The Secret Life of the American Musical

Description:

"Americans love musicals. Americans invented musicals. Americans perfected musicals. But what, exactly, is a musical? In [this book], Jack Viertel takes them apart, puts them back together, sings their praises, marvels at their unflagging inventiveness, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he invites us to fall in love all over again by showing us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate audiences, and how one landmark show leads to the next"--Dust jacket flap.

subjects: Musicals,  Broadway & musical revue,  Drama,  Humanities -> theatre -> broadway & musical revue,  Humanities -> music -> musicals,  English & college success -> english -> literary criticism,  Musicals--history and criticism,  Musicals--united states--history and criticism,  Musicals--analysis, appreciation,  Musicals--united states--analysis, appreciation,  Musical,  Performing arts / theater / history & criticism,  Ml1711 .v37 2016,  792.60973,  History and criticism,  Analysis, appreciation