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

by Jack Viertel

Book Overview

A New York Times Bestseller

For almost a century, Americans have been losing their hearts and losing their minds in an insatiable love affair with the American musical. It often begins in childhood in a darkened theater, grows into something more serious for high school actors, and reaches its passionate zenith when it comes time for love, marriage, and children, who will start the cycle all over again. Americans love musicals...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374536899
• ISBN13: 9780374536893
• Release Date: March 2017
• Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent user-friendly and fun overview of how musicals are constructed-and enjoyed

This is like sitting in a fun and engaging class taught by the author (who does teach on this subject.) Although the theme is how musicals are constructed, exploring the writing conventions ranging from early musicals to now, if you love musicals, you’ll also enjoy many inside tidbits about the playwrights and composers and choreographers as they pertain to these musicals coming alive. It’s a great book whether you work in musical theater, have worked in it, or simply enjoy things like listening to cast albums and seeing live performances at your local college, community theater or regional theater. This book helps you see INSIDE the entire creative arc of musical creation, with engaging excerpts from certain memorable scenes and moving songs.