Anything Goes

Cole Porter was born in Peru, Indiana in 1891 and died in Hollywood 73 years later. In between he wrote some of the most memorable songs ever heard on stage or screen, among them “Night and Day,” “Begin the Beguine,” “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “Love For Sale” and “Just One of Those Things.” During the 1930s, his most productive decade, he provided a series of sparkling scores for such hits as Gay Divorce, Anything Goes, Jubilee, Born to Dance and Red, Hot and Blue. Despite a crippling riding accident in 1937 which left him in constant pain, he achieved his greatest commercial success in 1948, with Kiss Me Kate. His name remains synonymous with wit and sophistication to this day.

Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse were both born in England. They were introduced by Jerome Kern, and he suggested they all work together. They did, and in the beginning of their collaboration wrote nearly one show per month – the famed Princess Theatre musicals. Bolton and Wodehouse went on to write more than 20 musicals together. Usually, they collaborated on the book, and Wodehouse wrote the lyrics. Both lived into their nineties and were astoundingly prolific. Bolton, with various collaborators, or on his own, had a hand in well over 100 musicals and plays as well as numerous film scripts and novels. Wodehouse wrote 97 books – most notably the Jeeves novels – and countless short stories, articles, essays and films, and in 1975 was knighted alongside Charlie Chaplin. Their work together includes Anything Goes; Have a Heart; Oh! Boy; Leave It to Jane; Oh, Lady! Lady!!; Sitting Pretty; Oh, Kay!; and Rosalie. They remained friends and neighbors throughout their final days.

The partnership of Howard Lindsay (1889-1968) and Russel Crouse (1893-1966) stands as the longest collaboration of any writers in theatrical history, lasting for more than 28 years. In addition to The Sound of Music, their hit shows include Anything Goes, the long-run record-holder Life With Father (which originally starred co-author Lindsay); the Pulitzer Prize winning The State of the Union; Red, Hot and Blue; Happy Hunting; and Call Me Madam. Producing credits: The Hasty Heart, Detective Story, Arsenic and Old Lace.

Clay James, a native Miamian is a three-time recipient of the American Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Direction and Choreography, the Moss Hart Award, the NHTA Award for Outstanding Choreography, and currently serves as Coordinator of Musical Theatre for Montclair State University – John J. Cali School of Music, Department of Theatre and Dance. For MSU, he directed and staged the NJ premiere of Parade, A Grand Night For Singing, Cabaret, And the World Goes Round, The Full Monty, A Bernstein Tribute, Crazy for You and Side Show among others. He has directed and/or choreographed for the St. Louis Muny Opera, Playhouse in the Park, Shores Performing Arts Center, North Shore Music Theatre, Kenley Players, Smithville Theatre, Jones Beach Marine Theatre, Resorts International, Walt Disney Productions, Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company, Zeiterion Theatre, Flint Star Theatre, Westgate Dinner Theatre, Fiesta Dinner Theatre, Star Theatre of Taunton, The New Bedford Festival Theatre, The Pink Garter Theatre, and repeatedly served as Associate Choreographer for the Orange Bowl Halftime and Parade for NBC. As a performer, he has appeared in over 40 productions on Broadway, off Broadway, national tours, regional and Summer Stock. Prof. James’s education and training includes a B.F.A. in Theatre (Acting/Directing) with a minor in Music (Vocal Performance) and an M.F.A. (Directing) from Florida Atlantic University. He is an active member in Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Other choreographic and directing assignments include industrials for IBM, FTD, Gulf and Western, American Parts Service, Children’s Resources and The City of Miami.

Greg Dlugos, a graduate of Hartt Conservatory of Music, has worked extensively on Broadway and has served as conductor, associate conductor, musical director, pianist and keyboardist for numerous shows. Within the last few years, he has been engaged by the Broadway productions of Young Frankenstein, Fosse, Thou Shalt Not, Chicago, Nine, The Blonde in the Thunderbird and In My Life. Between steady engagements, he has performed as Conductor or Keyboardist for Beauty and the Beast, The Phantom of the Opera, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Producers and The Wedding Singer among others. As a composer, he has written industrial music for IBM, American Airlines and McNeil Labs. As an arranger, orchestrator and dance arranger, he has worked with personalities such as Betty Buckley, Antonio Banderas, Elaine Paige and Chita Rivera. He also serves as an organist for Sunday services in New Jersey.