Old Show Queens
13 Episodes
Gary Gunas and Billy Rosenfield, a couple for over 40 years, had front row seats for not only some of the biggest hits of the second half of the 20th century — but an insider’s view of what was going on backstage, too. A general manager and producer (who worked on shows including Dreamgirls, Woman of the Year, La Cage aux Folles, and Godspell) and a playwright and executive producer of over 65 cast albums (including Assassins, The Last Five Years, and Avenue Q), Gunas and Rosenfield sat down with Andrew Hawkins and Jeff Marx in their London home to share memories of the end of the Golden Age of Broadway.
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08:47Episode 1Chapter 1: Broadway Leading Ladies
Episode 1
Gary Gunas (Producer/General Manager) and Billy Rosenfield (Playwright/Cast Recording Executive) tell us their favorite memories of Broadway Icons including Elaine Stritch, Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Vivien Leigh, and Debbie Reynolds.
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Chapter 2: The Original Production of La Cage aux Folles, Arthur Laurents
Episode 2
In Chapter 2, Billy & Gary reminisce about working on the original Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles and their personal encounters with Arthur Laurents!
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Chapter 3: Michael Bennett, Bob Fosse, Opening Night of 42nd Street
Episode 3
In chapter 3 of Old Show Queens, the Broadway stalwarts reminisce about the directors with whom they worked and the infamous opening night of 42nd Street.
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Chapter 4: Woman of the Year, Ragtime, The Who’s Tommy, Jekyll and Hyde
Episode 4
In chapter 4 of Old Show Queens, Gary Gunas discusses some of the shows he’s worked on, including Woman of the Year, Ragtime, and The Who’s Tommy.
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Chapter 5: Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Judi Dench, Gilda Radner, Jerry Herman
Episode 5
In chapter 5 of Old Show Queens, Gary Gunas and Billy Rosenfield reminisce about their favorite performances, including Mary Martin in Jennie, Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit, the ensemble of Godspell, and the West End’s The Inheritance.
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Chapter 6: Legs Diamond, King of Hearts, Why Musicals Are So Hard
Episode 6
In chapter 6 of Old Show Queens, the two reminisce about two short-lived shows they worked on (Legs Diamond and King of Hearts) and ponder why the making of musicals can be so difficult and so heartbreaking when the final product is so joyous.
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Chapter 7: Stephen Sondheim, Assassins, Merrily We Roll Along
Episode 7
In chapter 7 of Old Show Queens, Billy & Gary turn their attention to the great Stephen Sondheim. They discuss the original cast recording of Assassins, which featured a much larger orchestra than the original production did, and Billy recalls attending the original Broadway incarnation of the sh...
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Chapter 8: Judy Garland, Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand, Jerry Lewis, Madonna
Episode 8
In chapter 8 of Old Show Queens, Billy and Gary turn their attention to a handful of legendary performers: Judy Garland, Carol Channing, Jerry Lewis, Barbra Streisand, and… Madonna. Watch to see what Channing gifted Rosenfield, why Lewis insisted on a clarinet player, and more!
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Chapter 9: Guys & Dolls, Chicago, My Favorite Year
Episode 9
In chapter 9 of Old Show Queens, Billy & Gary recall some of the albums Billy helped preserve.
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08:01Episode 10Chapter 10: Meadowlark, Grand Hotel
Episode 10
Yes, "Meadowlark is great"—but maybe producer David Merrick had a good reason to yank it from The Baker's Wife? In chapter 10 of Old Show Queens, Gary and Billy share memories of show biz lore from that show (which closed out of town), Grand Hotel, and more. Plus—just how good is the overture to...
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09:38Episode 11Chapter 11: Noël Coward, Follies
Episode 11
In chapter 11 of Old Show Queens, Billy & Gary turn their attention to multi-hyphenate Noël Coward and the Stephen Sondheim-James Goldman classic Follies, which Billy considers the greatest musical ever written. He also shares how the concept for that musical evolved, and allows the cameras to ca...
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Chapter 12: Godspell, Beatlemania, La Cage aux Folles
Episode 12
In chapter 12 of Old Show Queens, Billy and Gary chat about how ubiquitous Godspell became, the clamor for even fake Beatles with Beatlemania on Broadway, and the lasting impact of La Cage.
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14:25Episode 13Chapter 13: A Look Behind-the-Scenes
Episode 13
Journey behind-the-scenes of Old Show Queens and learn the story of how Billy & Gary met + get an inside look at their beautiful home filled with Broadway memorabilia.
