Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy That the History Books Left Out

by Jennifer Ashley Tepper

WOMEN WRITING THE LEGACY THAT THE HISTORY BOOKS LEFT OUT

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Theatre, Music

408 pages, Hardcover

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

Jennifer Ashley Tepper is an acclaimed theatre historian, author, and producer. She has been the Creative and Programming Director at 54 Below for the past decade. She has curated or produced over 7000 shows in this position. Her leadership at the beloved venue has gained praise from publications including The Huffington Post, The New York Times, Buzzfeed, Playbill, Newsday, The New York Post, and more. Tepper's four volumes of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series have been called an "inspiring Must- Read" by NBC New York and occupied the #1 spot on Amazon.com's Best Sellers List in Broadway & Musicals. She is the producer of the musicals Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Love In Hate Nation, recent projects that are part of a decade-long collaboration with the
group known as Joe Iconis & Family. On Broadway, Tepper has also worked on [title of show], The Performers, Godspell, Macbeth, and The Parisian Woman. She is the conceiver and director of The Jonathan Larson Project, historian consultant on the tick, tick... BOOM! movie (directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda for Netflix) and co-creator of the Bistro Award- winning concert series, If It Only Even Runs A Minute. Her work as a theatre historian also encompasses celebrated live talks and events, including at TEDxBroadway, BroadwayCon, The Museum of Broadway, Thespian Festivals, and more. Tepper received a 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award. She was named one of the 10 professionals on Backstage Magazine's "1st Annual Broadway Future Power List" which stated: "Proving herself both a zeitgeist predictor and theatrical historian with her eclectic programming, Tepper is leading the conversation on contemporary musical theatre.”

Reviews

[Emma Weikum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight!! I went to an event last month where the author spoke about this book, and knew I had to read it! It was so fun reading about women who I have been a fan of, and also reading about women who I could learn about from this book.

These women are fucking cool. A woman in this book bought the Alamo and sold it to the state of Texas. Another who was a tennis champion and was the first woman to win an Olympic medal. I love women and the art they create!! I can’t wait for more great musicals by women!

[Lindsey (endless_tbr_list) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of musical theatre this was such a joy to stumble upon! Women are often so easily overlooked and forgotten in the arts, so it was wonderful to see how much research and effort Jennifer Ashley Tepper put into making sure these women's stories were told and their work remembered. A fascinating deep dive into the world of musical theatre, this book spans the 18th century all the way up to these post-pandemic years, which means there was a of information to absorb, yet it never felt tedious or dry. The author's respect for these women and their craft was clear from page one, which made for a truly lovely read.

Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield, Applause, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I will say that I had different expectations for this book than what it ended up being. I expected a sort of history of women who have worked on musicals throughout history, and nuggets of information on their lives, contributions, and remarkable things that they had done. The end result, however, is something a little less detailed and very general, but nonetheless still important.

The descriptions of the women and their lives and works are short, almost obituary or blurb pieces, instead of being deep dives on each of them. I did expect a bit more about each and all of them, but understand this would have been difficult given the length of the book and sheer volume of people covered. I feel like this works well almost as a coffee table book - perfect for little nuggets of study, but not for a single sit-down to read.

I do admire, however, the sheer amount of women who were canvassed in this book, and wince at the propensity of those in theatre to dismiss or play down the contributions of women in some contexts. This is a very important book for a certain subset of study, and I definitely admire it on that front. I do just wish it took a little more time being a book as opposed to simply a compilation.

[Marissa Marlborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 12 books by 12 friends challenge rec! As some know, I work on Broadway backstage as a Dresser (executing quick changes to get actors in their next costume, maintaining the costume pieces, giving water/tea/pastilles, etc.) This audiobook was very informative and I learned a lot.

Tepper chronicles the famous and forgotten/unrecognized women who wrote musicals, detailing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of over 300 amazing women who have shaped Broadway.

This was really well done and structured, and Jenn Lee did a great job narrating. Part of me thinks I might have preferred it in print as I’m sure pictures and other visuals are included, but the audio was solid. Recommend for Broadway fans!

