Some became overnight sensations with their debut performance, while others honed their skills for years on the vaudeville circuit before making it on Broadway. Get to know more about the lives and careers of past and present stars of musical theater. Julie Andrews Fred and Adele Astaire Ray Bolger Fanny Brice Matthew Broderick Eddie Cantor Carol Channing George M. Cohan Barbara Cook Alfred Drake Harvey Fierstein Joel Grey Kitty Carlisle Hart Al Jolson Gene Kelly Bert Lahr Nathan Lane Angela Lansbury Patti LuPone Mary Martin Audra McDonald Donna McKechnie Ethel Merman Brian Stokes Mitchell Robert Morse Zero Mostel Bebe Neuwirth Jerry Orbach Mandy Patinkin Bernadette Peters John Raitt Ann Reinking Chita Rivera Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Barbra Streisand Elaine Stritch Gwen Verdon Ben Vereen Ethel Waters Bert Williams photo credits: Photofest and the New York Public Library
BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL Online is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York. © 2004 Educational Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved.