ANYA – based on themes of Sergei Rachmaninoff

Presented by Rob Morrison 25th November 2025

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 25th November will feature a 60th anniversary tribute to the Robert Wright and George Forrest musical Anya (based on Anastasia by Marcelle Maurette and Guy Bolton; with the music based on themes of Sergei Rachmaninoff), from the 1965 original Broadway cast recording starring Constance Towers, Michael Kermoyan, Lillian Gish and Irra Petina, with George S. Irving, Boris Aplon, Ed Steffe, John Michael King, Barbara Alexander and Maggie Task.  

This will be preceded by an introduction by the Tony Award nominated New York-based actor and director – Walter Willison.

And will be followed by an excerpt from an interview that was conducted in February 2016 with the Emmy Award nominated actress-singer Contance Towers in which she recalled the original production in which she made her Broadway debut.

The programme will conclude with selections from the 1991 New York studio cast recording of Wright and Forrest’s revised version Anastasia – The Musical featuring Judy Kaye, Len Cariou and Regina Resnick.

MAN OF LA MANCHA – the impossible dream

Presented by Rob Morrison 18th November 2025

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 18th November will feature a 60th anniversary tribute to the Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion musical Man of La Mancha (suggested by the life and works of Miguel de Cervantes), from the 1965 original Broadway cast recording starring Richard Kiley, Irving Jacobson, Joan Deiner, Ray Middleton and Robert Rounseville, with Mimi Turque, Eleanore Knapp. Harry Theyard and Gino Conforti; plus additional numbers from the 1968 original London cast recording starring Keith Michell. Bernard Spear, Alan Crofoot, Peter Arne and Peter Gordeno.  

This will be followed by the George Kleinsinger and Joe Darion “back-alley opera” archy and mehitabel (based on the stories of Don Marquis) from the 1954 New York studio cast album featuring Eddie Bracken, Carol Channing and David Wayne, with Percival Dove; plus echoes of archy narrated by David Wayne.

SKYSCRAPER a look back at this 1965 musical

Presented by Rob Morrison 11th November 2025

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 11th November will feature a 60th anniversary tribute to the James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn musical Skyscraper (based on the play Dream Girl by Elmer Rice), from the 1965 original Broadway cast recording starring Julie Harris, Peter L. Marshall and Charles Nelson Reilly, with Dick O’Neill and Rex Everhart,

This will be followed by a 60th anniversary tribute to the Harold Rome “play with music” The Zulu and the Zayda (based on the story by Dan Jacobson), from the 1965 original Broadway cast recording starring Menasha Skulnik and Ossie Davis, with Louis Gossett, Peter Deanda and Christine Spencer.

BILLION DOLLAR BABY hits 80 this week

Presented by Rob Morrison 4th November 2025

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 4th November will feature an 80th anniversary tribute to the Morton Gould, Betty Comden and Adolph Green musical Billion Dollar Baby, from the 1998 off-Broadway York Theatre Company revival cast recording starring Debbie Gravitte, Marc Kudish and Kristin Chenoweth, with Richard B. Shull, James Darrah, Tobi Foster, Michael McCormick, Casey Nicholaw, Susan Owen, Charles Pistone, Darcie Roberts, Kay Walbye and Adolph Green.

This will be preceded by an introduction by the Musical Director of the revival, the New York based M.D. and vocal coach – Michael Lavine, who will also narrate the plot.

The programme will conclude with selections from the 1950 original Broadway cast recording of the Morton Gould and Dorothy Fields musical Arms and the Girl starring Nanette Fabray, Georges Guétary and Pearl Bailey.