A companion to the six-part PBS documentary series, Broadway: The American Musical is the first comprehensive history of the musical, from its roots at the turn of the 20th century through the smashing successes of the new millennium. The in-depth text is lavishly illustrated with a treasure trove of photographs, sheet-music covers, posters, scenic renderings, production stills, rehearsal shots and caricatures, many previously unpublished. Complementing the narrative are sidebars that highlight the stars, the shows, and the songs the key ingredients that make the musical great. Each chapter also includes essays written by some of Broadway's most fascinating luminaries, past and present. This edition has been revised and updated, with a brand-new foreword by Julie Andrews and new material on all the Broadway musicals through the 2009-2010 season.
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A gorgeous, beautifully written coffee-table book, featuring enough detail to satisfy the most jaded Broadway-phile. NPR
Though this nostalgia-laden tome is designed as a companion book to a forthcoming PBS series, it stands on its own as a particularly striking and comprehensive take on a uniquely American art form. The copious illustrations alone are worth the price of admission, and the meticulously researched text spans the years in six information-packed chapters. With its beguiling blend of entertainment and history, this splendid work is a must-have, whether you're a musical-comedy devotee (i.e., you know that Barbara Cook's Broadway debut was in 1951's Flahooley) or a neophyte (you're not sure who Barbara Cook is). --Publishers Weekly
This gorgeous behemoth is the ultimate coffee-table book for lovers of the American musical, though it is smarter and better written than such a glib description suggests. Broadway is a great read in its own right, consisting of Maslon's well-researched, well-written history, which draws on material from Kantor's film, supplemented by 110 years' worth of excerpts from scripts, capsule biographies of noteworthy theater people, and contemporary interviews with great stars. Just in case you can't read, hundreds and hundreds of drop-dead beautiful photographs, many of them rare and rarely reproduced, make this a great grazing-and-gazing experience, too. Booklist
Plenty of books have been written on Broadway history and productions before: so what makes Michael Kantor and Laurence Maslon's Broadway: The American Musical stand out? Perhaps it's the in-depth color illustration packed into every page of this coverage of Broadway's musical heritage and history, or it's in-depth analysis of Broadway's influence as a cultural force through the decades. Or maybe it's in-depth narratives and handy sidebars highlighting the major stars. All these factors earn an important role as the companion volume to the six-part PBS series of the same name. All of these set Broadway: The American Musical high above competitors. --Midwest Book Reviews
This masterly compilation would be an exciting adventure for the musical lover even without the televised series. Highly recommended for all theater collections. Library Journal Not a slavish recreation of the series, but its own animal-and an awe-inspiring animal at that-a delicious treat for anyone interested in the history of this cherished American artform. Back Stage West
A wonderful, stand-alone, history of the Great White Way and essential for any lover of the American musical theatre. --Town and Country
Besides bringing us up to date through the 2009-2010 season, this trade paperback edition has a new foreword by Julie Andrews. They're wondrous things to pull off, she remarks. A great musical is something to be cherished forever. The cast album becomes a friend. So will this gorgeously appointed book, rich with photos and quotes and backstage info-nuggets -- the stories behind Oklahoma! and West Side Story, to name two classics, are page-turners -- and welcoming The Light in the Piazza, Spring Awakening, and In The Heights to the fold. --Popdose
This epic tome by Michael Kantor and Laurence Maslon adds five more years and 40 more pages to the original book, which came out in 2004 as a companion piece to their memorable six-part, Emmy-winning PBS documentary series of the same name.... Handsomely produced and intensely researched. --Playbill
Though this nostalgia-laden tome is designed as a companion book to a forthcoming PBS series, it stands on its own as a particularly striking and comprehensive take on a uniquely American art form. The copious illustrations alone are worth the price of admission, and the meticulously researched text spans the years in six information-packed chapters. With its beguiling blend of entertainment and history, this splendid work is a must-have, whether you're a musical-comedy devotee (i.e., you know that Barbara Cook's Broadway debut was in 1951's Flahooley) or a neophyte (you're not sure who Barbara Cook is). --Publishers Weekly
