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

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 back and forth with Bob Fosse to create a perfect, climactic number for Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera to perform in CHICAGO. Featured songs: “All That Jazz,” “I Don’t Remember You,” “Life Is,” “The Butterfly,” “Old Folks,” “Chicago Overture,” “Nowadays,” “Mister Cellophane,” “The Grass Is Always Greener,” “The Rink,” “Colored Lights,” and “Yes.” 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

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-winning, THE LAST SWEET DAYS OF ISAAC. Hall, who performed in I’M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER…, elaborates on her own work as a composer and lyricist. She speaks about writing for women, gender roles in the theater, and the songs she contributed to FREE TO BE YOU AND ME and TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Featured songs: “Natural High,” “My Most Important Days Go By,” “Love You Came To Me,” “Put In A Package And Sold,” “Happy Birthday,” “Old Friend,” “Ain’t Love Easy,” “It’s All Right To Cry,” “The Aggie Song,” “Doatsy May,” “Who Will Dance With The Blind Dancing Bear,” “Jenny Rebecca,” and “Miracles.” 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 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, Winifred Starks and the creators, Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, recorded what they called “The Fantasticks Un-Original Cast Album”. Featured songs: “Happy Ending,” “This Plum is Too Ripe,” “I Can See It,” “Plant a Radish,” “They Were You,” “Metaphor (Reprise),” and “Try to Remember (Reprise).” 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, Winifred Starks and the creators, Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, recorded what they called “The Fantasticks Un-Original Cast Album”. Featured songs: “Overture,” “Try to Remember,” “Much More,” “Metaphor,” “Never Say No,” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.” 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 founding the BMI musical theatre workshop. Engel’s career is celebrated through the playing of various interview recordings and musical numbers he participated in during his lifetime. Featured songs: “The Shoe Bird,” “A Perfectly Beautiful Song,” “Guido’s Song,” “Somewhere That’s Green,” “At the Ballet,” and “Wonderful Town Overture.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 founding the BMI musical theatre workshop. Engel’s career is celebrated through the playing of various interview recordings and musical numbers he participated in during his lifetime. Featured songs: “I Get Embarrassed,” “Miss Marmelstein,” “We Belong to You,” “There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon to New York,” “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,” “Where is the Tribe for Me?,” and “Sister Awake.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 founding the BMI musical theatre workshop. Engel’s career is celebrated through the playing of various interview recordings and musical numbers he participated in during his lifetime. Featured songs: “Porgy & Bess Overture,” “Call Me Mister,” “South America, Take it Away,” “To This We’ve Come,” “The Nightmare Song,” and “To My Wife.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Hard-Knock Life,” “Spreading Rhythm Around,” “Kiss Me!,” “Ladies and Their Sensitivities,” “Oh, What a Circus,” “You’re Getting to Be a Habit With Me,” “Spa Music,” “Not Since Chaplin,” “Overture” to Cats, “Dance If It Makes You Happy,” “Baby, Baby, Baby” and “Move On.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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,” “Welcome to the Theater,” “Another Hundred People,” “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” “Everyday a Little Death,” “Measure the Valleys,” “Ease on Down the Road,” and “At the Ballet.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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,” “The Best of Times,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “Dulcinea”, “Why Should I Wake Up?” and “Hallelujah, Baby.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 from shows like AT HOME ABROAD, INSIDE USA, and THE GAY LIFE. Featured songs: “That’s Not Cricket,” “Paree,” “Got a Bran’ New Suit,” “By Myself,” “Triplets,” “Come, O Come,” “Rhode Island is Famous For You,” “Magic Moment,” and “Dancing in the Dark.” 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

Guest hosted by Jeff Lunden; this is the second of a three-part program paying tribute to acclaimed lyricist Howard Dietz. Dietz is perhaps best known for his collaborations with composer Arthur Schwartz. Dietz 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 from shows like THE BAND WAGON, FLYING COLORS, and REVENGE WITH MUSIC. Featured songs: “Sweet Music,” “High and Low,” “Hoops,” “I Love Louisa,” “New Sun in the Sky,” “Alone Together,” and “You and the Night and the Music.” 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

