Musical Comedy Episodes
157
Aug. 14, 2025
Episode 181: In Search of Lost Broadway: RIO RITA
With special guest Albert Evans
Guest: Albert Evans
June 19, 2025
BROADWAY'S NOSTALGIA CRAZE OF THE 1970s, part 1
With special guest Albert Evans
Guest: Albert Evans
170
June 12, 2025
Episode 179: THE QUEER PIONEERS OF BROADWAY MUSICAL STAGING
HASSARD SHORT & JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON
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...
Guest: Christopher S. Connelly
157
Feb. 6, 2025
Episode 165: HELEN MORGAN — THE ORIGINAL TORCH SINGER & ZIEGFELD'S LAST STAR
With author Christopher T. Connelly
164
Jan. 23, 2025
Episode 164: THE MYTHS & LEGACIES OF GEORGE M. COHAN
With author ELIZABETH T. CFRAFT
166
Jan. 16, 2025
Episode 163: George M. Cohan —The Man Who Owned Broadway, Part 2
With author ELIZABETH T. CFRAFT
100
Jan. 2, 2025
Special Encore Episode: WHO'S THE GREATEST STAR? — In Memory of Chita Rivera
With special guest Albert Evans
160
Dec. 12, 2024
Episode 160: Fixing The Musical — How Technologies Shaped the Broadway Repertory
with author Douglas L. Reside
150
Sept. 26, 2024
Episode 150: Song of The Season — Outstanding Broadway Songs Since 1891, part 1
with author Thomas Hischak
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.
145
June 20, 2024
Episode 145: "Still Goin' Strong" — 60 Years of HELLO DOLLY!
With special guest Richard Skipper
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
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
July 20, 2023
Special Encore Episode: DOROTHY FIELDS and the Women Who Invented Broadway!
Celebrating Dorothy Fields 118th Birthday!