Bibliograph

The secret life of the American musical, how classic Broadway shows are built, Jack Viertel

Type

Label

The secret life of the American musical, how classic Broadway shows are built, Jack Viertel

Language

eng

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The secret life of the American musical

Oclc number

912140643

Responsibility statement

Jack Viertel

Sub title

how classic Broadway shows are built

Summary

"Americans love musicals. Americans invented musicals. Americans perfected musicals. But what, exactly, is a musical? In [this book], Jack Viertel takes them apart, puts them back together, sings their praises, marvels at their unflagging inventiveness, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he invites us to fall in love all over again by showing us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate audiences, and how one landmark show leads to the next"--Dust jacket flap

Table Of Contents

Overture -- Curtain up, light the lights : opening numbers -- The wizard and I : the "I want" song -- If I loved you : conditional love songs -- Put on your Sunday clothes : the noise -- Bushwhacking 1 : second couples -- Bushwhacking 2 : villains -- Bushwhacking 3 : the multiplot, and how it thickens -- Adelaide's lament : stars -- Tevye's dream : tent poles -- La vie boheme : curtain: act 1 -- Intermission -- Clambake : curtain up: act 2 -- Suddenly Seymour : the candy dish -- All er nothin' : beginning to pack -- The small house of Joseph Smith, the American Moses : the main event -- I thought you did it for me, momma : the next-to-last-scene -- You can't stop the beat : the end -- Curtain call : how Woodie Guthrie, of all people, changed Broadway musicals forever -- Listening to Broadway

Classification