Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time [Abridged] [Hardcover]

Ken Bloom (Author), Frank Vlastnik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

Finally, a book as glorious as its subject: this lush showcase for everyone who loves musicals covers the 101 most influential, popular, and enduring Broadway shows--all of which have toured the country and been performed in theatres large and small everywhere. Each listing includes expert commentary that sets the play in historical and cultural context, plus features on the creators and performers, plot synopses, cast and song lists, production details, backstage anecdotes, and more. Four or five beautifully reproduced photographs from each show--the majority never before published--accompany the text and make the shows leap off the page. Appendices and special features include cast albums, poster artists, revivals, guilty pleasures, Off-Broadway musicals, notable flops, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I was happy to leaf through this very weighty tome (with some of the finest color photos I've ever seen in such an archival volume on nearly every page) and match my own favorites against those of the authors....by the time you make it through the catalogue...you will have hummed at least a hundred tunes and been reminded of what a dazzling achievement this theatrical form has been. And for holiday shoppers in search of the perfect gift for musical mavens, here's the grail."
—Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times (Chicago Sun-Times )

This lush and relatively inexpensive coffeetable book is one that fans of musicals will actually read and talk about...These are not the same old glossies we've seen a thousand times, but fresh and rare photographs, many from private collections, that capture the essence of the show's greatness. Then there's the presentation: lively, opinionated, sometimes deliciously gossipy writing...This book is a must for fans of musical theater."
—Hartford Courant (Hartford Courant )

"I nearly missed deadline for this column, thanks to Broadway Musicals...It's one of those great browser books that can eat up an hour before you realize it. For any theater fan or musical buff it is a perfect abridged education."
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Minneapolis Star-Tribune )

"This massive, lavishly printed tome is almost a coffee-table unto itself. A must-have for the Broadway fanatic."
—Time Out New York (Time Out New York )

Review

"Your Broadway book is a marvel. Handsome, incisive, affectionate—and so useful."
—Harold Prince, producer and director

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers; abridged edition edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579123902
• ISBN-13: 978-1579123901
• Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 10.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #704,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BROADWAY MUSICALS Book of the Year, November 10, 2004

By 

Priam Farll - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time (Hardcover)

"Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Musicals of All Time" is a theatrical banquet, a party at Mame's Beekman Place apartment, an airbourne ride after Peter Pan sprinkles fairy dust, a red staircase entrance into Harmonia Gardens. It's WHY we love the musical theatre. I hardly agree with all of the authors' choices, but that's the fun of the book. Easily four dozen photos (mostly in color and magnificently reproduced) made me delirious: Angela Lansbury blowing her bugle in "Mame," Beatrice Lillie and Tammy Grimes in "High Spirits," Carol Channing's "Hello, Dolly!" second act entrance, 21-year-old and still-spontaneous Barbra Streisand in never-before-published photos from "Funny Girl," an entrancing "Carnival!" picture, Dolores Gray and her look-alike mother, Susan Johnson's two motorcycle photos, a candid shot of Ethel Merman having a shoe removed by her dresser. The list goes on and on. Two major books about Broadway musicals have reecently been published. "Broadway: The American Musical" (a tie-with the the PBS three-part series) is extremely interesting, superbly researched and scholarly. "Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Musicals of All Time," reviewed here, is more enjoyable because it captures the flavor, thrill, excitement, glamour, star-power, magic and zest of seeing the best of Broadway's musical theatre. If you have to choose one, get this one. Better still, get both.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 101 of the best, and then some., November 20, 2004

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time (Hardcover)

When you first open this book you can't help but turn to those shows that have become your favorites. I first turned to Gypsy, then Evita, Phantom, Cats, and on and on. All my favorites were there. Most of them, showed the original cast from the first production.

Gypsy featured Ethel Merman as Mama Rose, Sandra Church as Louise/Gypsy in the original production. The book then goes on to other Rose's: Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters. In each case it talks about the unique characterizations brought to the stage by the leading lady.

This is typical treatment for this book where most of the plays (the really popular ones) get similar treatment. In addition there are side bars that give details on some of the other people (directors, composers, custome people, etc.) that have made these shows what they are.

There's only one problem with the book, you can't put it down. I know, I've tried, and somehow it falls open to My Fair Lady....

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - but list may surprise!, December 12, 2004

By 

PopeTim2 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time (Hardcover)

The immediate thing that strikes you upon picking up this mammoth book is the amazing (RARE!) photos. Jerry Orbach, who does the foreward, even admits that some photos of HIMSELF he had never seen! For example, I am one of the biggest "EVITA nuts" out there, and there were three pictures of Patti LuPone I'd never seen before.

The sheer amount of photos is enough to make this book a "must-buy." Yet, that's not to negate the detailed text. There are performer highlights as well as quips and trivia from most shows. My only problem is the list. As with all "Best of..." lists, there are many obvious choices (FUNNY GIRL, SOUND OF MUSIC, HELLO DOLLY!, GYPSY) as well as quite a few shockers.

I at first thought the book was firmly leaning backward until I noticed THE FULL MONTY. Not that I have a problem with that show (or with any of the following shows) but why is THE FULL MONTY in here, but not THE PRODUCERS? I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE is in here - but not RENT. DESTRY RIDES AGAIN is in here - but not ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. No MISS SAIGON. Even 42nd STREET is missing.

Of course, it is obvious that "list books" will always have glaring omissions (or additions!) - even if the book is The *1000* Greatest Shows of All Time. Nevertheless, don't let that editor's hatchet take away from your enjoyment of this book.