20 Best Books About Broadway (2023 Update)

A fully updated edition of the acclaimed and bestselling broadway musicals, now featuring an expanded off-broadway section broadway musicals is a richly illustrated, and information-packed celebration of the most popular and enduring broadway shows of all time. each show is featured in a detailed, photo-filled chapter that includes expert commentary, special features on the creators and performers, plot synopses, cast and song lists, production details, and backstage anecdotes. also included are sidebars on broadway flops, advertising posters, the greatest scores, and more. this edition includes several shows not in the original hardcover edition such as avenue q, the drowsy chaperone, and wicked. an expanded off-broadway section showcases beloved shows such as i love you, you're perfect, nowchange and little mary sunshine. praise for broadway musicals: "this book is a joy from cover to cover." dallas morning news"this book is a must for fans of musical theater." hartford courant "a nostalgic treasure trove." seattle times"for any theater fan or musical buff it is a perfect abridged education." minneapolis star tribune"broadway musicals is a visual delight." palm beach post

Ben brantley, drama critic of the new york times relives unforgettable broadway and off-broadway moments. witness the night a star was born, a director's brilliant debut, a play that broke new ground, a musical that redefined the genre, and even a terrible play that ran for years. this entertaining, essential volume for anyone who loves broadway will include a foreword from a major actor, a full introduction by ben brantley, drama critic of the times, and his choice of 100 other most important plays of the twentieth century. each of the best 100 will include the full, original new york times review by the critic of the day such as frank rich, brooks atkinson, walter kerr, george s. kaufman, alexander woolcott and others. cast boxes, lavish photos and statistics about the productions will complete this authoritative volume about classic broadway theater.

“one of the best literary works of this year” (miami herald-tribune): the true story of a theatrical dream—or nightmare—come true…the making of the spider-man musical.as you might imagine, writing a broadway musical has its challenges. but it turns out there are challenges one can’t begin to imagine when collaborating with two rock legends and a superstar director to stage the biggest, most expensive production in theater history. renowned director julie taymor picked playwright glen berger to cowrite the book for a $25 million spider-man musical. together—along with u2’s bono and edge—they would shape a work that was technically daring and emotionally profound, with a story fueled by the hero’s quest for love…and the villains’ quest for revenge. or at least, that’s what they’d hoped for. but when charismatic producer tony adams died suddenly, the show began to lose its footing. and then came the injuries. and then came word-of-mouth about the show itself. what followed was a pageant of foul-ups, falling-outs, ever-more harrowing mishaps, and a whole lot of malfunctioning spider legs. this “circus-rock-and-roll-drama,” with its $65 million price tag, had become more of a spectacle than its creators ever wished for. during the show’s unprecedented seven months of previews, the company’s struggles to reach opening night inspired breathless tabloid coverage and garnered international notoriety. through it all, berger observed the chaos with his signature mix of big ambition and self-deprecating humor.

From caldecott honor artist melissa sweet comes the perfect thanksgiving day picture book. let's have a parade! meet the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the macy's thanksgiving day parade. melissa sweet brings to life the inspirational story of the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons floating in the sky during the annual parade celebrating thanksgiving. the caldecott honor artist brilliantly captures the essence of tony sarg, a self-taught immigrant with a fascinating imagination.the collage illustrations coupled with sweet's storytelling portray sarg's joy in his childhood inventions and his ingenious balloon creations that still bring delight to viewers around the country. this nonfiction illustrated book will capture the hearts of all ages." this clever marriage of information and illustration soars high." (kirkus starred review)

