The University Record, February 6, 1995
‘Broadway Revisited’ explores American musical theater
By Harriett Teller
Michigan Radio
Musicals about wars that started over the price of cheese are tough to find these days. But Michigan Radio will revisit one, along with other American musical theater productions, on “Broadway Revisited,” Friday evenings at 7 p.m. on Michigan Radio.
The half-hour program, now in its fourth season, is described as “a weekly exploration of the songs and shows, composers and lyricists and performers who created the American musical theater,” by show creator and host Art Hilgart.
On Feb. 10, Broadway Revisited will sample songs written for the Marx Brothers by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, Yip Harburg, and Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin and others.
Strike Up The Band will air Feb. 17. The 1927 musical satirized wars about trivial things by creating a fictitious war between the United States and Switzerland over the price of cheese. The show features music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and a script by George S. Kaufman. Hilgart describes the musical as “Gilbert & Sullivan crossed with the Marx Brothers.” Songs included will be the title song, “Strike Up the Band” and “I’ve Got a Crush on You.”
If you’ve been feeling like dancing lately, tune in on Feb. 24. Shall We Dance will showcase assorted dance music starting from the 1927 “Varsity Drag” by DeSylva, Brown, Henderson.
Michigan Radio can be heard in Ann Arbor on WUOM, 91.7 FM; in Grand Rapids on WVGR, 104.1 FM; and in Flint on WFUM, 91.1 FM.
‘Broadway Revisited’ on Michigan Radio
Feb. 10, 7 p.m., The Marx Brothers: songs by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.
Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Strike Up the Band: the Gershwins and the Great Cheese War.
Feb. 24, 7 p.m., Shall We Dance?: stepping down Broadway.
March 3, 7 p.m., I Do! I Do!: Robert Preston and Mary Martin in a four-poster.
March 10, 7 p.m., Al Jolson and Helen Kane: Old stars on new CDs.
March 17, 7 p.m., Lady in the Dark: Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin and psychiatry.
March 24, 7 p.m., The Music and Lyrics of Irving Berlin: singing waiter makes good.
March 31, 7 p.m., Omaha!: a fine score from a forgotten show.
April 7, 7 p.m., Singing in the Rain: it flopped on Broadway, but the movie was great.
April 14, 7 p.m., My One and Only: posthumous Gershwin.
April 21, 7 p.m., Mel Torme’s Singing Teachers: the Velvet Fog salutes the masters.
April 28, 7 p.m., A Party with Comden and Green: Betty and Adolph sing themselves.
