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Interviewing the cast of the musical revue "Suburbs of Heaven," songwriter Thom Bishop, singers Marty Peifer and Megon McDonough. Songs include "Mr. Arthur's Place," "Why Not Talk to Me?" "The Telephone Song," "Just Because You Didn't See Me," "Suburbs of Heaven," "Times I Tried to Love You," "Amateur Night/New Year's Eve," and "Somebody Feels the Water."
Maxene Andrews reminisces over Andrews Sisters songs with Studs Terkel. She acknowledges the heavy influence the Boswell Sisters played in the creation of their image. She relays musical stories surrounding songs in Abbott and Costello such as "Bugle Boy" from their movie "Buck Privates". How they found the song "Mir Bist Du Schon" and Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin helped with the lyrics. How song pluggers brought The Andrews Sisters "Tip-Pi-Tin". How "Apple Blossom Time" helped an injured soldier at Oak Knoll Hospital upon his return to the states.
Vlado Habunek, the Director of The Croatian National Theater, also a teacher at the University of Zagreb and board member for the Debrovnik Summer Festival discusses how all arts are seeking new revelations with Studs Terkel. Terkel asks Habunek to compare American Actors with Croatian actors because they are subsidized by the state. He sees Croatian actors as too secure and admires the ambition of American actors. The fact that theater reflects life and life is difficult begins a discussion on the status of theater today.
Studs Terkel interviews Rita Streich about her recital coming up. He also plays selections from her work for viewers to listen to. She also talks about music during World War II.
Renee Fleming discusses her musical upbringing, her repertoire, her relationship to performance, and more.
Placido Domingo discusses his career as a tenor singer and conductor, including his role in the film "Otello" directed by Franco Zeffirelli and based on the opera by Giuseppe Verdi.
Harold Prince discusses his direction of Madame Butterfly while also discussing operas, musicals, and theater in general.
Studs Terkel continues to interview actress and singer Eartha Kitt. Part 2 of the interview begins with the song "Üsküdara", and ends with "Mountain High, Valley Low", both sung by Kitt. Kitt discusses the following; her career; her desire to entertain; her autobiography, "Thursday's Child"; her mothers death; the art of interacting with the audience; the femme fatale; her time with the Katherine Dunham Dancers; and her portrayl of Helen of Troy.
When he was a child, Dudley Moore first wanted to study the violin. He's grateful to his mother for insisting that he first study the piano. Moore said his influences include Bach and Garner. Unlike other musicians, Moore's main focus has always been on the beat, both the cultivation and the presence of the beat of a song and of music.
Cole Porter biographer Robert Kimball talks with Studs about his book "Cole" and his subject's life and work as they listen to classic performances of some of his most beloved songs. They marvel at how Porter perfectly captured the zeitgeist of the times in his lyrics, his lyrical influences, his unique method of outside-in composing lyrics and music simultaneously, Bobby Short's masterful interpretations, controversies over some of his works, and how well his material holds up.
Claudia Cassidy discusses being a critic of theater and opera etc. Includes about 1.5 minutes of another interview.
Bill Russo talks about the commedia dell'arte production being staged at the Center for New Music at Columbia College Chicago. The production includes two pieces, "Pedrolino's Revenge" and "Isabella's Fortune".