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Broadway in Black and White: The Untold Story of the American Musical
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26A unique history of the influence of African American culture on our beloved Broadway tradition.
From Show Boat to The Wiz, The Lion King, and Ragtime, everyone recognizes the “Broadway sound.” But what’s less known is how Black artists, collaborating with white creatives, pioneered the very essence of this uniquely American art form. In Broadway in Black and White, John Mauceri, a renowned conductor and music scholar, and John McWhorter, a celebrated linguist and New York Times columnist, bring their wide-ranging expertise to reveal Broadway’s culturally hybrid roots. Featuring intimate portraits of stars such as Ethel Waters, Paul Robeson, and Pearl Bailey, Mauceri and McWhorter explore the interrelationship between Black and white writers, musicians, actors, and producers throughout Broadway’s history. From Shuffle Along to Hamilton, Broadway in Black and White illustrates how culturally diverse artists created a politically active art form with the goal of fulfilling America’s foundational ideal that all people are created equal.
From Show Boat to The Wiz, The Lion King, and Ragtime, everyone recognizes the “Broadway sound.” But what’s less known is how Black artists, collaborating with white creatives, pioneered the very essence of this uniquely American art form. In Broadway in Black and White, John Mauceri, a renowned conductor and music scholar, and John McWhorter, a celebrated linguist and New York Times columnist, bring their wide-ranging expertise to reveal Broadway’s culturally hybrid roots. Featuring intimate portraits of stars such as Ethel Waters, Paul Robeson, and Pearl Bailey, Mauceri and McWhorter explore the interrelationship between Black and white writers, musicians, actors, and producers throughout Broadway’s history. From Shuffle Along to Hamilton, Broadway in Black and White illustrates how culturally diverse artists created a politically active art form with the goal of fulfilling America’s foundational ideal that all people are created equal.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
*I did an immersive read with both the ebook and audiobook, narrated by the authors. John Mauceri and John McWhorter did a great job, and their enthusiasm made it clear how much they love musical theater and the shows that helped build Broadway.
From Show Boat to West Side Story, Porgy and Bess to Hairspray, and South Pacific to Hamilton, musical theater as we know it owes an enormous debt to the meeting of Black and Latin musical traditions with European forms. Black singers, dancers, actors, and musicians were working alongside white counterparts in New York theaters well before such collaboration became commonplace elsewhere in America.
Broadway in Black and White explores that partnership and the social issues it brought to the stage, beginning with Show Boat in 1927. Its story carried through two acts helped establish a model for musicals that wasn’t simply a series of loosely connected performances. The music could develop characters, tell their stories, and ask the audience to confront the real world outside the theater doors.
In a world where children were—and still are—being “carefully taught,” Broadway was tackling racism, prejudice, slavery, and interracial relationships. That progress was imperfect, but Black entertainers were increasingly essential to shows written for broad audiences about the society they shared.
“The blues sang of sadness; gospel sang of spirituality; ragtime expressed joy; jazz expressed virtuosity and creative inspiration uniquely shared by the audience.”
We are lucky to live in a time when cast recordings and filmed productions let us experience so much of this history for ourselves. Maybe you couldn’t afford a trip to New York, or you weren’t even born when a particular production ran. A Spotify account or an internet connection can still open those theater doors for us.
Reading this book made me want to keep opening them. I will be watching Ragtime later tonight. Find something you’ve been wanting to see and join me.
Thanks to RB Media, John Mauceri and John McWhorter, NetGalley Audio, and Edelweiss for the digital review copy and advance listening copy of Broadway in Black and White. Their generosity did not influence my review.
From Show Boat to West Side Story, Porgy and Bess to Hairspray, and South Pacific to Hamilton, musical theater as we know it owes an enormous debt to the meeting of Black and Latin musical traditions with European forms. Black singers, dancers, actors, and musicians were working alongside white counterparts in New York theaters well before such collaboration became commonplace elsewhere in America.
Broadway in Black and White explores that partnership and the social issues it brought to the stage, beginning with Show Boat in 1927. Its story carried through two acts helped establish a model for musicals that wasn’t simply a series of loosely connected performances. The music could develop characters, tell their stories, and ask the audience to confront the real world outside the theater doors.
In a world where children were—and still are—being “carefully taught,” Broadway was tackling racism, prejudice, slavery, and interracial relationships. That progress was imperfect, but Black entertainers were increasingly essential to shows written for broad audiences about the society they shared.
