Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theater
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.40 (975 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0393067157 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 848 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-01-26 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
mscms said A perfect book on a perfect subject!. Best (actually ONLY) textbook on the musical theatre would make this invaluable, but add that it is delightful and readable makes this part of my permanent bedside reading collection. Mr. Stempel's knowledge and love of the subject is clear throughout the book. The organization and chapter headings make it ideal for teaching and learning the historical development of the genre. I love this book and give it as a gift frequently to fellow lover's of musical theatre. Congratulations and gratitude for writing this wonderful book, Mr Stempel.. James Cooper said No standing ovation for this.. I expected more showbiz, bright lights and fun than this survey provides. Stempel's book is academic, fact-filled and heavy going. Little of the joy of the Broadway musical transcends the pedestrian prose. Nevertheless, it's a worthy catalogue of shows, many of which I'd seen and enjoyed.. Very Thorough Historical Review of Broadway's Musical Theater This is a very thorough and well-written review of the history of the Broadway musical. It is highly recommended for those interested in the theater.
Larry Stempel, an associate professor of music at Fordham University and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, was a member of Lehman Engel's BMI Musical Theater Workshop. He lives in Mount Vernon, New York.
He reveals not only how musicals entertain their audiences but also how they serve as barometers of social concerns and bearers of cultural values.Showtime is the culmination of decades of painstaking research on a genre whose forms have changed over the course of two centuries. Beginning with the scandalous Astor Place Opera House riot of 1849, Larry Stempel traces the growth of musicals from minstrel shows and burlesques, through the golden age of Show Boat and Oklahoma!, to such groundbreaking works as Company and Rent. The definitive history of the Broadway musical: the shows, the stars, the movers, and the shakers.Showtime
Theater buffs will be delighted to find that this scholarly, definitive work is also a hugely entertaining read.” - Publishers Weekly. Not just a catalog or reference book, but a highly astute, integrative cultural history.” - Kirkus Reviews“Throughout, as Stempel traces the evolution with exhaustive archival research, he offers a penetrating and illuminating analysis of various musical forms and influences. Many of the 105 carefully selected black-and-white illustrations are surprising and revelatory. “Starred Review