The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built

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Synopsis
New York Times Bestseller: “Both revelatory and entertaining . . . Along the way, Viertel provides some fascinating Broadway history.” —The New York Times Book ReviewAmericans invented musicals—and have a longstanding love affair with them. But what, exactly, is a musical? In this book, longtime theatrical producer and writer Jack Viertel takes them apart, puts them back together, sings their praises, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he shows us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate audiences, and how one landmark show leads to the next—by design or by accident, by emulation or by rebellion—from Oklahoma! to Hamilton and onward.Beginning with an overture and concluding with a curtain call, with stops in between for “I Want” songs, “conditional” love songs, production numbers, star turns, and finales, Viertel shows us patterns in the architecture of classic shows and charts the inevitable evolution that has taken place in musical theater as America itself has evolved socially and politically. The Secret Life of the American Musical makes you feel like you’re there in the rehearsal room, the front row, and the offices of theater owners and producers as they pursue their own love affair with that rare and elusive beast—the Broadway hit.“A valuable addition to the theater lover’s bookshelf. . . . fans will appreciate the dips into memoir and Viertel’s takes on original cast albums.” —Publishers Weekly“Even seasoned hands will come away with a clearer understanding of why some shows work while others flop.” —Commentary“A showstopper . . . infectiously entertaining.” —John Lahr, author of Notes on a Cowardly Lion“Thoroughly interesting.” —The A.V. Club“The best general-audience analysis of musical theater I have read in many years.” —The Charlotte Observer“Delightful . . . a little bit history, a little bit memoir, a little bit criticism and, for any theater fan, a whole lot of fun.” —The Dallas Morning News
Copyright:
2016

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
336 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780374711252
Related ISBNs:
9780374256920
Publisher:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Jack Viertel
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Nonfiction, Art and Architecture, Drama, Plays and Theater, Music
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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