Deconstructing Harold Hill: An Insider's Guide to Musical Theatre [Paperback]

Scott Miller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0325001669 | ISBN-13: 978-0325001661 | Publication Date: November 29, 1999

Following on the success of the very popular and well-reviewed From Assassins to West Side Story comes Deconstructing Harold Hill. This is a book for all fans of musical theatre, and a must for directors and actors. Scott Miller's thoughtful analyses of some of the great works of the musical theatre take the buff or the professional on a journey of discovery. Each chapter looks at one musical, addressing:

• textual and musical themes
• ways in which production design can support those themes
• insight into the motivation and background of the characters
• historical and social context of the action of the show
• and much more.

Miller spotlights The Music Man, Chicago, The King and I, Passion, Ragtime, Sunday in the Park with George, and others. All are innovative works, providing a springboard for the kind of in-depth discussion among directors, their actors, and designers that can make working on a musical - or just seeing one - the most satisfying experience you've ever had. You'll never look at musicals the same way again!

Visit the website of Scott Miller's company New Line Theatre at newlinetheatre.com

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Miller contends that Americans don't take American musicals seriously; more precisely, American directors don't. That is why, he argues, most of the most imaginative and daring recent Broadway revivals have been directed by Brits and Australians. American directors are less willing to plumb the depths of musicals and to uncover, for instance, Camelot's dark subtext or the deep structure of The Music Man. Miller strives to set things aright by analyzing Camelot, Chicago, The King and I, March of the Falsettos, The Music Man, Passion, Ragtime, and Sunday in the Park with George. He intends for regional and community theater directors to use the book to penetrate to the heart of a show--something he accomplishes admirably well, for music, plot, character development, and performance style each gets a turn under Miller's microscope. In fact, Miller's book is too fascinating to be hogged by would-be directors. Students of theater will find it a godsend, and general audience members for musical theater should find it quite appealing. Jack Helbig

Review

"A deep-dish analysis (for actors and directors alike) of [The Music Man] and others like the current Chicago and the dearly departed Ragtime." --Playbill

"Miller's book is too fascinating to be hogged by would-be directors. Students of theater will find it a godsend, and general audience members for musical theater should find it quite appealing." --Booklist

"The chapters are all presented in an infectiously readable, undeniably intelligent manner that should be a happy help to theatre professionals interested in producing a particular show." --Backstage

"Miller's insights and analyses are consistently fresh and fascinating." --Encore

"I have a feeling from this book that there is one American director who is imaginative and daring with his new productions of classic American musicals: Scott Miller." --Peter Filichia, Theatre.com

“[Miller] aims at the heart of each work and reaches it with artistic insight. Those who participate in the theatre at any level as well as those with an avid interest in the subject will discover some fresh ideas here.”–Library Journal on From Assassins to West Side Story

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann Drama (November 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325001669
• ISBN-13: 978-0325001661
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #980,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott Miller is the founder and artistic director of New Line Theatre, an alternative musical theatre company he established in 1991 in St. Louis, at the vanguard of a new wave of nonprofit musical theatre being born across the country during the early 1990s, offering an alternative to the commercial musical theatre of New York and Broadway tours. He has been working in musical theatre since 1978 and has been directing musicals since 1981. He has written the book, music, and lyrics for nine musicals and two plays. His play Head Games has enjoyed runs in St. Louis, Los Angeles, London, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland; and his last musical, Johnny Appleweed, was nominated for four Kevin Kline Awards. He has written six books about musical theatre, From Assassins to West Side Story; Deconstructing Harold Hill; Rebels with Applause; Let the Sun Shine In: The Genius of HAIR; Strike Up the Band: A New History of Musical Theatre; and Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, and Musicals. He has also written chapters for several other collections of musical theatre essays. He has written for several national theatre magazines and websites, and he has composed music for television and radio. He co-hosts, with Deborah Sharn, "Break a Leg - Theatre in St. Louis and Beyond," a weekly theatre talk show on KDHX-FM in St. Louis. Miller holds a degree in music and musical theatre from Harvard University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take another look at the classics you only thought you knew., January 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Deconstructing Harold Hill: An Insider's Guide to Musical Theatre (Paperback)

