1776 (2025)

It's called "pastiche" that subtle art practiced by great songwriters paying tribute to the music of the past--as heard in Hairspray, Parade, Kiss Me Kate, Fiorello!, and more.

The perfect Fourth of July musical--more relevant than ever. So, sit down for an hour with this classic as we hear the Broadway cast and the rare film soundtrack, united for posterity.

This episode draws its inspiration from the great theatrical illustrator Al Hirschfeld.  We're joined by the chief archivist of his work, David Leopold, for a musical survey of his favorites: the Gershwins, Julie Andrews, Louis Armstrong and more.  Watch along at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psDdsefFUMA

' Feudin' and fussin' and fightin'--on-stage and off-stage: West Side Story, Hamilton, Camelot and two gals named Patti and Audra.

Broadway to Main Street is all ready for the big event-and you will be too! All the major nominees from 2025 are featured: Maybe Happy Ending, Death Becomes Her, Buena Vista Social Club--and more.

We look back at Broadway fifty years ago to see what was worthy of recognition then. A lot, as it turns out: The Wiz, Angela Lansbury in Gypsy, Shenandoah, Bernadette Peters and much much more.

A special tribute to a great composer, Charles Strouse. Classic and rare tunes from Golden Boy, Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, Applause and many more.

As a run-up to the Great Performances l PBS broadcast of "Girl from the North Country" (May 23), we gather 'round the Bob Dylan legacy and the Broadway songbook, including many renditions by Dylan himself.

Following Tolstoi's dictum, we look at all sorts of families across the years on Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof, Next to Normal, Falsettos, The Addams Family and more.

We march through a tribute to the composer/lyricist with a variety of performances--Mary Testa, Christian Borle, Malcolm Gets, Finn himself--with classics and rarities.