This gorgeous behemoth is the ultimate coffee-table book for lovers of the American musical, though it is smarter and better written than such a glib description suggests. Broadway is a great read in its own right, consisting of Maslon's well-researched, well-written history, which draws on material from Kantor's film, supplemented by 110 years' worth of excerpts from scripts, capsule biographies of noteworthy theater people, and contemporary interviews with great stars. Just in case you can't read, hundreds and hundreds of drop-dead beautiful photographs, many of them rare and rarely reproduced, make this a great grazing-and-gazing experience, too. Booklist
Plenty of books have been written on Broadway history and productions before: so what makes Michael Kantor and Laurence Maslon's Broadway: The American Musical stand out? Perhaps it's the in-depth color illustration packed into every page of this coverage of Broadway's musical heritage and history, or it's in-depth analysis of Broadway's influence as a cultural force through the decades. Or maybe it's in-depth narratives and handy sidebars highlighting the major stars. All these factors earn an important role as the companion volume to the six-part PBS series of the same name. All of these set Broadway: The American Musical high above competitors. --Midwest Book Reviews
This masterly compilation would be an exciting adventure for the musical lover even without the televised series. Highly recommended for all theater collections. Library Journal Not a slavish recreation of the series, but its own animal-and an awe-inspiring animal at that-a delicious treat for anyone interested in the history of this cherished American artform. Back Stage West
A wonderful, stand-alone, history of the Great White Way and essential for any lover of the American musical theatre. --Town and Country
Besides bringing us up to date through the 2009-2010 season, this trade paperback edition has a new foreword by Julie Andrews. They're wondrous things to pull off, she remarks. A great musical is something to be cherished forever. The cast album becomes a friend. So will this gorgeously appointed book, rich with photos and quotes and backstage info-nuggets -- the stories behind Oklahoma! and West Side Story, to name two classics, are page-turners -- and welcoming The Light in the Piazza, Spring Awakening, and In The Heights to the fold. --Popdose
This epic tome by Michael Kantor and Laurence Maslon adds five more years and 40 more pages to the original book, which came out in 2004 as a companion piece to their memorable six-part, Emmy-winning PBS documentary series of the same name.... Handsomely produced and intensely researched. --Playbill
About the Author
Michael Kantor is a producer of documentary films such as The West with Ken Burns, Lindbergh, Out of the Past, and Ric Burns's New York series. Prior to his work in documentary film, Mr. Kantor was a freelance theater director and writer, and has been published in Newsday, Theatre Week, and Interview. Laurence Maslon (New York City, NY) teaches at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and has written extensively on Broadway. He also wrote the American Masters biography of Richard Rodgers and edited an edition of George S. Kaufman's comedies for the Library of America.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By jgresham
Format:Paperback
This book is absolutely incredible. As a history enthusiast and musical lover, this book is complete in soothing my appetite for knowledge on the subject of the American Musical. This book is a great start for students and anyone really to learn more about the history of American Musical Theater, a true American innovation.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book more than met our expectations. It is truly a comprehensive guide to Broadway musicals and is thoughtfully organized and contains beautiful pictures.
By catfanone
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a well done companion book to the Special Broadway: The American Musical. It is a wonderful addition to the DVD set. Coffee-table size, excellent photography, and concise information make it a great value. If you are looking for information on a particular show, this is an excellent place to begin.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved the TV specials and this hard copy is very welcome to remind me of the musicals I've seen and heard of.
By RonAnnArbor
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Originally a companion volume to the PBS television series, this has been revised and expanded.
Recommended to me by Christine Peti, it's a fabulous read, and there is so much special information about Braodway musicals in here, that it makes for must-reading for any musical theater student or serious fan.
Recommended to me by Christine Peti, it's a fabulous read, and there is so much special information about Braodway musicals in here, that it makes for must-reading for any musical theater student or serious fan.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Fascinating and detailed, this book is loaded with both photos and information of all sorts--a must-have for lovers of musical theatre
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