The way some histories portray the advent of musicals, you'd think the genre emerged fully formed with show boat. yet in truth, it took root decades earlier. in strike up the band scott miller tells the whole story of musicals, pulling back the curtain on the amazing innovation and adventurousness of the art form, revealing its political and social conscience, and chronicling its incredibly rapid evolution over the last century. strike up the band focuses not only on what happened on stage but also on how it happened and why it matters to us today. it's a different kind of history that explores the famous and, especially, the not-so famous productions to discover the lineage that paved the way to contemporary musicals. digging into 150 shows, miller offers a forward-looking perspective on treasures from each era – such as anything goes, west side story, hair, and rent – while also looking at fascinating, genre-busting, and often short-lived productions, including bat boy, rocky horror show, promenade, and the capeman, to see how even obscure or commercially unsuccessful musicals defined and advanced the form. moving decade by decade, miller offers insight and inside information about the artistic approaches various composers, lyricists, bookwriters, and directors have taken, how those approaches have changed over time, and what social and historical forces continue to shape musical theatre today. he provides a strong sense of what groups have historically controlled the industry and how other groups' hard work and vision continue to change the musical theatre landscape for the better. in fact, strike up the band opens a new and vitally important discussion of the roles played in the musical's history by people of color, by gays and lesbians, by people with disabilities, and by women. it frames musical theatre as an important, irreplaceable piece of american history and demonstrates how it reflects the social and political conditions of its time – and how it changes them. on broadway or off, strike up the band is as adventuresome, detailed, and thoughtful in tracing the story behind the musical as it is in celebrating the form's diversity, vigor, innovation, and promise. join scott miller not only in commemorating great moments on stage, but in gaining a powerful understanding of what the musical was, what it is today, and what it is becoming.

Broadway's top orchestrators – robert russell bennett, don walker, philip j. lang, jonathan tunick – are names well known to musical theatre fans, but few people understand precisely what the orchestrator does. the sound of broadway music is the first book ever written about these unsung stars of the broadway musical whose work is so vital to each show's success. the book examines the careers of broadway's major orchestrators and follows the song as it travels from the composer's piano to the orchestra pit. steven suskin has meticulously tracked down thousands of original orchestral scores, piecing together enigmatic notes and notations with long-forgotten documents and current interviews with dozens of composers, producers, conductors and arrangers. the information is separated into three main parts: a biographical section which gives a sense of the life and world of twelve major theatre orchestrators, as well as incorporating briefer sections on another thirty arrangers andconductors; a lively discussion of the art of orchestration, written for musical theatre enthusiasts (including those who do not read music); a biographical section which gives a sense of the life and world of twelve major theatre orchestrators, as well as incorporating briefer sections on another thirty arrangers and conductors; and an impressive show-by-show listing of more than seven hundred musicals, in many cases including a song-by-song listing of precisely who orchestrated what along with relevant comments from people involved with the productions. stocked with intriguing facts and juicy anecdotes, many of which have never before appeared in print, the sound of broadway music brings fascinating and often surprising new insight into the world of musical theatre.

Each chapter begins with a series of multiple-choice and true or false questions with the answers following on the next page. after testing your knowledge, peruse the "did you know" section for quirky anecdotes, fun facts, and important records to addd to your knowledge. grab a copy and test yourself on your knowledge of broadway theatre!

The popularity of musicals has reached an all-time high leading to the development of numerous original shows. in this comprehensive new guide, beating broadway: how to create stories for musicals that get standing ovations, written by veteran storyteller and successful creator of musicals steve cuden, readers learn how the plots and stories behind musicals are developed and honed. with a breezy, lighthearted approach, creators at all levels are provided key advice for building winning musical stories.cuden, who has been there, done that, offers writers the know-how and encouragement to construct brilliant, attention-grabbing musical storylines. beating broadway provides readers with practical, down-to-earth advice for crafting successful musical theater stories that will reach audiences everywhere. this complete, two-part manual also guides aspiring writers in what it takes to develop shows that can attract broadway producers. by showing writers the ins and outs of storytelling required for today's commercial musical theater, beating broadway places success firmly within grasp. readers also gain insight into how stories function in forty of the world's most beloved stage and movie musicals as cuden breaks down each one into key narrative beats and plot points.“ beating broadway is a take-you-by-the-hand guided tutorial written by a seasoned professional who really knows his stuff. this book feeds your mind with how stories for musicals are made. if you are interested in creating or producing a musical, steve's insights will be helpful and inspiring to you.jeff marx, tony winning composer/lyricist of avenue q“beating broadway digs deep to the core of how stories for successful musicals are created. this is a must-have book for anyone who wants to write exceptional musicals or is just a fan.” scott wittman, tony winning lyricist of hairspray and co-lyricist and executive producer for the hit tv series, smash“beat-by-beat, steve cuden breaks down story, structure, and song spotting so you can beat the broadway musical before it beats you!” cheri steinkellner, emmy-winning writer/producer of cheers and teacher's pet, tony-nominated writer of sister act

Showtime brings the history of broadway musicals to life in a narrative as engaging as the subject itself–beginning with the scandalous astor place opera house riot of 1849 to such groundbreaking works as company and rent.

