and “Where Have I Seen Your Face Before.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/AnythingGoes. Theme music arranged by Bruce Coughlin. Sound mixing by David Rapkin. Associate producer Jeff Lunden. Anything Goes – Backstage with Broadway’s Best – is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices