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Cole Porter (1891 - 1964) wrote many of the popular songs of the Twentieth Century that make up what has become known as "America's Songbook."  He was born in Indiana and studied at Yale University.  Although he continued his studies at Harvard Law School, he soon switched to music before leaving school and moving to New York City. 

In 1917, during World War I, he told his parents that he was joining the French Foreign Legion and the French Army, but instead he moved to Paris and lived the life of a wealthy playboy.  In 1919, he met and married Linda Thomas.

He continued writing songs and began turning out hit songs and shows.  The original production of "Anything Goes" was in 1934. 

In 1937, Porter was paralyzed in a riding accident. However, he was able to keep composing.  In 1956, he won the Tony for "Kiss Me Kate," and in 1956, the Oscar for the song "True Love" in the Bing Crosby-Frank Sinatra-Grace Kelly film "High Society."  He passed away on October 15, 1964.

 Guy Bolton (1884-1979) worked as librettist with the likes of PG Wodehouse, Jerome Kern, and George Gershwin.  In addition to "Anything Goes," he collaborated on "Oh Boy!" "Lady Be Good," and "Oh Lady, Lady."

P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) is well-known for his Jeeves and Blandings Castle stories as well as over a dozen plays and 30 musicals.  He wrote the words to "Bill" in Jerome Kern's "Showboat," and also wrote with Sigmund Romberg, Rudolf Friml, and George Gershwin.

Russel Crouse (1893-1966) and Howard Lindsay (1889-1968) collaborated for over three decades.  Their work included "The Sound of Music," "Call Me Madam," and the Pulitzer Prize-winning "State of the Union."

Timothy Crouse (b. 1947) is a journalist whose best-known work is The Boys on the Bus, about the 1972 presidential election. He has written for the Boston Herald, Rolling Stone, Esquire, The New Yorker, and The Village Voice.

John Weidman (b. 1946) has written the books of several musicals, including "Pacific Overtures," "Assassins," and"Roadshow."  He has been nominated for Tony awards on three occasions.  He has also written for National Lampoon and for "Sesame Street."

Marty Johnson is the director of Education at iTheatrics and is on the board of Theatre for Young Audiences, USA. He has worked with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.