AN EVENING WITH JERRY HERMAN & Mame

Presented by: Rob Morrison 26th May 2026

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 26th May will feature a 60th anniversary tribute to the Jerry Herman musical Mame (based on the novel “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis and the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee), from the 1966 original Broadway cast recording starring Angela Lansbury, with Beatrice Arthur, Jane Connell, Charles Brasswell, Jerry Lanning, Sab Shimono and Frankie Michaels.

This will be preceded by archival interviews with Jerry Herman and Angela Lansbury from 1996 marking the musical’s 30th anniversary.

The programme will conclude with selections from the 1974 concert cast recording of An Evening with Jerry Herman featuring the composer–lyricist at the piano, joined by Lisa Kirk, Joe Masiéll and Carol Dorian.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN – in the beginning

Presented by: Rob Morrison 19th May 2026

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 19th May will feature an 80th anniversary tribute to the Irving Berlin musical Annie Get Your Gun (suggested by the life of Annie Oakley), from the 1966 New York Lincoln Centre revival cast recording starring Ethel Merman, Bruce Yarnell, Benay Venuta, Jerry Orbach, Ron Carroll and Rufus Smith; plus additional numbers from the 1990 EMI London studio recording conducted by John McGlinn.

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

A BUNCH OF RATBAGS – from 1966

Presented by: Rob Morrison 12th May 2026

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 12^th May will feature a 60th anniversary tribute to Peter Pinne and Don Battye’s Australian musical A Bunch of Ratbags (based on the novel by William Dick). From the 2005 Magnormos Music Theatre revival cast recording starring Lyall Brooks, Jessica Enes, Zen Ledden, Nikki Minster, Ben Nicholas, Liam Pedersen, Abbi Richardson, Gregory Ross, Steve Simmons and Louise Van Veenendaal.

This will be preceded by an archival interview that I recorded with composer-lyricist Peter Pinne talking about the musical in 2014.  

The program will conclude with selections from the privately issued original 1966 Melbourne cast recording with John Kendall, Yvonne Adams and Helen Harper, plus cover versions of songs from the score performed by Gordon Chater, Miriam Karlin and James Smilie.

SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM – at 50

Presented by: Rob Morrison 5th May 2026

Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 5th May will feature a 50th anniversary tribute to the songbook revue Side By Side By Sondheim (featuring the words and music of Stephen Sondheim, plus music by Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, Richard Rodgers and Mary Rodgers), from the 1976 original London cast recording starring Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie and David Kernan.  

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