REX – Richard Rodgers 1976 musical

Presented by: Rob Morrison 28th April 2026

The next Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 28th April will feature a 50th anniversary tribute to the Richard Rodgers and Sheldon Harnick musical Rex (based on episodes in the life of King Henry VIII), from the 1976 original Broadway cast recordings starring Nicol Williamson and Penny Fuller, with Tom Aldredge, Barbara Andres, Glenn Close, Michael John, Ed Evanko, William Griffis, Stephen D. Newman, Merwin Goldsmith, Martha Danielle, Melanie Vaughan and Charles Rule.  This will be preceded by an archival interview that I recorded with the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick talking about the musical in 2015.  

The program will conclude with selections from the 1954 record album Richard Rodgers Conducts Rodgers, with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York.

THE BING BOYS ARE HERE – from 1916

Presented by: Rob Morrison 21st April 2026

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 21st April will feature an 110th anniversary tribute to the Nat D. Ayer and Clifford Grey musical revue The Bing Boys Are Here, from the 1916 original London cast recordings starring George Robey, Violet Loraine and Alfred Lester, with Jack Morrison and Odette Myrtil, plus cover recordings by Nat D. Ayer.  

This will be preceded by an introduction by the British Musical Theatre historian, archivist and author – Rex Bunnett.

ON YOUR TOES – remembered in 1954

Presented by: Rob Morrison 14th April 2026

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 14th April will feature an 90th anniversary tribute to the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical On Your Toes, from the 1954 Broadway revival cast recording starring Bobby Van, Ben Aster, Kay Coulter, Joshua Shelly, Jack Williams. Eleanor Williams. David Winters and Elaine Stritch; plus the “La Princess Zenobia” ballet score from the 1983 Broadway revival cast recording.  

This will be preceded by an interview with the former President of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization – Ted Chapin.  

It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman – at 60

Presented by: Rob Morrison 7th April 2026

The next Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 2nd April will feature an 60th anniversary tribute to the Charles Strouse and Lee Adams musical It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman (based on the comic strip Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster), from the 1966 original Broadway cast recording starring Bob Holiday, Jack Cassidy, Patricia Marand, Linda Lavin, Michael O ‘ Sullivan and Don Chastain; plus demo recordings of songs “cut” from the score performed by Strouse and Adams.  

The program will concluded with selections from Jerry Bock, Larry Holofcener and George Weiss’s score for the musical Mr. Wonderful from the 1956 Broadway cast recording starring Sammy Davis Jr. and the Will Maston Trio, with Chita Rivera, Jack Carter, Pat Marshall, Olga James and Hal Loman, to mark the 70th anniversary of Sammy’s Broadway debut.