Episodes

  • 08 Gretchen Cryer & Carol Hall

    08 Gretchen Cryer & Carol Hall
    Jun 2 2025
    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
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    34 mins
  • 07 Joseph Stein

    07 Joseph Stein
    May 26 2025
    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 main character on the Broadway stage. He also relates his experiences crafting the librettos for PLAIN AND FANCY, MR. WONDERFUL, JUNO, and TAKE ME ALONG. Featured songs: “Plain We Live,” “This Is All Very New To Me,” “Mr. Wonderful,” “Without You, I’m Nothing,” “Daarlin’ Man,” “Take Me Along,” “Tradition,” “Do You Love Me?” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “The First Time.” 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
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    34 mins
  • 06 Craig Carnelia

    06 Craig Carnelia
    May 19 2025
    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 never been heard before, including a duet with Maureen Silliman, who was in the original cast of IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? Featured songs: “The Kid Inside,” “Just A Housewife,” “Joe,” “Something To Point To,” “Two Birds,” “Fran And Janie,” “I’m Glad You Didn’t Know Me,” and “The Mason.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. 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
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    33 mins
  • 05 Comden and Green II

    05 Comden and Green II
    May 12 2025
    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 on their legendary careers. Featured songs: “Bells Are Ringing,” “Just in Time,” “The Party’s Over,” “Subways are for Sleeping,” “You Mustn’t be Discouraged,” “My Own Morning,” “Saddle up the Horses,” “Life is like a Train,” and “Learn to be Lonely.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1986. For more information go to AnythingGoesPL.com or BPN.FM/Anything Goes. 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
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    34 mins
  • 04 Comden and Green I

    04 Comden and Green I
    May 5 2025
    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 composers Jule Styne, Morton Gould and Leonard Bernstein. The lyricist, book writers offer an inside look at the process behind some of their biggest hits and perform some of their own songs from BILLION DOLLAR BABY and ON THE TOWN. They also recall working with Broadway stars like Bert Lahr, Lena Horne, Dolores Gray, Judy Holliday and working with venerable director George Abbott. Part one of a two-part retrospective on their storied career. Featured songs: “The Reader’s Digest,” “New York, New York,” “Some Other Time,” “Broadway Blossom,” “If You Hadn’t But You Did,” “Christopher Street,” “Ohio,” “Captain Hook’s Waltz,” and “Never Neverland.” 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
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    34 mins
  • 03 Stephen Schwartz

    03 Stephen Schwartz
    Apr 28 2025
    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 he conceived based on Studs Terkel’s book, WORKING. Featured songs: “Magic To Do,” “Butterflies Are Free,” “Day By Day,” “All Good Gifts,” “Corner Of The Sky,” “Simple Joys,” “West End Avenue,” “Chanson,” “Gifts Of Love,” “I Hear America Singing,” and “Fathers And Sons.” 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
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    33 mins
  • 107 Arthur Schwartz Tribute 3

    107 Arthur Schwartz Tribute 3
    Apr 21 2025
    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, who died less than a week before this tribute originally aired, is celebrated with numerous recordings from his many revues and Broadway shows. Featured songs: “Dancing in the Dark,” “Happy Habit,” “Triplets,” “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” “It’s All Yours,” “High and Low,” “Smokin’ Reefers,” “Got a Bran’ New Suit,” and “By Myself.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. Associate Producer, Jeff Lunden. 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
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    34 mins
  • 106 Arthur Schwartz Tribute 2

    106 Arthur Schwartz Tribute 2
    Apr 14 2025
    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, who died less than a week before this tribute originally aired, is celebrated with numerous recordings from his many revues and Broadway shows. Featured songs: “That’s Entertainment,” “Something You’ve Never Seen Before,” “Triplets,” “I See Your Face Before Me,” “This Is It,” “He Had Refinement,” “Make the Man Love Me,” “I Love Luisa,” and “Magic Moment.” Originally produced and broadcast in 1984. Associate Producer, Jeff Lunden. 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
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    35 mins