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"But He Doesn't Know the Territory"

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BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW THE TERRITORY is MUSIC MAN Meredith Wilson's heartbreakingly evocative photograph of what it was like to write a musical for Broadway & bring in the show when the show was MUSIC MAN and Broadway meant something. Wilson discusses in lip-smacking detail the cration of his sepia masterwork & the people around it who, like good doctors, assisted in the birth. Snapshots of the great producer Kermit Bloomgarden, the stars Robert Preston & Barabara Cook, the choreographer Oona White and guest apperaances by Moss Hart and many more make this a must have for anybody who wants to know how theatre worked, when it worked in New York in the 1950s. Even if Wilson never again created anything of eternal memory (although we are still happy to have MOLLY BROWN) and if a later show (1491) was panned even by his music publisher & supporter Frank Loesser this is a book every theatre-lover & historian has to have. It's that simple!

I learned of the reprint of this book as I was rehearsing a community theatre production of "Meredith Willson's The Music Man." I purchased this and his earlier one (also just republished) "And There I Stood With My Piccolo". If you know the show, or are interested in Americana, you will enjoy this book. It's a breezy read, full of the trials and tribulations of trying to follow a dream when you don't exactly know how to do it. The show took many years to form; Willson, a band leader, radio music director and arranger, had never written a musical before, and the ups and downs of the process in the 1950s, even when you "know people", is conveyed in a hilarious and entertaining way. There are some wonderful down-to-earth narratives in it. I am in the Barbershop Quartet in the show, and was fascinated by his explanation of why he hired a real BSQ for the cast before anyone else, and why he wanted BSQ music in his play. If you are intrigued by the creative process, by the energetic telling of a true story, or by musical theater, you will truly be glad you picked up this book. It was passed on to our Harold Hill, Mrs. Shinn and others, and the last I saw it was on my table in the dressing room where it disappeared! I hope it is still being enjoyed...

One of the few books I've ever read in one sitting. Any fan of THE MUSIC MAN, either the play or the movie, has GOT to read this. Full of amazing andecdotes on the journey this wonderful play (and this novice musical show writer) took to arrive on Broadway. Meredith Willson's infectious matter-of-fact writing style puts you right in the room when Robert Preston auditions for the lead role. You'll get goosebumps when you find out how the role of Winthrop evolved. And you'll get true sense of the painstaking amount of work and time and trouble (with a capital "T") it used to take to put a grand old musical from Broadway's golden age on the boards. The Putnam and Sons version has been out of print for decades, but now because the University of Minnesota Press picked it up EVERYONE can own a copy.

I have them all and I've read them all and (note the cost of the hardback in the Amazon pricing) this is the one I paid extra bucks for years ago on a search service-pre internet. The lessons about musical theatre construction are taught here in a way that makes them personal, fun and important to the reader; not unlike Moss Hart's education in playwrighting in "Act One". Explorations of when to reveal details about a character, how to construct a lyric and most especially the particular art of compression that drives a musical are a delight that simply never leaves the mind. And you will never hear the word 'spaz' the same way again. This is the book I have recommended about musical theatre more than any other and the one I have never (it is the rarest of the pack) lent out. "The Making of 'No No Nanette' is the dishiest-but this book, like the musical it describes is an act of joy and love.

I associate with the reviewer below who mentions that its one of the books he (or she's) ever sat through in one sitting... I'm the same, and I had the same experience... Meredith Wilson's writing is almost Damon Runyonesque... laden with humor, hipsterish, short, punch and very anecdote centered. One gets the impression that this was a person with a love of life and who... loved talking and telling stories. - - The book is also interesting because it goes behind the scenes and shows how a musical comes together and what it feels like to be at the center of the project, especially as the big opening night nears. I also found it interesting because The Music Man along with "Guys and Dolls" and "West Side Story" is "the quintessential Broadway must see musical" of that Golden Age... yet it is so unorthodox - - especially with all the numbers that are half talking, half singing... Also, in my humble opinion, I think that the "book" (to the musical) has some technical problems and think its interesting how the libretto tempted to work its way around it. This book definitely sheds light on it... Its also interesting to hear the writer talk about his interesting concept of having tunes with words that didn't rhyme but fit together... To me, its the brilliance of the show... I always interpreted it as a symbol of how the world is full of music, even in places we least expect it, as well as an allegory of the smooth talking/fast rapping style of the traveling salesman... I also love the line in the play, "Singing is nothing but sustained talking..." -- Meredith Wilson, though, makes it seem like something that was more accidental, less calculated, but something he became obsessed with... He also gives a great lesson in life. -- Though The Music Man would become a success by every means, the book tells of lot's of downs, including almost all the record labels turning it down and a preview story that made him really feel like HE DIDN'T KNOW THE TERRITORY... despite this, he stuck with it, and the more hard knocks he got, the harder he worked... even though it took him almost a decade to finish the project... As a result of this, whenever I feel inspired and am thinking of quitting, I'll definitely think of this book and continue to stick with it.

I am aware that his previous memoir, the book that inspired THE MUSIC MAN has also been put out. I definitely intend to get it.

In conclusion, don't you even think of going to see THE MUSIC MAN, listening tot he soundtrack or even acting it til you've gotten this book !

I always enjoyed "The Music Man" and when I saw Meredith Willson's autobiography was once more in print I thought it sounded interesting. It was more than interesting - it was hilarious as well as informative as to the ups and downs encountered by him and his wife in bringing the show to Broadway. Then, I sat and watched "The Music Man" again and enjoyed it even more.

This is a wonderful story about the making of a legendary musical. Anyone who loves The Music Man will love this book. A great read.

This book, a behind-the-scenes story of the making of The Music Man, is a must-read for all Broadway musical aficionados and theatre buffs. Composer/author/lyricist Meredith Willson describes the entire journey his hit show underwent, from a piece of paper in a typewriter to opening night. Along the way you see the laborious process of writing, re-writing, financing, casting, costuming, set designing and rehearsing a musical, at least as it was done in an earlier era. Willson's writing is as engaging, warm and witty as The Music Man itself. Among the many choice scenes are the many backers' auditions in Manhattan apartments where, with just his vocalist wife and a piano on hand, he had to make the often skeptical audience imagine the full-blown show as it might appear on stage. Of course we know the ending of this story, but the many ups and downs Willson describes so vividly make for a very entertaining and enlightening tale. Highly recommended.

I had read this book in the hardback edition and loved it. It is a diary by Meredith Willson about the writing, producing and results of his penultimate musical "The Music Man", which starred Robert Preston snd Barbara Cook (I played Mayor Shinn in high school). Very well written and without a dull moment you'll find yourself not wanting to put it down. I only with it was a bit larger so you didn't really have to fold back the pages to read them. I was very surprised to read of this re-issue and of his other book "...and There I Stood With My Piccolo" (another great read). You can't go wrong with this one.

I am a 5th and 6th grade music teacher. For the end of the year, we are doing a musical study...we picked the Music Man. This is an very interesting almost biography of how the Music Man came to be...I used this, along with the original soundtrack, to do a background study for my students before we watched the movie.