Penn State School of Theatre brings Anything Goes -- and all its jokes, tunes and mistaken identities -- to dock at 8 tonight in the Playhouse Theatre.

From the lyricist of Kiss Me, Kate and The New Yorkers, Anything Goes has been widely acclaimed for its hilarious songs, timeless comedy and thoughtless entertainment. Since debuting in 1934, it's been revived by multiple writers and won three Tony Awards.

"Anything Goes is very much a period piece," said cast member Matt Hydzik (junior-theatre arts), "but it's so easy to get into. The characters are so colorful and the comedy's so quick. ... It's classic Cole Porter at its best. Kind of jazzy with lots of lyrics and easy melodies."

Cole Porter is most famous for his lyrics, which are probably the best part of Anything Goes, said Director Richard Sabellico. Many of Porter's best hits -- "I Get a Kick Out of You," "It's De-Lovely" and the musical's title song -- were written especially for Anything Goes.

"Cole Porter's lyrics are very witty, with many allusions and puns," added cast member Emily Miller (senior-theatre arts). "The big musical numbers are extremely catchy and with a very classic style. They make the audience leave in good spirits, humming a tune from the show."

And Anything Goes itself is full of jokes and puns, Sabellico said, which leave the audience laughing all through the performance.

"It's a lot of fun to direct," he said, "because the humor that's intrinsic is my kind of humor. It's Marx Brothers; it's Three Stooges."

Chorus member Megan Arnoldy (senior-theatre arts) added, "The humor is very quick and witty. It's in every element of the show from the lyrics to the dialogue to the dancing."

And Miller -- who first said the best part of performing Anything Goes was "kissing Matt Hydzik, the most sought after man on campus" -- added, "The comedy in this show is the most fun. The show possesses a quick, Marx Brothers comedic style which is just as entertaining for the performers as it is for the audience."

Setting sail from New York against that backdrop of humor and song are wealthy Evangeline Hartcourt (Emily Richmond) and her daughter Hope (Emily Miller), gangster Moonface Martin (P.J. Baccari), nightclub singer Reno Sweeny (Juliet Hicks), businessman Billy Crocker (Matt Hydzik) and his assistant Elisha Whitney (Alex Previtera).

It turns out that Hope is Billy's long-lost love, but she's already engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Rodney Pallank). Billy manages to win back Hope, and Reno Sweeny snatches up the discarded Englishman. Amidst this craziness, Moonface Martin dodges the law and Evangeline tries desperately to maintain her social status.

Asked about themes in Anything Goes, the cast members warned against intense analysis, then gave it their best shot.

"It's one of those shows you don't think too much about," said dance captain Franklyn Warfield (senior-theatre arts). "You laugh a lot; you smile a lot."

"It sounds corny," Miller said, "but the play's message is really that anything goes. At one point, people think that Billy is a gangster, but instead of arresting him, they roll out the red carpet for him."

Hydzik added, "I think it's really that you can make your dreams come true if you really believe in them. And if you can dream it, you can do it. I guess it's very cheesy like that."

Going along with the themes of the decade, Chrissy Ames's choreography for Anything Goes is very 1930s, said Warfield. Throughout the show there's "theater dancing and lots of partnering, waltzing, soft shoe (and) one big tap number."

It was while rehearsing for one of his dance numbers that Hydzik broke his hand, giving the cast a temporary scare and leaving him in the hospital for his 21st birthday.

"I'd like to be able to say I did it saving a bus full of nuns or something great like that," Hydzik said with a laugh, "but really I broke it while I was practicing pirouettes. It was terrible! I was in the hospital and had no chance to get to the bars!"

But besides the debacle with Hydzik's hand, Sabellico said the rehearsals have run smoothly and the cast is ready for the performances.

"People are losing their voices," he said with a laugh. "Burning the candle at both ends this week. But we're ready I think."

"By opening night," he added, "It's become (the cast's) show. I enjoy watching the audience's reaction -- this one will make the audience howl -- and I'm not nervous at all. I know the audience will love this show."

Anything Goes runs tonight through Feb. 23, with evening performances at 8 tonight, tomorrow night and Feb. 18-23, and a matinee at 2 p.m. on Feb. 22. Tickets for evening performances are $10.50 for adults and $8.50 for students and children. Tickets for the matinee are $9.50 for adults and $6.50 for students and children. Call 814-863-0255 or 1-800-ARTS-TIX or visit box offices at The Bryce Jordan Center or Eisenhower Auditorium.