Hey, everyone!

So, here's the deal. Cole Porter is one of the most popular musical theatre composers that I don't know a lot about. I know "Anything Goes" and "Kiss Me Kate", but that's about it. I'm looking at a list of his work, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and I don't know where to start. In order to extend my MT knowledge, I'd love it if you could suggest some of his work for me to check out.

Good question. Sometimes exploring the work of a composer can be a little daunting, especially one as prolific as Cole Porter. There are a couple of ways you can go about it, largely depending on what kind of person you are in terms of what works for you.



You could go for a compilation CD like The Musicality of Porter to get a general idea some of his other work and then pick the song you like best and explore that show first. Or you could just go for one of his more accessible shows, like Silk Stockings, which also has a film version if you are one of those people who struggles to get into shows via a cast album. Either would be a good way into Porter's vast body of work.

Hope that helps!

Awesome! I'm definitely going to give the compilation a go... Other than these options, are there any shows in particular that you would recommend?

visit www.coleporter.org

There is an excellent studio cast album of his 1928 FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN that would be my next choice for you. After that, there is an excellent out-of-print concert recording of NYMPH ERRANT and Broadway cast albums of CAN-CAN and OUT OF THIS WORLD (plus a more recent version of the latter). The film HIGH SOCIETY was adapted for the stage a few years ago also and there is a cast CD - I have not heard it yet.