This book is really quite amazing--I wasn't prepared for everything I learned from it. Mr. Miller thoroughly takes apart and reconstructs some of the most classic works of musical theatre, such as The King and I, Camelot, and The Music Man, as well as more recent shows like Chicago, Sunday in the Park With George, March of the Falsettos, and Passion. This book discusses in depth the connections that exist in each show between the music, lyrics, and book, and thoroughly explores the characters and plot structure in a way every bit as thoughtful as so many other books have talked about the works of other authors like Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, or Arthur Miller. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to be surprised at how complex and well put-together some of the shows are that we've taken for granted for decades.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, Playful, and Occasionally Brilliant, March 13, 2001

By 

Claudia Toubare (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deconstructing Harold Hill: An Insider's Guide to Musical Theatre (Paperback)

I loved this author's first book, From Assassins to West Side Story, but I wasn't prepared for the further depth and greater brilliance of his second book, Deconstructing Harold Hill. This is a man who knows his theatre, who understands human nature, and who cares enough about great art to treat it seriously and respectfully without being afraid to criticize it or demand fresh approaches. This is a work of great intellect that is still accessible to readers with no theatre or music background (a rarity), and yet, I would guess, in depth and surprising enough to aid the most experienced professional.

In his introduction, Mr. Miller complains that American directors don't come at older American musicals with fresh enough perspectives, and the rest of the book does what those directors can't -- it looks, as if for the first time, at a collection of wonderful, important musicals, looking at them fresh, taking the time to think about and question the things nobody else will.

His discussin of the use of musical themes in The Music Man is incredble -- there's so much there I hadn't noticed before -- and his writing makes it all accessible for someone with no music background. His discussions of the character of Harold Hill -- basically a villain who acts like a hero -- is fascinating. He sees glorious little details in this show I've never seen before.

His chapter on Camelot opened my eyes like never before to the depth and possibilities of this show that usually falls into the shadow of My Fair Lady. Mr. Miller sees complexity and nuance in these characters that I've never seen explored before. How amazing it would be to see a production of Camelot that used Mr. Miller's ideas. The show would be transformed instantly from a pretty musical into a soaring, searing piece of tragic theatre.

His chapter on Chicago makes a compelling case for why the revival doesn't do the show justice. And his chapters on Sondheim musicals (Passion and Sunday in the Park) confirm for me that Mr. Miller is the preeminent American interpreter of Sondheim's works. Though I live in Seattle, I may just venture down to St. Louis to see Mr. Miller's ideas at work on his own stage. How lucky the people of St. Louis must be to have an artist this intelligent, this passionate, and this emotional working in their city.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT ONE FOR THE READING LIST, March 11, 2001

By 

Will Conyers (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deconstructing Harold Hill: An Insider's Guide to Musical Theatre (Paperback)

I am a Lecturer in Acting and Music Theatre at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Bachelor of Music Theatre program) and DECONSTRUCTING HAROLD HILL is on my book list for the students. Why?

Because underneath your writing is an undeniable energy, love, support for our craft; this fragile crystal of a business called 'show'. I am not really concerned whether or not I agree with your opinions, apothesis, arguments, discussions etc...what I want is my students to be infected by PASSION and your book is an undeniable example of that. Like you and me, I WANT them to have opinions, to engage in lively and researched debate, to listen to/see the works of the repertoire, to know which song/scene comes from what and that takes energetic, rigourous and PASSIONATE research. If your book goes a wee way to get them off their arses and into action...so be it.

I thank you for a book that has not only enthused my students but that goes one step further towards securing the fragile architecture of our business...

WILL CONYERS