Guest hosted by Jeff Lunden; this is the first of a three-part program paying tribute to acclaimed lyricist Howard Dietz. Dietz is perhaps best known for his collaborations with composer Arthur Schwartz. Dietz 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 from shows like THE BAND WAGON, THE LITTLE SHOW, and THREE’S A CROWD. Featured songs: “That’s Entertainment,” “Moanin’ Low,” “I’ve Made a Habit of You,” “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” “Lucky Seven,” and “Something to Remember You By.” 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 three-part program celebrating the career of famed songwriter and singer, Hoagy Carmichael. Carmichael is best known for having composed some of the most popular American songs of all time, including “Star Dust,” “Skylark,” “Georgia on my Mind” and “Heart and Soul”. He collaborated with many celebrated lyricists including Johnny Mercer. In this series, noted jazz historian, Richard Sudhalter provides insightful commentary and shares many wonderful Carmichael recordings from his personal collection. Featured songs: “Little Old Lady,” “I Walk with Music,” “Ohh, What You Said,” “Hong Kong Blues,” “Baltimore Oriole,” and “Skylark.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second of a three-part program celebrating the career of famed songwriter and singer, Hoagy Carmichael. Carmichael is best known for having composed some of the most popular American songs of all time, including “Star Dust,” “Skylark,” “Georgia on my Mind” and “Heart and Soul”. He collaborated with many celebrated lyricists including Johnny Mercer. In this series, noted jazz historian, Richard Sudhalter provides insightful commentary and shares many wonderful Carmichael recordings from his personal collection. Featured songs: “Washboard Blues,” “Snowball,” “Thanksgiving,” “Ballad in Blue,” “Small Fry,” “Even’n Tide,” and “Billy-A-Dick.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first of a three-part program celebrating the career of famed songwriter and singer, Hoagy Carmichael. Carmichael is best known for having composed some of the most popular American songs of all time, including “Star Dust,” “Skylark,” “Georgia on my Mind” and “Heart and Soul”. He collaborated with many celebrated lyricists including Johnny Mercer. In this series, noted jazz historian, Richard Sudhalter provides insightful commentary and shares many wonderful Carmichael recordings from his personal collection. Featured songs: “April in my Heart,” “Riverboat Shuffle,” “What Kind of Man is You?,” and “Moon Country.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1982. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadway’s greatest belter and star of GYPSY, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, and CALL ME MADAM is honored with highlights from her 50-year career. From GIRL CRAZY to HELLO, DOLLY!, Merman dazzled audiences with her performances and powerful, brassy voice. Listen as she recalls working with Cole Porter, Bert Lahr, and Irving Berlin to create the roles that would go down in history. Ira Gershwin, Bob Hope and Stephen Sondheim talk about working with the Queen of Musical Comedy. Featured songs: “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “I Got Rhythm,” “You’re The Top,” “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “A Lady Needs A Change,” “Friendship,” “I Got The Sun In The Morning,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Rose’s Turn,” and “World Take Me Back.” 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 two-part program paying tribute to legendary leading man Alfred Drake on, what would have been at the time, his 70th birthday. Drake is best known for starring in the original Broadway productions of KISS ME, KATE, KISMET, and OKLAHOMA! This birthday celebration surveys Drake’s Tony-Award winning Broadway career and features performances from GIGI, KEAN and SING OUT, SWEET LAND. Featured songs: “And This is My Beloved,” “Where is the Life That Late I Led?” “Service for Service,” “I Remember It Well,” “Wandering,” “I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore,” and “Where Thine That Special Face.” 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first of a two-part program paying tribute to legendary leading man Alfred Drake on, what would have been at the time, his 70th birthday. Drake is best known for starring in the original Broadway productions of KISS ME, KATE, KISMET, for which Drake won the Tony, and OKLAHOMA! This birthday celebration surveys Drake’s Tony-Award winning Broadway career and features recordings from BABES IN ARMS, KEAN, and SING OUT, SWEET LAND. Featured songs: “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” “Fate,” “Wunderbar,” “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,” “Babes in Arms,” “As I Was Going Along,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” and “Pore Jud is Daid”. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices