on the air
Footlight Parade and On the Aisle
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for public radio listeners
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 Janine Tesori. The popular show has been syndicated on public stations since 1998, 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 Bill has also interviewed 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.
for satellite listeners: 'On the Aisle'
Since 2008, On the Aisle has given you the best seat in the house for an hour of songs you love from the musicals you can’t forget, linked by Bill Rudman’s engaging and insightful Broadway commentary. SiriusXM Satellite Radio broadcasts On the Aisle twice each week on the “On Broadway” channel 77 for all SiriusXM satellite radio subscribers. Catch a new program every Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern, with an encore presentation on Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern.
Visit the “On Broadway” channel at SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
Recent Broadcasts
November 24, 2025
One Man's Vision - Yip Harburg and "Finian's Rainbow"
There's no musical quite like this one, or a score filled with such special songs as "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "Old Devil Moon" and "Something Sort of Grandish." Our guests are Harburg's son, Ernie, and Ernie's wife, Deena Rosenberg.
November 17, 2025
Spiritual Matters
Selections from musicals that explore our spirituality in many ways: from Bock and Harnick's "Sabbath Prayer" to Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar"; from Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" to Stephen Schwartz's "Godspell."
November 10, 2025
Swing's the Thing!
Put on your zoot suit and your reet pleat, because we're going to revisit the Swing Era and hear it explode in Broadway and Hollywood musicals featuring America's big bands and such vocalists as Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton
Broadcasting Partners
Footlight Parade is broadcast on more than 100 public and community radio stations in the United States and Canada—and throughout the world online. And please note: our broadcasts are provided to public stations free of charge!
You can support Footlight Parade’s production and distribution by becoming a TMTP Member.