The great American book musical : a manifesto, a monograph, a manual / Denny Martin Flinn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Flinn, Denny Martin.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Musicals--United States--History and criticism.

Musicals.

United States.

Physical Description:

xvii, 262 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Limelight Editions, 2008.

Summary:

Some theatregoers are mourning the death of the American musical's golden age-a time when muscial theatre reached its apex-as the American musical strays from its original, standard book form. Denny Martin Flinn chose to do more than just mourn the loss; he hoped that by analyzing the renowned book musicals, he could offer today's generation at least a chance at recreating the unique artistic and theatrical aspects of the greatest American book musicals that reflected the ingenuity and genius of their time.

By analyzing the scores, lyrics, librettos, and choregraphy of innovative and revolutionary shows such as Oklahoma!, On the Town, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and Dreamgirls, as well as looking at what propelled certain shows to success (and what caused some to flop), The Great American Book Musical provides the current generation with a thorough history and practical guide to the creation of Great American Book Musicals of their own.

Contents:

A brief history

How to have a success

The music that makes the show dance

The lyricist : sung hero of the American musical

At the heart of it all : the libretto

Another opening, another show

The choreographers who created the golden age

Only choreographers should direct musicals

Interlude : you gotta have heart

Concepts and the concept musical

Revivals we'd like to see, and why.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [257]-262).

ISBN:

9780879103620

0879103620

OCLC:

225873900