The Cambridge Companion to the Musical

by William A. Everett (Editor), Paul R. Laird (Editor)

Tracing the development of the musical on both Broadway and in London's West End, this updated Companion continues to provide a broad and thorough overview of one of the liveliest and most popular forms of musical performance. Ordered chronologically, essays cover from the American musical of the nineteenth century through to the most recent productions, and the book also includes key information on singers, audience, critical reception, and traditions. All of the chapters from the first edition remain – several in substantially updated forms – and five completely new chapters have been added, ethnic musicals in the United States; the European musical; Broadway musicals in revival and on television; the most recent shows; and a case study of the creation of the popular show Wicked based on interviews with its creators. The Companion also includes an extensive bibliography and photographs from key productions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Musicals, Theatre, Music

432 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2002

Reviews

[ALLEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franz Lehar and Rudolf Friml. Victor Herbert and Jerome Kern and of course, the Gershwins. Cole Porter and Kurt Weill. Irving Berlin and Leonard Bernstein. Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields and Jule Styne; Rodgers and Hammerstein. Harold Arlen. And who could forget Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber? The list goes on and on.

Anyone can pick this book up and get a thorough grounding in American and British musicals of the Twentieth Century. I found it amazing that in just a little over 250 pages THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION discusses so well and so amiably evolving musical styles, the major innovators, and transatlantic influences (the "British Invasion" for example). What won't you get too much of? An emphasis on economics or recorded-music technology. And the chapters devoted to Stephen Sondheim are nothing short of superb. Look for this book in any edition.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read all the articles thoroughly, but mostly they seemed professional. The text about European musicals was a bit pathetic, though, because it seemed like the author didn't know much about the topic herself and only cited other sources. And exactly that article I would have needed...