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[0:00] Paul Lazarus: Hi, this is Paul Lazarus. In the 1980s, I produced and hosted a radio series called Anything Goes, a celebration of the American musical theater. Now the Broadway Podcast Network is bringing back these shows. This is the conclusion of a three-part survey of the best musical Tony Award winners from the 20-year period between 1964 and 1984. This program originally aired on the day of the 1984 Tony Awards ceremony. That year, four shows were nominated, Baby, La Cage aux Folles, Sunday in the Park with George, and The Tap Dance Kid. In 1977, the award-winning musical was Annie.

[0:53] ♪ Musical number: "It's the Hard-Knock Life" — performed by the cast of Annie ♪

[3:26] Paul Lazarus: Who is up for a Tony Award this year for Best Musical for Baby and as Best Lyricist and as Best Director.

[3:46] ♪ Musical number: "Spreading Rhythm Around" — performed by the cast of Ain't Misbehavin' ♪

[5:48] Paul Lazarus: Spreadin' rhythm around from Ain't Misbehavin', the Tony Award winning best musical in 1978. Sweeney Todd came along in 1979 and I believe won nine Tonys that year and we thought we'd feature the quartet of the Beatle and the Judge and Anthony the Sailor and Joanna.

[6:18] ♪ Musical number: "Kiss Me" — performed by the cast of Sweeney Todd ♪

[10:28] Paul Lazarus: Kiss me.

[10:29] ♪ Musical number: "Kiss Me!" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[11:33] Paul Lazarus: The Incredible Quartet that Stephen Sondheim wrote for Sweeney Todd, which was the Tony Award winner in 1979. And Hal Prince has to be mentioned in this late 70s, early 80s period, because not only is he responsible for Sweeney Todd, but also for the direction of the next best musical, Evita.

[11:56] Paul Lazarus: Which was Evita. And the Tony Award winner for best featured actor in a musical was a young man named Mandy Patinkin, who is now up for Tony for best actor in Sunday in the Park with George.

[12:35] ♪ Musical number: "Oh, What a Circus" — performed by Mandy Patinkin ♪

[15:46] Paul Lazarus: You're listening to songs from the Best Musical Tony Award winners from 1964 to 1984, hosted by Paul Lazarus and Jeff Lunden. Brings us up to 1981 and yet another review came in as Best Musical of that year called 42nd Street, based on the songs of Harry Warren this time. And we're going to play...

[16:10] Jeff Lunden: I don't know.

[16:11] Paul Lazarus: You're getting to have it with me, I think.

[16:12] Jeff Lunden: Yes, I believe so.

[16:14] Paul Lazarus: From 42nd Street.

[16:18] ♪ Musical number: "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[18:15] Paul Lazarus: You're getting to be a habit with me from 42nd Street, and it's not really a review, my own prejudice is coming through there. A book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, which at one time was called Crossovers, I guess that's what led me to say review. Next year, Nine came in as the Tony Award winning musical.

[18:55] ♪ Musical number: "Spa Music" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[20:54] Paul Lazarus: I'll be waiting.

[20:58] Unknown speaker: Was that Carla? Carla? No, my love, I told you, that's all over with.

[21:08] Unknown speaker: Claudia.

[21:11] Unknown speaker: I have been trying to reach you. I need you for my film.

[21:19] Unknown speaker: Claudia? No, it's Liliane Lafleur, your producer, remember me? Oh, yes.

[21:24] Unknown speaker: I still haven't seen the script. What are you doing in Venice? Well, I'm scouting locations.

[21:31] Unknown speaker: Oh, I see. That must mean that the film is going to be shot in Venice.

[21:36] Unknown speaker: Thanks for telling me. I'll see you tomorrow. Wonderful.

[21:44] Unknown speaker: Now what do I do?

[21:47] Unknown speaker: I'll go to Paris.

[21:54] Unknown speaker: Telephone 95 in the Hollywood Reporter.

[21:57] Unknown speaker: Louisa, please help me. If you don't mind, no more questions now. I will hold a press conference tomorrow.

[22:06] Paul Lazarus: In 1983, the Best Musical Award was given to Cats. Here's a portion of the overture from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Feline Spectacular. Since we've already featured a selection from Le Cage Au Feu, the Cats overture will be followed by excerpts from the three remaining Best Musical nominated shows of 1984. Tap Dance Kid, Baby, and the show that went on to win the Pulitzer Prize, Sunday in the Park with George.

[22:15] ♪ Musical number: "Overture" to Cats ♪

[23:53] ♪ Musical number: "Dance If It Makes You Happy" ♪

[25:10] ♪ Musical number: "Baby, Baby, Baby" ♪

[26:20] ♪ Musical number: "Move On" — performed by Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters ♪

[29:55] Paul Lazarus: Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters sang "Move On" from James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Sunday in the Park with George, a show nominated for Best Musical of 1984. "Move On" was preceded by excerpts from Cats, the Tony winner in 1983, and two other nominees in 1984, The Tap Dance Kid and Baby. The Best Musical of 1984, with a score by Jerry Herman, was Le Cage Au Feu. You've been listening to the conclusion of a three-part survey of the Best Musical Tony Award winners from 1964 to 1984.