The conclusion of a three-part program featuring prolific composer Alan Menken, who began his storied career in the theater but is mostly known for his work on animated films such as THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN and ENCHANTED. In this program, Menken discusses his experiences working on the stage shows “Real Life Funnies, “Battle of the Giants,” and “Dream on Royal Street” as well as his classic score to LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Some of the recordings feature Menken himself s...
Nov 13, 2023•35 min•Ep. 57
The second of a three-part program featuring prolific composer Alan Menken, who began his storied career in the theater but is widely known for his work on animated films such as THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALLADIN and ENCHANTED. In this program, Menken discusses his experience working with Howard Ashman on the stage shows LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER. Some of the recordings feature Menken himself singing at the piano. Featured songs: “Feed Me (Get It),”...
Nov 06, 2023•30 min•Ep. 56
The first of a three-part program featuring prolific composer Alan Menken, who began his storied career in the theater but is mostly known for his work on animated films such as THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN and ENCHANTED. In this program, Menken discusses his experience working with Howard Ashman on the stage shows LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER. Some of the recordings feature Menken himself singing at the piano. Featured songs: “Prologue (Little Sh...
Oct 30, 2023•32 min•Ep. 55
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” t...
Apr 10, 2023•33 min•Ep. 54
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...
Apr 03, 2023•35 min•Ep. 53
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-B...
Mar 27, 2023•35 min•Ep. 52
The conclusion of a three-part program featuring Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, known for such celebrated shows as GODSPELL and PIPPIN. Schwartz discusses developing songs for THE BAKER’S WIFE and WORKING, along with his creative endeavors outside of Broadway. Featured songs: “Chanson,” “Gifts of Love,” and “Meadowlark” from THE BAKER’S WIFE, a pop song entitled “Cry Without a Reason, “Father and Sons” from WORKING, and “All Good Gifts” from GODSPELL. Originally produced and broadc...
Mar 20, 2023•35 min•Ep. 51
The second of a three-part program featuring Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, known for such celebrated shows as GODSPELL and PIPPIN. Schwartz discusses the creative writing process behind “Love Song” from PIPPIN, as well as the show’s overall popularity and critical reception, and developing songs for a potential film adaptation of THE MAGIC SHOW. Featured songs: “The Good Times Ladies Rag” from PIPPIN, “Love Song” from PIPPIN, “West End Avenue” from THE MAGIC SHOW, “Where Did the M...
Mar 13, 2023•34 min•Ep. 50
The first of a three-part program featuring Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, known for such celebrated shows as GODSPELL and PIPPIN. In this edition, Schwartz discusses his early days on Long Island, writing songs for BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE, GODSPELL, and shares a song from PIPPIN-PIPPIN, the college version of PIPPIN. Featured songs: “Magic To-Do” from PIPPIN, “Begging My Lady’s Pardon” from the college production, PIPPIN-PIPPIN, “Butterflies Are Free” from BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE, “Prep...
Mar 06, 2023•35 min•Ep. 49
The conclusion of a four-part program featuring Broadway composer Burton Lane, known for such celebrated 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. Lane 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. Featured son...
Feb 27, 2023•53 min•Ep. 48
The third of a four-part program featuring Broadway composer Burton Lane, known for such celebrated 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. Lane 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. Featured songs: “...
Feb 20, 2023•37 min•Ep. 47
The second of a four-part program featuring Broadway composer Burton Lane, known for such celebrated 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. Lane 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. Featured songs: ...
Feb 13, 2023•46 min•Ep. 46
The first of a four-part program featuring Broadway composer Burton Lane, known for such celebrated 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. Lane 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. Featured songs: “...
Feb 06, 2023•48 min•Ep. 45
The conclusion of a two-part program featuring legendary Broadway orchestrator Hans Spialek, who orchestrated many of the most famous shows of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, including, THE NEW YORKERS, ON YOUR TOES and PAL JOEY, Spialek discusses his experiences and collaborations with such notable composers as George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, and Cole Porter. Featured songs: “Quiet Night,” “It’s Got To Be Love,” “Heroes In The Fall,” “You Took Advantage Of Me,” “At Long Last Love,” “I Happen To Like...
Jan 30, 2023•38 min•Ep. 44
The first of a two-part program featuring legendary Broadway orchestrator Hans Spialek, who orchestrated many of the most famous shows of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, including, THE NEW YORKERS, ON YOUR TOES and PAL JOEY, Spialek discusses his experiences and collaborations with such notable composers as George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, and Cole Porter. Featured songs: “On Your Toes,” “Two A Day For Keith,” “My Dream Girl,” “I’ve Got A Rainbow,” “In Honeysuckle Time,” “There’s A Small Hotel,” and “...
Jan 23, 2023•41 min•Ep. 43
The conclusion of a three-part program featuring Tony-winning composer-lyricist, Maury Yeston who won Tony’s for both his Broadway musicals NINE and TITANIC. In this 30-minute segment, Yeston discusses several of the pop songs he has written along with detailing the creative process behind the score for NINE. Featured songs: “Danglin’,” “A Song for John,” “What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas,” “New Words,” “Unusual Way,” and “Folies Bergeres.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. For m...
Jan 16, 2023•36 min•Ep. 42
The second of a three-part program featuring Tony-winning composer-lyricist, Maury Yeston who won Tony’s for both his Broadway musicals NINE and TITANIC. Yeston talks about his score for the adaptation of Federico Fellini’s film, “8 1/2.” He also discusses working with director Tommy Tune, French chanteuse, Liliane Montevecchi, and the “Maury Tabernacle Choir.” Recalling the Broadway production of NINE, he explains writing music for the large, predominantly female cast. Featured songs: “A Call F...
Jan 09, 2023•34 min•Ep. 41
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,” “Nine,” “Cloud Nine – both original ballad” and revised Rock Version, “Cloud Nine – Gospel Version,”...
Jan 02, 2023•34 min•Ep. 40
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’...
Dec 26, 2022•43 min•Ep. 39
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 “Ques...
Dec 19, 2022•35 min•Ep. 38
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 own works, including a cut song from THE WIZARD OF OZ. Featured songs: “The World Is Your Balloon,”...
Dec 12, 2022•32 min•Ep. 37
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 works, including a cut song from THE WIZARD OF OZ. Featured songs: “If I Only Had The Nerve,” “Some...
Dec 05, 2022•34 min•Ep. 36
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 works, including a cut song from THE WIZARD OF OZ. Featured songs: “Something Sort Of Grandish,” “Br...
Nov 28, 2022•34 min•Ep. 35
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 songs: “Diary Of A Homecoming Queen,” “Fran and Janie,” “I’m Glad You Didn’t Know Me,” “The Mason,” an...
Nov 21, 2022•32 min•Ep. 34
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 piano. Featured songs: “Joe,” “Just A Housewife,” “Nobody Goes Out Anymore,” “Something To Poin...
Nov 14, 2022•37 min•Ep. 33
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 Scho...
Nov 07, 2022•33 min•Ep. 32
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. Fe...
Oct 31, 2022•41 min•Ep. 31
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 T...
Oct 24, 2022•37 min•Ep. 30
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,...
Oct 17, 2022•35 min•Ep. 29
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,”...
Oct 10, 2022•33 min•Ep. 28
