Musicals

Critic David Bianculli reviews an unusual departure PBS' Great Performances: a production of "PsychoDerelict", the new multi-media composition by the rock and roller, Pete Townsend.

Pete Townsend. In the 1960's he made waves as the lead guitarist in the British rock group The Who. He was world famous for smashing guitars during concerts. Now, years after The Who split up, Townsend is busy with solo projects. "Tommy," the rock opera he wrote for The Who in 1969, is on Broadway. His latest album is called "White City."

Singer and actress Barbara Cook. Since the 1950's Cook has been in countless Broadway musicals--"Oklahoma", "The King and I", and Leonard Bernstein's "Candide" to name a few. She's been called a "no nonsense singer...able to thrust with gentility of tone." Cook has a new album--her first in five years--called "Dorothy Fields: Close as Pages in a Book." She won a Tony Award for her part as "Marian the librarian" which she originated in "The Music Man."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "Back to Broadway," Barbara Streisand's new album of show tunes.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the original cast recording for Roger & Hammerstein's "South Pacific." (on Sony).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the original cast recording of the Broadway show "The Who's Tommy."

McNally is best known for the script he wrote for "Kiss of the Spider Woman," based on the Manuel Puig novel which was made into a movie and has recently been made into a Broadway musical. His newest play is, "A Perfect Ganesh." McNally helped develop Off- and Off-Off Broadway in the early 70s.

Behind the scenes during the golden age of the Broadway musical: Susan Loesser, daughter of Frank Loesser, composer of the classic songs "Heart and Soul" and "Baby It's Cold Outside". He also wrote the score for "Guys and Dolls" which is now being revived on Broadway. Loesser's new memoir of her father is called "A Most Remarkable Fella."

Music archivist Joseph Weiss recently wrote the liner notes on "An Evening With Frank Loesser," a CD featuring the late Broadway composer performing his own songs.

Newman joins Terry in the studio for music and conversation. Known for his satiric songs, he has sung from the perspective of a racist, a rapist and even God in songs like "Suzanne" and "Rednecks." He is currently working on a musical based on "Faust."

Actor and playwright Vernel Bagneris and pianist Morten Gunnar Larsen perform selections from their show, "Jelly Roll Morton: A Me-morial," with music written by Morton, and a script taken from Library of Congress tapes of Morton from 1938. The New Yorker calls it, "an experimental study, done within a traditional Broadway-musical framework, of the life and death of a black misanthrope. . . a psychomusical."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new box set of Cole Porter's music--which Schwartz says remains fresh all these years later.

Singer Angelina Réaux. She's gained international recognition for her interpretation of Kurt Weill music. She performed in a one-woman show, "Stranger Here Myself," a collection of Weill music, dramatically linked. (A recording of the show is on the Koch Classics International label). Réaux also performs in Opera and Concert engagements and collaborated with Leonard Bernstein in a some of his final projects: recordings of "West Side Story" and "A Quiet Place." She began her career in Broadway musicals.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the restored score of Voltaire's "Candide," conducted by Leonard Bernstein a year before his death.

Playwright, lyricist, and novelist Joe Keenan. His new book, "Putting On the Ritz," follows the further misadventures of the Broadway characters he first created in the book "Blue Heaven." (It's published by Viking).

Broadway composer John Kander of the songwriting team Kander & Ebb. They wrote the music for "Cabaret" and such songs as "New York, New York," and "And the World Goes 'Round."

Luft is featured on the new complete recordings of the 1930 musical Girl Crazy -- she sings the part that gave Ethel Merman her start on Broadway. Luft's mother was Judy Garland, and her sister is Liza Minnelli.

Classical Music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews new CD reissues of original cast recordings of classic Broadway musicals, including Oklahoma, Carousel, and Annie Get Your Gun.

Lane wrote the scores for several Broadway shows, including Finian's Rainbow and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. He accompanies Michael Feinstein on piano on the new album, Michael Feinstein Sings the Burton Lane Songbook.

The American conductor and composer died yesterday at the age of 72. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz talks with Terry about Bernstein's life and legacy.