What About Theater? | Podcast in RSS.com

What About Theater?

What About Theater?

di Daryl Taylor-Hazel

Arti dello spettacolo

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Otto Harbach, Dean of American Librettists

Discover the incredible life and career of Otto Harbach, the "Dean of American Librettists". In this episode of What About Theater? we explore how Harbach transitioned from an English professor to a Broadway powerhouse, pioneering the integrated musical. Learn about his legendary collaborations with Jerome Kern, Rudolf Friml, and George Gershwin, the stories behind classic songs like "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", and how he mentored a young Oscar Hammerstein II.

How Broadway Songs Became the Story

From comic opera to vaudeville, from forgotten gems to shows that once packed theaters across the country, Smith’s work reveals a creative force who helped define what American musical theater would become. Yet today, his name barely registers outside scholarly circles. We explore: How Harry B. Smith became the “Uber Librettist” of his generation His collaborations with Victor Herbert, Reginald De Koven, and other giants The cultural moment that made operetta explode in America Why so much of his work has faded from public memory What modern theater lovers can rediscover in his legacy This is a journey into the hidden architecture of musical theater — and a celebration of a writer whose words once filled the stage with laughter, romance, and melody.

Cole Porter

Step into the glittering, witty, and irresistibly sophisticated world of Cole Porter, one of Broadway’s most iconic and influential composers. In this episode of What About Theater?, Daryl explores Porter’s remarkable journey from small‑town Indiana to the salons of Paris and the bright lights of Broadway. Discover how Porter’s razor‑sharp wordplay, lush melodies, and daring sense of humor reshaped the American musical. From Anything Goes to Kiss Me, Kate, we dive into the shows that defined his legacy, the resilience that fueled his creativity, and the timeless charm that keeps his music alive on stages around the world. Whether you’re a lifelong theater lover or just beginning your journey into musical history, this episode offers a rich, engaging look at a composer whose work continues to sparkle with elegance, wit, and emotional depth.

Victor Herbert. Another View

Explore more of the musical world of the great Victor Herbert.

Top 10 Secrets to Shine in Musical Theatre

Discover the 10 best paths to success in musical theatre.

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Top 10 Secrets to Succeed in Musical Theater

Learn the top 10 ways to help yourself to succeed in the musical theater world.

Broadway Musicals 1900-1928

Discover the amazing and colorful world of Broadway Musicals in the 1900s.

An Apology

I want to thank everyone for bearing with me during my stay in the hospital and rehab.

Nora Bayes, Star

Nora Bayes — The Original Broadway Firecracker Nora Bayes was one of the brightest, boldest stars of early American entertainment—a singer, comedian, songwriter, and vaudeville powerhouse whose influence stretched from the music halls of the 1890s to the Broadway revues of the 1920s. In this episode, Daryl explores Bayes’s remarkable career across vaudeville, musical comedy, and the Ziegfeld Follies, her headline‑making marriages, and the hit songs she helped create, including the enduring classic “Shine On, Harvest Moon.” You’ll also discover the unexpected modern twist in her legacy: the satirical novel Smash, inspired by a fictional musical about Bayes’s life, which later became the basis for the TV series Smash. A trailblazer with a voice and personality too big for any one stage, Nora Bayes helped shape the sound and spirit of American theater—and her story still sparkles today.

The Operettas and Musicals of Victor Herbert

Step into a world of romance, whimsy, and turn‑of‑the‑century theatrical magic as What About Theater? explores the life and legacy of composer Victor Herbert — one of the foundational architects of American musical theater. In this episode, Daryl takes you on a melodic journey through Herbert’s most beloved operettas and musicals, from the fairy‑tale charm of Babes in Toyland to the sweeping romance of Naughty Marietta and the comedic sparkle of The Red Mill. Along the way, you’ll discover how Herbert blended European operetta traditions with a distinctly American spirit, helping shape the sound of Broadway long before the Golden Age arrived. Whether you’re a lifelong theater lover or just discovering the roots of American musicals, this episode offers history, storytelling, and a celebration of the melodies that helped define a generation of stage magic. Tune in and rediscover the composer who taught America how to dream in song.

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