✨Content Warnings: Misogyny, Cancer, Death

✨Themes: Female Identity, Ambition, Legacy

✨You May Like This If You Enjoyed:
-🤷🏻‍♀️ this was my first Broadway history book, give me other recs!

[Ariel Robelen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough outline of the amazing women behind the scenes in musical theater. If you want to nerd out, this is it! The author is upfront about how she organized these women, and the women she inevitably had to leave out. I appreciate reading the author's thought process prior to the body of work.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women Writing Musicals was a fascinating read. After an introductory chapter on the 18th and 19th centuries, the book chapters were organised by decade, and within those chapters were a series of biographies showcasing the women writing for musical theatre in that time period. These paragraphs varied in length from a few lines to a couple of pages depending on the contributions made. On the one hand, I thought this layout worked well, and it resulted in a book that can easily be dipped into for just a few minutes at a time. On the other hand, part of me would have liked more of a narrative, placing each writer within the context of musical theatre at the time. By the end, though, I decided that probably wasn't necessary, as readers of this book are unlikely to be musical theatre novices and fans would already have a good sense of different periods of musical theatre history, having encountered style through the shows themselves or from other general books of musicals. There were small profile pictures of the women, but that was the only illustration throughout; a few additional images, such as show posters or snapshots of relevant sheet music, might have added a little more charm and variety. But overall I thought this book an excellent reference work for musical theatre fans and I am giving it four stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Ashley Tepper is the author of the iconic Untold Stories of Broadway book series and Creative director of New York’s 54 Below cabaret. I can think of nobody better to write this book, and as a musical theater lover I enjoyed every minute. As someone who has been involved in musical theater for over 50 years (my debut musical, Days O’ The Pioneers, was performed by my 4th grade class) I was also surprised to find out that I learned a LOT. Tepper profiles over 300 women who have been involved as composers, lyricists, and book writers for hundreds of musicals. In a very real way, Women Writing Musicals is the story of musical theater in America, as there isn’t a decade in musical theater history where women have not been involved at the highest levels, often shaping the field with innovative creative material.

Here’s the first thing I learned: the first woman to write a libretto for a Broadway musical was Ann Julia Hatton in 1793. Yep, only a decade after independence the Broadway lights were on and women were a central part of it. By the 1870s, Black women were creating and performing musical shows. Although the Broadway story is overwhelmingly white, I was surprised to see contributions from Black and Hispanic women from as long ago as the 19th Century.

The book is organized by decades, and most of the profiles of the women included are short, ranging from a paragraph to (occasionally) 2 pages. This makes the effect of the book much like an encyclopedia rather than something a casual reader would sit down and read right through, a comprehensive index and list of cited shows is at the end of the book for those who want to explore further. The profiles, however, are not dry or dull Tepper makes these women real, and very interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the theater and wants to learn more.

Many thanks to Rowan and Littlefield and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book on women writing for musical theater grabbed my attention at the local library with its attractive and engaging cover. As a theater lover and a feminist, I had to read it, and I did.

It is an encyclopedia, arranged chronologically from the 18th century to the present, of the women dramatists, lyricists, composers and other contributors to Broadway and off-Broadway theater productions. While it includes names recognizable to both theater-goers and theater-buffs, such as legends like Betty Comden, Dorothy Fields, Kay Swift, Sylvia Fine Kaye, and Carolyn Leigh, and contemporary names like Julie Taymor, Cyndy Lauper, and Carole King, it lists the many, many more who have participated to varying degrees of success. There are some fascinating anecdotes on the many whose contributions have been forgotten or overlooked.

A lot of the entries reminded me of something else I love to read – the biographical notes and the "At this Theater" articles in the Playbill® programs that are distributed at each performance, and that I have collected for decades.

While I very much enjoyed the content, the internal design of the book was disappointing – the type size of the listings was on the small side, and the occasional black and white photos were roughly passport size. The type size in the index was actually larger than that in the body of the book, and easier to read. Including some larger pictures would have greatly improved the presentation as well. Perhaps these elements would have been made the book too expensive to produce, though at the $39.95 posted on the front inside flap of the jacket, it is already pricey. For me, this will be a library experience only.

