Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now

Synopsis

"The Black Crook opened in September 1866" Mark Tells us: Wheatley engineers an implausible marriage between a rotten play and too underdressed coryphees, and, to the delight of all except the usual outraged clergymen, turns in a smash. And, incidentally, winds up inventing the American musical." " [A] witty, anecdote-stuffed history of the past seventy years in musicals." "Steyn deserves a standing ovation.... his prose is as sharp as his stiletto." The book is funny and contains anecdotes, interviews, recollections, and a good snapshot of the music, people, and places that make up the musical. Dry historical facts though this isn't. Nor does every musical get mentioned. You'll look in vein for Paint Your Wagon for example. But for the general reader who would like to learn more about the musicals this is a wonderful book. Steyn traces the history from the musicals birth in 1866 to what he believes to be its death in the 1990s. As a reviewer writes "Mr. Steyn knows the history of Broadway (and West End) musicals, and he makes us care that the current crop lacks conviction and craft." He discusses the musical. Where it came from, Why it works, Why it doesn't work, and who's the best and the worst.

Copyright:

1997

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

Book Size:

365 Pages

ISBN-13:

9780415922869

Publisher:

N/A

Date of Addition:

02/28/08

Copyrighted By:

Mark Steyn

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

History, Nonfiction, Art and Architecture, Drama, Plays and Theater, Music

Submitted By:

Duane Iverson

Proofread By:

Lea

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.