In this richly illustrated and information-packed celebration of broadway set design, tony award-winning designer derek mclane explores the craft while reflecting on some of the greatest stage productions of the past few decades. together with other leading set design and theatre talents, mclane invites us into the immersive and exhilarating experience of building the striking visual worlds that have brought so many of our favorite stories to life. discover how designers generate innovative ideas, research period and place, solve staging challenges, and collaborate with directors, projectionists, costume designers, and other artists to capture the essence of a show in powerful scenic design. with co-writer eila mell, mclane and contributors discuss moulin rouge!, hamilton, hadestown, beautiful, and many more of the most iconic productions of our generation. among the broadway luminaries who contribute are john lee beatty, danny burstein, cameron crowe, ethan hawke, moisés kaufman, carole king, kenny leon, santo loquasto, kathleen marshall, lynn nottage, david rabe, ruben santiago-hudson, wallace shawn, john leguizamo, and robin wagner. filled with personal sketches and photographs fromthe artists' archives, this stunningly designed book is truly a behind-the-scenes journey that theatre fans will love.

Carefully taught looks at american history as depicted in forty broadway musicals. presented chronologically according to the musical timeframe, award-winning theater critic and author cary ginell dissects the stories, characters, and songs to not only examine how broadway viewed historical events, epochs, and personalities, but also to capture how dramatic license separated fact from fantasy. the chosen musicals fall into a variety of categories: biographies of famous americans, (andrew jackson and fiorello laguardia), stories with national conflicts (hamilton, south pacific), events that captured the attention of the american public (floyd collins, newsies), and sociological studies or satires of specific eras (the music man, hair). many books have been written about broadway, but carefully taught, from the song you've got to be carefully taught in south pacific, uniquely approaches american history from two vantage points: the point of view of the playwright and composer accompanied with the context of how these events were seen when they were produced versus how they are seen today. ginell's research of contemporary theater reviews and in-depth studies of productions' back stories play off his knowledge gained from his quarter century as a theater critic in southern california.the combination is a complete overview of american history on the stage from the coveted balcony seat.

Broadway musicals of the 1900s saw the emergence of george m. cohan and his quintessentially american musical comedies which featured contemporary american stories, ragtime-flavored songs, and a tongue-in-cheek approach to musical comedy conventions. but when the austrian import the merry widow opened in 1907, waltz-driven operettas became all the rage. in the complete book of 1900s broadway musicals, dan dietz surveys every single book musical that opened during the decade. each musical has its own entry which features the following: plot summary cast members creative team song lists opening and closing dates number of performances critical commentary film adaptations, recordings, and published scripts, when applicable numerous appendixes include a chronology of book musicals by season; chronology of revues; chronology of revivals of gilbert and sullivan operettas; a selected discography; filmography; published scripts; black musicals; long and short runs; and musicals based on comic strips. the most comprehensive reference work on broadway musicals of the 1900s, this book is an invaluable and significant resource for all scholars, historians, and fans of broadway musicals.

Former library book; may include library markings. used book that is in excellent condition. may show signs of wear or have minor defects.

One of the most frequently produced new musicals of the last decade, 13 is a rollicking musical comedy featuring a cast exclusively made up of teenagers. thirteen 13-year-olds, as a matter of fact. evan goldman is two months from turning 13 years old, living happily in new york city, the greatest city on earth, when his world is blown apart by his parents' divorce, and he is dragged away from home to live with his mother in a small town in the midwest. facing a new life in a new place where the customs and culture are utterly alien to him, and with his bar mitzvah getting closer every day, evan has to navigate who he wants to be versus who he really is, and see if he can make it through the fall without losing the best friends he'll ever have.

Musical theatre: a history is a new revised edition of a proven core text for college and secondary school students – and an insightful and accessible celebration of twenty-five centuries of great theatrical entertainment. as an educator with extensive experience in professional theatre production, author john kenrick approaches the subject with a unique appreciation of musicals as both an art form and a business. using anecdotes, biographical profiles, clear definitions, sample scenes and select illustrations, kenrick focuses on landmark musicals, and on the extraordinary talents and business innovators who have helped musical theatre evolve from its roots in the dramas of ancient athens all the way to the latest hits on broadway and london's west end. key improvements to the second edition: · a new foreword by oscar hammerstein iii, a critically acclaimed historian and member of a family with deep ties to the musical theatre, is included · the 28 chapters are reformatted for the typical 14 week, 28 session academic course, as well as for a two semester, once-weekly format, making it easy for educators to plan a syllabus and reading assignments. · to make the book more interactive, each chapter includes suggested listening and reading lists, designed to help readers step beyond the printed page to experience great musicals and performers for themselves. a comprehensive guide to musical theatre as an international phenomenon, musical theatre: a history is an ideal textbook for university and secondary school students.

This is the perfect first collection for many voice students, whether they are teens or college singers or adults. joan boytim has selected songs appropriate for each voice type, and has chosen keys that suit the vocal needs of novice singers studying in traditional, generally classical lyric singing. the editions of the songs in these collections are short and straight-forward. teachers have found these books invaluable. to make the collections even more useful, each volume is offered in a book/companion cd edition with piano accompaniments recorded by pianist laura ward. contents: as long as he needs me * bali ha'i * falling in love with love * getting to know you * i enjoy being a girl * i love paris * if i ruled the world * in my own little corner * it might as well be spring * maria * my favorite things * my funny valentine * on my own * people * simple little things * something wonderful * the earth and other minor things * the song is you * violets and silverbells * what's the use of wond'rin' * where or when

This is the perfect first collection for many voice students, whether they are teens or college singers or adults. joan boytim has selected songs appropriate for each voice type, and has chosen keys that suit the vocal needs of novice singers studying in traditional, generally classical lyric singing. the editions of the songs in these collections are short and straight-forward. teachers have found these books invaluable. to make the collections even more useful, each volume is offered in a book/companion cd edition with piano accompaniments recorded by pianist laura ward. contents: as long as he needs me * bali ha'i * falling in love with love * getting to know you * i enjoy being a girl * i love paris * if i ruled the world * in my own little corner * it might as well be spring * maria * my favorite things * my funny valentine * on my own * people * simple little things * something wonderful * the earth and other minor things * the song is you * violets and silverbells * what's the use of wond'rin' * where or when

More opening nights on broadway continues the chronicle of the american musical theatre that began in the highly acclaimed opening night on broadway (1990). more than 200 productions are examined, featuring excerpts from reviews written in the immediate flush of the premiere by top newspaper critics of the era including walter kerr, clive barnes, frank rich, doug watt, martin gottfried, john chapman, and richard watts. the excerpts are accompanied by production details, clarification of hidden credits and other "inside" information, and pertinent – and sometimes impertinent – commentary on the shows and the people. also included are complete listings of awards won by each show as well as the "broadway scorecard" tallying the overall critical reception, the length of the run, and the financial outcome. more than 100 rare, full-page illustrations are included, recapturing the flavor and excitement of the shows when they were fresh and new.

More opening nights on broadway continues the chronicle of the american musical theatre that began in the highly acclaimed opening night on broadway (1990). more than 200 productions are examined, featuring excerpts from reviews written in the immediate flush of the premiere by top newspaper critics of the era including walter kerr, clive barnes, frank rich, doug watt, martin gottfried, john chapman, and richard watts. the excerpts are accompanied by production details, clarification of hidden credits and other "inside" information, and pertinent – and sometimes impertinent – commentary on the shows and the people. also included are complete listings of awards won by each show as well as the "broadway scorecard" tallying the overall critical reception, the length of the run, and the financial outcome. more than 100 rare, full-page illustrations are included, recapturing the flavor and excitement of the shows when they were fresh and new.

Offers a behind-the-scenes look at broadway musicals and the unique subculture of the new york theater world as seen by actors, directors, writers, producers, and choreographers