“The blues sang of sadness; gospel sang of spirituality; ragtime expressed joy; jazz expressed virtuosity and creative inspiration uniquely shared by the audience.”
We are lucky to live in a time when cast recordings and filmed productions let us experience so much of this history for ourselves. Maybe you couldn’t afford a trip to New York, or you weren’t even born when a particular production ran. A Spotify account or an internet connection can still open those theater doors for us.
Reading this book made me want to keep opening them. I will be watching Ragtime later tonight. Find something you’ve been wanting to see and join me.
Thanks to RB Media, John Mauceri and John McWhorter, NetGalley Audio, and Edelweiss for the digital review copy and advance listening copy of Broadway in Black and White. Their generosity did not influence my review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.Books
My reading in general repeatedly explores subjects that often seem to be one thing but reach into larger social and political struggles. And I often like to read about marginalized groups, so Broadway in Black and White fit right in my reading wheelhouse. The engine of the book is the racial collaboration, not just a side note.
Not only does this book explore the many contributions and successes of African American culture on Broadway, there’s also a great section on the influence of Hispanic culture breaking into the Broadway stage, too. I know the basic history of the American musical, so reading about these groups of people and how they persevered despite the obstacles they faced was eye-opening. From Porgy and Bess to West Side Story to In the Heights, marginalized performers found failures and success as well.
As America is a melting pot, so too is the American stage. Broadway in Black and White does a very good job of bringing these lesser known stories to light.
My reading in general repeatedly explores subjects that often seem to be one thing but reach into larger social and political struggles. And I often like to read about marginalized groups, so Broadway in Black and White fit right in my reading wheelhouse. The engine of the book is the racial collaboration, not just a side note.
Not only does this book explore the many contributions and successes of African American culture on Broadway, there’s also a great section on the influence of Hispanic culture breaking into the Broadway stage, too. I know the basic history of the American musical, so reading about these groups of people and how they persevered despite the obstacles they faced was eye-opening. From Porgy and Bess to West Side Story to In the Heights, marginalized performers found failures and success as well.
As America is a melting pot, so too is the American stage. Broadway in Black and White does a very good job of bringing these lesser known stories to light.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Really enjoyed reading about the influence of African American culture on Broadway. This isn’t something I would normally choose as an entertaining read, but for a fan of Broadway and theatre in general I found it very informative. I learned so much about the history of Broadway, and how much of a melting pot it really is. I was excited to hear about the history of shows I have seen and already love, and also discovered shows I didn’t even know existed. I feel like this book opened my eyes to a new perspective on Broadway that I haven’t seen before.
Thank you to RBmedia for allowing me to access an advanced copy of the audiobook to listen and review.
Thank you to RBmedia for allowing me to access an advanced copy of the audiobook to listen and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is fabulous!!!! Written by John Mauceri and John H. McWhorter, it is the story of the beginnings of vaudeville and the Black Actors importance on Broadway! What a plethora of knowledge in this very important book! This book explores the influence of Black artists and musical traditions on Broadway, from Shuffle Along to The Lion King to Hamilton. It shows several important things we all need to know! How ragtime, jazz, gospel and other Black musical traditions helped shape the Broadway musical. How Black and white artists worked together in productions such as Showboat and Porgy and Bess. How the increasing presence of Black performers and integrated casts contributed to changing attitudes. How productions including South Pacific, The Lion King and Hamilton engaged with issues of race and equality.
This is a must read for any theatre and history lover! Brilliant and BRAVO! to the authors!
This is a must read for any theatre and history lover! Brilliant and BRAVO! to the authors!
November 6, 2026
A must read for Broadway lovers. Authors John Mauceri and John McWhorter take us through Broadway history and show us the relationship between White and Black Broadway stars, writers, and musicians. I loved learning about pieces of history, like the all Black production of Hello Dolly. This book truly highlights the influence of Black and African American culture on Broadway. 4⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook Broadway in Black and White.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook Broadway in Black and White.
October 30, 2026
Thanks to RBmedia, W. W. Norton & Company, and NetGalley for the ALC and ARC! This book was fantastic. The book perfectly accomplished what it set out to do. I gained a deeper understanding of many musicals I’ve long appreciated but now feel the need to revisit them. The authors do their own narration and they are so welcoming in their speech. This book was very well done and I’m sad it’s over.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC courtesy of the publisher.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews