The Book of Broadway Musical Debates, Disputes, and Disagreements

by Peter Filichia

The Book of Broadway Musical Debates, Disputes and Disagreements is purposely meant to start arguments and to settle them. Broadway musical fans won’t always agree with the conclusions musical theater judge Peter Filichia reaches, but the best part of any drama is the conflict. Among lovers of musical theater, opinions are never in short supply, and Filichia addresses the most dividing questions and opinions in one book. What will you say when he asks, “What is the greatest opening number of a Broadway musical?” Will your answer be “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King, “Heaven on Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar, or “Beautiful Girls” from Follies? Will you agree with his answer to “Whose Broadway performance in a musical was later best captured on film?” Did you immediately think of Robert Preston in The Music Man or Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl? More questions that will add to the fire include “What song from a musical is the most beloved?” and “What’s the worst song that a Broadway musical ever inflicted on us?” They’re all in The Book of Broadway Musical Debates, Disputes and Disagreements. Let the arguments begin!

Genres: Theatre, Nonfiction

366 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2022

About the author

Peter Filichia is the critic for the Star-Ledger and News 12 New Jersey. Each week, he writes a column for MasterworksBroadway.com and three columns for TheaterMania.com. He is a past president of the Drama Desk, the current president of the Theatre World Awards, and the author of Let's Put on a Musical!"

Reviews

[Warren Sampson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only for serious musical theater enthusiasts. Very small type.

[Tom Holehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book jam-packed with Broadway gossip, trivia, debate and questionable opinions. It's fun for most of its 300+ pages as it examines a number of musicals from the 1030s to present day. The author's format choice of posing questions than answering with a variety of opinion is good up to a point until it seems he is spinning his wheels, repeating and coming up with questions no one else ever would ("If the Tony's had a category for Best Production Number, what would have won?", "Who best revised his role as Best Supporting Actor"). For diehard theatre fans only.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 stars. This is a fun book for diehard theater fans; I could see myself debating some of the questions with likeminded friends. I liked the way Filichia included examples from lesser-known shows. I did grow weary of his constantly telling us how he would have ended a show or changed some dialogue to make it better - I know, it’s his book, but it just rubbed me the wrong way after a while.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delight. I don't agree with all of it, but that's kind of the point.

[Robyn Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

B- print

[Christopher Strawhun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate Peter Filichia for putting this book out. While I don't necessarily agree with some of his perspectives, his research and background information is fantastic as always.

[Jackson Pavlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im a sucker for classic Broadway history! This was a wonderful little tome about arguments. Lots of contemporary Broadway stuff I didn’t care for, but plenty of classic Broadway talk that I loved.