Overview

This guide explores the milestones in the history of musical theatre, examining character, plot, musical and textual themes, lyrics, subtext, motivation, backstory and historical context. The book covers: the savage political satire of ""The Cradle Will Rock"" (1937); the dark sexuality of ""Pal Joey"" (1940); the innovations of ""Oklahoma!"" (1943); the absurdist social satire of ""Anyone Can Whistle"" (1964); the convention-shattering experiment that was ""Hair"" (1967); the intimacy and emotional power of ""Jacques Brel"" (1968); the provocative honesty of the gay-themed ""Ballad of Little Mikey"" (1994); the abstract sophistication of the jazz / pop / R&B-flavoured ""Songs for a New World"" (1995); the emotional immensity of the ""anti-spectacle"" Floyd Collins (1995); the influence of the 1996 rock musical ""Rent"".

Full Product Details

9780325003573

Table of Contents

Reviews

?As he did in Deconstructing Harold Hill and From Assassins to West Side Story, Scott Miller, with this delightful entry, once again pulls back the curtain on some of the greatest, most important musicals in the history of musical theater. Miller focuses on shows that have truly changed the genre, moving in chronological order from 1937's The Cradle Will Rock to 1996's Rent, and including Off-Broadway hits not included in other books. In the process, he focuses on musicals as theater - real shows being put on with live performances - rather than literature - and demonstrates why musical theatre still remains a vital and vibrant living art form. Miller's opinions are occasionally provocative, and wholly engaging, written from the perspective of a director and a performer. Anyone with an interest in musical theater will be fascinated with Miller's latest work, and the serious aficionado will find new insights to ponder. Above all, this mesmerizing new book will have you thinking and talking about the?-Stage and Screen Book Club As he did in Deconstructing Harold Hill and From Assassins to West Side Story, Scott Miller, with this delightful entry, once again pulls back the curtain on some of the greatest, most important musicals in the history of musical theater. Miller focuses on shows that have truly changed the genre, moving in chronological order from 1937's The Cradle Will Rock to 1996's Rent, and including Off-Broadway hits not included in other books. In the process, he focuses on musicals as theater - real shows being put on with live performances - rather than literature - and demonstrates why musical theatre still remains a vital and vibrant living art form. Miller's opinions are occasionally provocative, and wholly engaging, written from the perspective of a director and a performer. Anyone with an interest in musical theater will be fascinated with Miller's latest work, and the serious aficionado will find new insights to ponder. Above all, this mesmerizing new book will have you thinking and talking about the -Stage and Screen Book Club -As he did in Deconstructing Harold Hill and From Assassins to West Side Story, Scott Miller, with this delightful entry, once again pulls back the curtain on some of the greatest, most important musicals in the history of musical theater. Miller focuses on shows that have truly changed the genre, moving in chronological order from 1937's The Cradle Will Rock to 1996's Rent, and including Off-Broadway hits not included in other books. In the process, he focuses on musicals as theater - real shows being put on with live performances - rather than literature - and demonstrates why musical theatre still remains a vital and vibrant living art form. Miller's opinions are occasionally provocative, and wholly engaging, written from the perspective of a director and a performer. Anyone with an interest in musical theater will be fascinated with Miller's latest work, and the serious aficionado will find new insights to ponder. Above all, this mesmerizing new book will have you thinking and talking about the--Stage and Screen Book Club

?As he did in Deconstructing Harold Hill and From Assassins to West Side Story, Scott Miller, with this delightful entry, once again pulls back the curtain on some of the greatest, most important musicals in the history of musical theater. Miller focuses on shows that have truly changed the genre, moving in chronological order from 1937's The Cradle Will Rock to 1996's Rent, and including Off-Broadway hits not included in other books. In the process, he focuses on musicals as theater - real shows being put on with live performances - rather than literature - and demonstrates why musical theatre still remains a vital and vibrant living art form. Miller's opinions are occasionally provocative, and wholly engaging, written from the perspective of a director and a performer. Anyone with an interest in musical theater will be fascinated with Miller's latest work, and the serious aficionado will find new insights to ponder. Above all, this mesmerizing new book will have you thinking and talking about the?-Stage and Screen Book Club

As he did in Deconstructing Harold Hill and From Assassins to West Side Story, Scott Miller, with this delightful entry, once again pulls back the curtain on some of the greatest, most important musicals in the history of musical theater. Miller focuses on shows that have truly changed the genre, moving in chronological order from 1937's The Cradle Will Rock to 1996's Rent, and including Off-Broadway hits not included in other books. In the process, he focuses on musicals as theater - real shows being put on with live performances - rather than literature - and demonstrates why musical theatre still remains a vital and vibrant living art form. Miller's opinions are occasionally provocative, and wholly engaging, written from the perspective of a director and a performer. Anyone with an interest in musical theater will be fascinated with Miller's latest work, and the serious aficionado will find new insights to ponder. Above all, this mesmerizing new book will have you thinking and talk

""As he did in Deconstructing Harold Hill and From Assassins to West Side Story, Scott Miller, with this delightful entry, once again pulls back the curtain on some of the greatest, most important musicals in the history of musical theater. Miller focuses on shows that have truly changed the genre, moving in chronological order from 1937's The Cradle Will Rock to 1996's Rent, and including Off-Broadway hits not included in other books. In the process, he focuses on musicals as theater - real shows being put on with live performances - rather than literature - and demonstrates why musical theatre still remains a vital and vibrant living art form. Miller's opinions are occasionally provocative, and wholly engaging, written from the perspective of a director and a performer. Anyone with an interest in musical theater will be fascinated with Miller's latest work, and the serious aficionado will find new insights to ponder. Above all, this mesmerizing new book will have you thinking and talking about the""-Stage and Screen Book Club

"""As he did in Deconstructing Harold Hill and From Assassins to West Side Story, Scott Miller, with this delightful entry, once again pulls back the curtain on some of the greatest, most important musicals in the history of musical theater. Miller focuses on shows that have truly changed the genre, moving in chronological order from 1937's The Cradle Will Rock to 1996's Rent, and including Off-Broadway hits not included in other books. In the process, he focuses on musicals as theater - real shows being put on with live performances - rather than literature - and demonstrates why musical theatre still remains a vital and vibrant living art form. Miller's opinions are occasionally provocative, and wholly engaging, written from the perspective of a director and a performer. Anyone with an interest in musical theater will be fascinated with Miller's latest work, and the serious aficionado will find new insights to ponder. Above all, this mesmerizing new book will have you thinking and talking about the""-Stage and Screen Book Club"

Author Information

Scott Miller is the founder and artistic director of New Line Theatre, an alternative musical theatre company in St. Louis. He holds a degree in music and musical theatre from Harvard University, and he has been writing, performing in, and directing musicals since 1981. He has written four books on musical theatre for Heinemann, including Let the Sun Shine In (2003), Rebels with Applause (2001), Deconstructing Harold Hill (2000), and From Assassins to West Side Story (1996).

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