Musical Comedy Episodes

157
Aug. 14, 2025

Episode 181: In Search of Lost Broadway: RIO RITA

With special guest Albert Evans
Guest: Albert Evans
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 22, 2025

Episode 173: THE OTHER GERSHWIN — with MICHAEL OWEN, author of IRA GERSHWIN — A LIFE IN WORDS

My guest today is Michael Owen, whose recent book Ira Gershwin—A Life in Words is the first full-length biography devoted to the other Gershwin. In this book, Owen at last brings Ira Gershwin out from behind the long shadow cast by his younger and more famous brother, George. Drawing on extensive archival research, Owen often uses Ira’s own words to create a captivating portrait of a shy and retiring artist who, nevertheless, penned the words for many of the greatest songs of the twentieth...
Guest: Michael Owen
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
Feb. 20, 2025

Episode 167: HELEN MORGAN, part 3

My guest again this week is Christopher S. Connelly, author of the fascinating new book HELEN MORGAN — THE ORIGINAL TORCH SINGER AND ZIEGFELD'S LAST STAR. On this episode, Christopher and I look at Helen Morgan's life and career during the 1930s, both in Hollywood and on Broadway. And we delve a bit into her personal story, including the love of her life and her several marriages. we end by looking at her extraordinary legacy, including the two filmed biographies of her life that both came...
161
Dec. 19, 2024

Episode 161: Fixing The Musical, Part 2

with author Douglas L. Reside
148
July 25, 2024

Episode 148: Julian Eltinge In Hollywood!

with Andrew L. Erdman author of Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator.
147
July 18, 2024

Episode 147: The Musical Theater of Julian Eltinge

with Andrew L. Erdman author of Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator.
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
124
Oct. 19, 2023

Episode 124: A PASSION FOR PASTICHE!

With special Guest Host ALBERT EVANS
119
Aug. 31, 2023

Episode 119: More Adapting BROADWAY to HOLLYWOOD

with Geoffrey Block author of A Fine Romance — Adapting Broadway To Hollywood in the Studio System Era