Golden Age Of Broadway Episodes

190
Jan. 9, 2026

Ep 194: The Great Waltz on Radio & TV

With special guest Albert Evans
Guest: Albert Evans
175
June 5, 2025

Episode 178: The Show Goes On, Broadway Hirings, Firings, and Replacements, part 2.

This week’s episode of Broadway Nation is the second half of my conversation with author Ron Fassler, whose latest book is titled The Show Goes On — Broadway Hirings, Firings, and Replacements . Among the outstanding Broadway performers and creatives who are at the center Ron’s fascinating stories include Abe Burrows, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Comden & Green, Cynthia Erivo, Fantasia, Frank Loesser, Gower Champion, Harold Prince, Howard Keel, Iva Withers, Jane Russell, Jeff Conaway, Jerry ...
Guest: Ron Fassler
176
May 20, 2025

Episode 176: In Memory of CHARLES STROUSE

With special guest Lee Roy Reams
Guest: Lee Roy Reams
175
May 6, 2025

Episode 175: THE OTHER GERSHWIN, part 3, with MICHAEL OWEN

This is the third and final segment of my conversation with Michael Owen, author of the recent book, Ira Gershwin — A Life in Words. On this episode, Michael and I focus on the period of Ira Gershwin’s career following the death of his brother George, during which he had success on Broadway and in Hollywood with composers such as Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern, Arthur Schwartz, and Harold Arlen and shows and movies such as Lady In the Dark, The Barkleys Of Broadway, and A Star Is Born, If you missed the first two parts in this series, you may want to catch up with those before listening to this one. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club Members such as Cheryl Hodges Seldon. If you are a fan of Broadway Nation, I invite you to become a PATRON! For as little as $7.00 a month you can receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussion that I have with my guests — in fact I…
April 29, 2025

The Other Gershwin, part 2, with author Michael Owen

This is the second episode of my three-part conversation with author, historian, researcher, and archivist, Michael Owen, whose recent book, Ira Gershwin — A Life in Words, is the first full-length biography devoted to that outstanding artist who penned the words for many of the greatest songs of the 20th Century. If you missed part one, you may want to catch up with that before listening to this one. Michael Owen is also the author of Go Slow — The Life of Jule London and the editor of Th...
Guest: Michael Owen
April 15, 2025

Color and Light — A Brief History of Broadway Lighting Design with Tony Winner Ken Billington

This is a special encore episode of my 2022 interview with Tony-award-winning lighting designer Ken Billington. This past week, Ken received rave reviews for his lighting design of the new Broadway musical SMASH, which amazingly is his 108th Broadway production. So, I thought it was an ideal time to revisit this fascinating conversation about the history of lighting design on Broadway and Ken’s own tremendous contribution to it. This is a two-part conversation and I will be rereleasing both part...
March 6, 2025

Episode 169: If They Asked Me I Could Write A Book

On this episode, I have a big announcement, so I asked my buddy, friend, colleague, and Broadway Nation’s favorite co-host and guest host, ALBERT EVANS, to join me today to turn the tables on me and ask me the questions rather than me being the interviewer. As you may have guessed from the episode title, the announcement is that I have a book coming out called BROADWAY NATION (sound familiar?) and the subtitle will be similar to what you've heard before as well: HOW IMMIGRANT JEWISH, QUEER...
Guest: Albert Evans
161
Dec. 19, 2024

Episode 161: Fixing The Musical, Part 2

with author Douglas L. Reside
151
Oct. 3, 2024

Episode 151: More Songs Of The Season

with author Thomas Hischak
141
May 13, 2024

Episode 141: Exceptional Storytelling Is Possible

With BEN WEST author of The American Musical — Evolution of and Art Form
140
May 6, 2024

Episode 140: The "Rigorous Creative Science" of the American Musical

With BEN WEST author of The American Musical —Evolution of an Art Form