Librettos

[asherregan]

Does anyone know where to find the librettos or books of musicals? Other than the obvious, there website (for current shows)? For example, I can't Phantom or Wicked anywhere, or like Guys and Dolls is $140 on amazon.. I think this would be such a tight collection to have, you know?

[jimmycurry01]

Many libretti are available in the obvious places such as amazon. Phantom of the Opera is available as an appendix in George Perry's The Complete the Phantom of the Opera. Many of the big coffee table books have them. Sunset Boulevard is also available in that manner, as is Les Miserables. All of those are available used for less than $2.

Many others are available as stand alone books or omnibus format. Guys and Dolls for example is available in The American Musicals collection along with 15 others including Cabaret, South Pacific and more.

Applause is a great publisher of libretti. Check out their site. I can help you find others, if you wish.

Other 

[jimmycurry01]

American Musicals Collection

Complete Phantom of the Opera

Sunset Boulevard from Movie to Musical

Complete Book of Les Miserables

Applause Libretto Library

[Whateverjsays]

I believe the 'Wicked' libretto went out of print in 2010. I've been trying to find that one myself and haven't had any luck

[3NU]

I don't know if you're looking for librettos to keep or just to have on hand for a limited time, but if it's the latter, some library systems actually have a healthy collection of librettos to check out.  You may be surprised what your library has to offer, if not directly then by interlibrary loan.

And, of course, if you're feeling bold and shameless, there's always Scribd...

[Fan123]

The Wicked 'Grimmerie' coffee table book includes an abridged version of the show's libretto, FWIW.

[AEA AGMA SM]

jimmycurry01 said: "Many libretti are available in the obvious places such as amazon. Phantom of the Opera is available as an appendix in George Perry's The Complete the Phantom of the Opera. Many of the big coffee table books have them. Sunset Boulevard is also available in that manner, as is Les Miserables. All of those are available used for less than $2."

 

Just be aware if you do pick up the Sunset Boulevard book that the libretto in that is the original version and does not reflect the changes that were made for the LA and subsequent Broadway production. So there things in there that are completely missing (such as "Every Movie's a Circus" and a lot of lyric changes throughout (the intro/rant before "With One Look" is different, no screaming about "platinum blonde bitches" in "The Lady's Paying," etc).