More than 20 stars appear in a three-hour musical salute, ”Best of Broadway,” a ”Great Performances” special at 8 p.m. Friday on WTTW-Ch. 11. Many of the entertainers performed the songs in Broadway productions. Mary Martin joins a group of children to sing ”Do-Re-Mi” from ”The Sound of Music,” and Jerry Orbach sings ”Lullaby of Broadway” from ”42nd Street.” Films of Ethel Merman`s renditions of ”Everything`s Coming Up Roses”
from ”Gypsy” and ”They Say It`s Wonderful” from ”Annie Get Your Gun” are among the highlights.
Others in the special: Barry Bostwick (”Grease”), Alexis Smith
(”Follies”), Glynnis Johns (”A Little Night Music”), Chita Rivera
(”Bye Bye Birdie”), Len Cariou (”Sweeney Todd”) and Robert Morse (”How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying”). The American Dancemachine will perform dances from ”Can-Can” and ”Bye Bye Birdie.”
The program, a repeat, will be broadcast in TV stereo.