[Shikha | theliteraryescapade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, and Rowman & Littlefield for this eARC. It was an honor and delight getting to read this. Being a reader who loves to read non-fiction, this was a wonderful treat for my grey matter. What a lovely premise, and yay for me to get to read this during non-fiction November.

Women Writing Musicals, is highly detailed, and the content vehemently shows that the author has researched well, and in deep over the subject. It’s commendable how the names and their stories are arranged categorically, making it easy for reader, theatre/musical aficionados, and the commoner or someone naïve with respect to the sub-genre.

The book has narrative in detail not only about achievements, accomplishments, and contributions of women in the history of Broadway and its shaping, but also writes about the difficulties women faced doing so. The contributions of women in the progression of Broadway history is something that remains much overlooked over decades and we can’t say for definite if it’s totally the opposite right now, but something documented like this is a pretty solid manner of bringing it forth for the world to know.

I also applause for the Introduction to the book before the contents even begin, as it shows the state of mind, and motivation of the author to contemplate such a powerful book.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great reference book that I am glad exists as a historical record. With the subtitle "The Legacy That the History Books Left Out," this book is clear from the start that it aims to document the numerous and impactful contributions of femme writers to the musical theater genre. There's not much room for in-depth exploration but the book is successful in inking the record of women musical theater writers thus far.

The structure of this book leaves something to be desired. I appreciated the organization of writer vignettes by decade, as it storytells the development of musical theater as a genre. However, this structure was muddied in regards to writers with decades-long careers. In addition, the documenting of co-collaborators resulted in repetitive copy.

The writing was informative, but not necessarily engaging. It's not a book to read cover to cover--it fares much better as a reference guide, in my opinion.

I am grateful for the free ARC ebook copy that was provided to me by NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield. All opinions are my own.

[Corrica · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge Broadway fan who’s seen over 20 shows this year, Women Writing Musicals by Jennifer Ashley Tepper was an absolute delight to read. This book is a treasure trove of stories about over 300 women who’ve shaped the history of Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals—many of whom have been overlooked for far too long.

Tepper’s research is incredible, spotlighting everyone from legends like Jeanine Tesori to hidden gems like Micki Grant and María Grever. The stories are inspiring, eye-opening, and a reminder of the vital role women have played in shaping theater. Whether it’s Tin Pan Alley pioneers, protest musical writers, or today’s trailblazers, each chapter feels like a celebration of creativity and resilience.

If you love Broadway, theater history, or simply want to discover incredible stories of women breaking barriers, this book is a must-read. It’s a fitting tribute to the women who’ve written the soundtrack of our lives, on stage and beyond.

[Cami Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that a book like this now exists is a tremendous cause for celebration. Thank you to Jennifer Ashley Tepper for giving these women their much-deserved flowers and for showing that women have always been present and essential in musical making.

I took off one star because of how this book is structured, in terms of layout and the narrative. I get that there are limitations due to how many biographies must fit in a regular sized book, but the text is so small with very little white space. It’s pretty difficult on the eyes.

Content-wise, reading this was an experience similar to reading a textbook. I would’ve preferred to have a bit more storytelling weaved throughout, but even so, this book is incredibly important and what I believe is a must-read for anyone working in or interested in the theatre industry.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to have the opportunity to read this book courtesy of NetGalley. As an individual who enjoys musicals, I thought that it would be great to gain some understanding about these women who I did not know about.
First off, I must say, that I was surprised to learn so many women were composers and writers of musicals. Every page or paragraph was filled with a new soul I had yet to learn about. That also, for me, was part of the problem. I LOVED learning about these women, and their stories seemed so fascinating. So fascinating, that I wanted to know more. Yet, the lives of many of them were limited to a few paragraphs or a page. The research of the author was so detailed, that I felt that each of them could have had their own book! This work is definitely one that I will continually refer back to.
Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing this book with me.

[Karianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. This is an important work, highlighting so many women who impacted off-Broadway and Broadway through their writing. There were a few times I was confused how specific authors were split (as co-collaborators were sometimes mentioned in different decades). There were also times previous sections were referenced but recall was tricky due to the sheer volume of information, while other times, information was repeated if there were multiple women who collaborated on the same major piece. These are small critiques compared to the mass volume of information that is provided and its importance in lifting women’s voices as writers for Broadway.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Sarah-Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟 A Comprehensive and Inspiring Tribute to Women in Musical Theatre 🌟

As a woman myself who has spent the past year writing a jukebox musical for my Master’s project, Women Writing Musicals by Jennifer Ashley Tepper felt like an invaluable resource and a powerful affirmation of the vital contributions women have made to this art form. Tepper meticulously chronicles the stories of over 300 female creators who shaped Broadway and Off-Broadway history, from celebrated legends like Betty Comden and Jeanine Tesori to lesser-known pioneers such as Micki Grant and María Grever.

The book is thoughtfully organised by decades, creating a chronological tapestry of innovation and artistry that reflects the evolution of theatre over time. Each profile is concise—ranging from a paragraph to a couple of pages—making the book feel more like an encyclopaedia than a narrative history. Yet, Tepper’s engaging writing ensures that these women come alive, with each story offering a glimpse into the resilience, talent, and ingenuity required to thrive in such a demanding industry.

What makes this book particularly useful for scholars and practitioners is the comprehensive index and list of cited shows at the end, an excellent resource for anyone seeking to delve deeper into the history of musical theatre. Tepper also includes fascinating anecdotes that illuminate the broader cultural and social contexts in which these women worked, from the protest musicals of the 1970s to the trailblazing all-female writing team of 1922.

This is not a casual read to breeze through but rather an essential reference for anyone passionate about theatre. It’s a treasure trove of information that I would recommend to academics, students, and theatre lovers eager to explore the often-overlooked contributions of women in musical theatre.

Many thanks to Rowan and Littlefield and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. It was an absolute privilege to read and review such a significant work.

🎵 Women Writing Musicals is more than a book—it’s a standing ovation for the women who have shaped the landscape of musical theatre. Bravo! 👏

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. My thoughts are, as always, my own.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Net Galley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review, .
A lovely and informative look at women in musical theatre. In a field that feels overrun by men, it's nice to read about the careers of women who changed the face of musical theatre.

I would love to see this book used in college courses about the history of musical theatre!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This review is of the eARC of the book provided by Rowman & Littlefield.)

The book was organized into small sections about each woman, along with their work in various musicals. The information focused on their musical theatre work instead of being summaries of their lives. It was informative and there were a lot of shows and songs that I wanted to look into further.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have liked this more as a physical book. It was a lot (A LOT) of names. I’m interested in retaining this information so maybe I’ll go buy the book at some point. I love the idea of giving women musical writers their flowers!

[Sasha Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and fascinating read!

[Alex Nagler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoops read a book at the library

[Sarah Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broadway and theatre-centric nonfiction is one of my favorite subgenres and Jennifer Ashley Tepper is one of my favorite theatre historians, so any time she has a new book out, it instantly moves to the top of my TBR.

Women Writing Musicals is a bit different from Tepper’s Untold Stories of Broadway series, focused on female musical theatre writers rather than the theatres themselves, but the book still has Tepper’s signature voice and passion that readers will be familiar with.

This was an easy 5⭐️ rating for me. The book contains A LOT of information and has the potential to be very dense, but Tepper organizes and creates a narrative flow that makes everything very digestible. Each woman highlighted gets her own section, which makes it easy to pick up and read whenever it's convenient. Even if you’re someone well versed in theatre history, you’re sure to learn something new, as this book is extensive in the best way possible.

Tepper does a fantastic job of highlighting unsung talent and offering context as to why their contributions were overlooked. She also acknowledges that this book isn’t meant to be a complete history of female musical writers, but I personally found it to be a really great starting point, and I learned a bunch of new information.

While this might be a more niche subgenre, I’d definitely recommend this to passionate and casual theater fans alike. Whether you saw every Broadway show last season or are just starting your musical journey after seeing Wicked, this book has something for everyone!

Big thanks to Applause for the eARC and to the Drama Book Shop for having this out early so I could grab it (and take a picture) on my last NYC trip!

[Naveh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh I wish it was better.

I loved the idea and I think it was so important to write this book, but there were too many that I would get confused about who I reading about. I think people should read the book, but give yourself some time to read it because it really reads like a dense textbook. I usually love Tepper's work but I think this should be a few different editions of the book.