Anything Goes

References

Anything Goes

musical by Porter

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

"Anything Goes" is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It premiered on Broadway in 1934 and is celebrated for its witty lyrics, sophisticated humor, and memorable songs like "You're the Top" and "I Get a Kick Out of You." The musical's libretto was a collaboration, with contributions from Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse.12

The show is known for its fast-paced plot, often involving mistaken identities and romantic entanglements, set against a backdrop of a luxury ocean liner. Porter's distinctive style, characterized by clever wordplay and a worldly perspective, is a hallmark of "Anything Goes" and much of his other work.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Cole Porter
…Frenchmen (1929), Gay Divorcée (1932), Anything Goes (1934), Red, Hot and Blue (1934), Jubilee (1935), Dubarry Was a Lady (1939), Panama Hattie (1940), Kiss Me, Kate (1948, based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew), Can-Can (1953), and
Read More
…Frenchmen (1929), Gay Divorcée (1932), Anything Goes (1934), Red, Hot and Blue (1934), Jubilee (1935), Dubarry Was a Lady (1939), Panama Hattie (1940), Kiss Me, Kate (1948, based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew), Can-Can (1953), and
Read More

Sutton Foster
Anything Goes and The Music Man
…revival of Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes, which earned her a second Tony Award for best actress. In the title role of the Broadway musical Violet (2014), Foster portrayed a struggling young woman who bears a horrible scar on her face from a childhood accident. The musical chronicles Violet’s journey…
Read More
…revival of Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes, which earned her a second Tony Award for best actress. In the title role of the Broadway musical Violet (2014), Foster portrayed a struggling young woman who bears a horrible scar on her face from a childhood accident. The musical chronicles Violet’s journey…
Read More

Ethel Merman
…screen (1936) versions of Porter’s Anything Goes. She gave several other memorable performances in such shows as Red, Hot and Blue! (1936), Du Barry Was a Lady (1939), Panama Hattie (1940), Something for the Boys (1943), and Annie Get Your Gun (1946), which was her biggest success. She appeared also…
Read More
…screen (1936) versions of Porter’s Anything Goes. She gave several other memorable performances in such shows as Red, Hot and Blue! (1936), Du Barry Was a Lady (1939), Panama Hattie (1940), Something for the Boys (1943), and Annie Get Your Gun (1946), which was her biggest success. She appeared also…
Read More

musical
Show Boat and the golden age of musicals
…compositions for such musicals as Anything Goes (1934) and Dubarry Was a Lady (1939). Other notable composers and lyricists of this period were Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Harold Arlen, Jule Styne, and Vincent Youmans.
Read More
…compositions for such musicals as Anything Goes (1934) and Dubarry Was a Lady (1939). Other notable composers and lyricists of this period were Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Harold Arlen, Jule Styne, and Vincent Youmans.
Read More

Jessica Walter
Arrested Development and later credits
…a revival of the musical Anything Goes.
Read More
…a revival of the musical Anything Goes.
Read More