Why Can't You Behave?: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures the full theatrical arc of Porter's most enduring work, giving pianists and singers immediate access to the complete score without needing orchestral arrangements. The 19 songs span multiple moods and technical demands, from the sophisticated harmony of "So in Love" to the rhythmic precision of "Too Darn Hot," making it invaluable for teaching musical theater performance across skill levels. Including never-performed tracks, historical context, and firsthand accounts from the original cast transforms this songbook into both a performance resource and a window into how great musicals are actually made.

These songs embody the confidence and elegance of postwar American musical theater. They move easily between romantic yearning and sharp-edged comedy, sophisticated harmony and memorable hooks. Performing them feels like stepping into a world where wit is valued as highly as beauty, and where a clever rhyme or unexpected modulation can land as powerfully as a soaring melody.

Pianists preparing audition material for musical theater programs, voice teachers seeking sophisticated standard repertoire, and ensemble directors building cabaret or concert programs will find this collection essential. It also serves singers and pianists who want to deepen their understanding of mid-century Broadway craft through direct engagement with one of its finest composers.

• Study the harmonic language in context. Porter's chord progressions often surprise; playing through multiple songs in sequence helps you internalize his approach to voice leading and understand how he creates sophistication without sacrificing singability.
• Pay attention to lyric phrasing over metric regularity. Porter wrote for speech rhythms and comedic timing. Let the words guide your tempo and rubato rather than forcing rigid adherence to notated values, especially in patter sections.
• Balance elegance with directness in tempos. Songs like "Wunderbar" benefit from a touch of swagger, while "Were Thine That Special Face" requires genuine lyricism. Avoid treating all ballads identically.
• Use the provided chord symbols as a springboard for improvisation or accompanying reharmonization. Porter's chords are sophisticated, but they also invite creative interpretation in small ensemble or rehearsal settings.

Build a Broadway recital or cabaret around selections from this collection; the variety of tempos, moods, and difficulty levels supports balanced programming for audiences ranging from school settings to community theater. The inclusion of supporting material and historical context makes this songbook a natural anchor for musical theater history units or interdisciplinary projects that connect drama, music, and American cultural studies. You can also draw from this for audition coaching, teaching jazz standards, or preparing singers for pit orchestra work.

• Reading and interpreting jazz harmonies and extended chord symbols in a theatrical context
• Phrasing and inflection in song interpretation, balancing notated rhythm with lyric-driven expression
• Sight-reading and transposition at the keyboard across multiple song keys and styles
• Recognizing and performing melodic conventions of mid-20th-century Broadway composition
• Coordinating vocal line with accompaniment while maintaining independent musicianship in both parts