Footlight Parade

Footlight Parade: Sounds of the American Musical is a celebration of classic Broadway and Hollywood musicals from the early 20th century to current hits, including works from Gershwin, Berlin and Rodgers & Hammerstein to Jason Robert Brown and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The popular show has been syndicated on public stations since 1998 (and on SiriusXM since 2010), and producer-host Bill Rudman brings with him a national reputation as an authority on musical theater.

Most of the episodes are grounded in general interest themes such as “All I Want,” “Weather Report” and “Good Advice,” but Rudman also interviews such acclaimed artists as lyricist Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me), composer John Kander (Cabaret and Chicago) and singers Mandy Patinkin and the late Barbara Cook. The program is lively and fast-paced, and though the commentary is engaging, it’s the recordings that take center stage.​

INDIVIDUAL LISTENERS can gain access to our broadcasts through the PRX link below, or scroll down on this page for a list of public radio stations that carry the program.

PUBLIC RADIO STATION MANAGERS should scroll down to the bottom of this page for information on how to obtain the program FREE!

Upcoming Shows

The dates below are for WCLV in Cleveland. However, each program is heard on various dates/times that week on 100 public stations! You can access the program through Public Radio Exchange. Go to prx.org, register free of charge and type in Footlight Parade. You will find two years of the show archived and ready for streaming.

November 25: “A Tribute to Sheldon Harnick (Part 2)”— Harnick talks about his work on three Bock & Harnick musicals: not only Fiddler but She Loves Me and The Apple Tree.

December 2: “A Tribute to Sheldon Harnick (Part 3)” — In this final installment, the musicals (and conversation) include Bock & Harnick’s The Rothschilds and Rex, Harnick’s 1976 show with Richard Rodgers. 

December 9: “A Tribute to Bobby Short” — He sang more songs from Broadway and Hollywood than anyone else. Bobby Short was the debonair kind of cabaret, and Bill Rudman interviewed him when he was 77.

Footlight Parade Radio Broadcasters

Footlight Parade is broadcast on more than 100 public and community radio stations, primarily in the United States, but also in Canada, Indonesia, and throughout the world online. Best yet, our musical theater radio broadcast is provided to stations free of charge. You can support Footlight Parade’s production and distribution by becoming a TMTP Member.

Special thanks to our broadcasting stations:

For Broadcast Program Directors

Broadcast on over 100 stations nationwide and internationally, Footlight Parade: Sounds of the American Musical is a weekly musical theater radio broadcast showcasing the best of Broadway and Hollywood – songs from the turn of the 20th century to today. Marketed by Creative PR, each 53-minute program is provided free via MP2 and MP3 downloads to radio stations nationwide. The program is also available free at Public Radio Exchange.
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For more information and/or to broadcast Footlight Parade on your station, contact Wayne Knickel at Creative PR: wayne@creativepr.org, (888) 233-5650.

Footlight Parade Demo

Our demo show is “Making an Entrance” (FP09:27). Please click on your preferred connection speed.​

Our Team Creates a Whole New Musical Theater Radio Broadcast Experience

At The Musical Theater Project, we are focused on our mission of creating a local and national program that is more than just music. We wanted to develop a deep connection between classical American music and social or cultural context. By fostering that deep connection, we could give purpose to the lives of people of all cultures and ages.

With our musical theater radio broadcast, we are able to:

• Document the lives of important American musical theater artists
• Create personal connections with characters, themes, and the songs of the American musical
• Explore the connections between the musical theater radio broadcast and the diversity of the American experience
• Examine the relevance of musical theater in contemporary society

We take several art forms and combine them into one, producing beautiful shows, concerts, recordings, and more. We want to find ways to connect with theater lovers, and our musical theater radio broadcast helps us do just that.

Contact Us to Learn More About Our Musical Theater Radio Broadcast

Every day we continue to create programs to inspire and highlight the intricacies of the American musical art form, and it’s with the generous hearts of donors that we are able to bring our vision to life. By listening to our musical theater radio broadcast, attending concerts, or becoming a contributing member, you are helping us continue our mission. No matter the size of the donation, we are very grateful for the ongoing generosity of our donors and attendees.

Contact us with any questions about our musical theater radio broadcast. We look forward to hearing from you!