The musical is an endless source of fascination and enjoyment for audiences around the world. Now the rich and colorful history of musical theater is brought to life in this beautifully illustrated volume. A valuable companion for anyone who loves the musical, this engaging, informative work tells the dazzling story of the international musical stage over three centuries, from The Beggar's Opera to Sunset Boulevard.
Highlighting especially those shows that have entertained "most of the people most of the time, in most places where musical theater is played," Kurt Ganzl surveys the mainstream productions of the four principal areas that have been the most effective purveyors of hit musicals to the world's stages throughout the years--France, Britain, America, and Austria/Hungary/Germany. In a lively and witty narrative that sweeps away some favorite preconceptions and historical distortions, Ganzl brings together the multiple strands of languages, genres, and styles in various eras and areas to provide an entertaining and instructive overview of musical theater history in all its glorious diversity.
Kurt Gänzl
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Ganzl's Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre [RBB S 1 94], the 1995 Dartmouth Medal Honor Book, and Ganzl's Book of the Musical Theatre [RBB Je 15 89] both cover musical theater around the world. This new title is a spinoff highlighting 75 Broadway musicals, a few of which are too…
From the pre-Gilbert and Sullivan 1860s to the 1980s, this important reference surveys more than a century of British light musical theatre, including its writers and composers. Gänzl provides a wealth of information on the book, lyrics, and music of over 800 London musicals, inc…
A colorful, historically accurate biography of William B. Gill, a famous musical-comedy playwright and comedy performer of the late-19th-century who is now mostly forgotten, but who changed the course of American musical theater. Gill began his career as a comedic actor in the co…
This inaugural volume in the Forgotten Stars of the Musical Theatre series sets Lydia Thompson, queen of burlesque, under the spotlight. The series will attempt to resurrect theatre performers and writers who were famous in their era, yet who have since inexplicably faded from po…
For those familiar with Ganzl's Book of the Musical Theatre (LJ 4/15/89) or The British Musical Theatre (Oxford Univ. Pr., 1987), this is a much-anticipated work. Ganzl has admittedly (and wisely) avoided attempting a comprehensive study; there are, for instance, entries for oper…
Since the second half of the 19th century, live entertainment in the United States has been governed by monopolies and powerful business cartels who together through power and greed controlled who could produce, book, and present live performance and legitimate theatre, affecting…
Renowned dancer and choreographer Jack Cole (1911–1974), whose birth name was John Ewing Richter, was a one-of-a-kind artist who initiated a gripping style of theatrical jazz dance that forever vanquished the vaudeville kickline. Cole's distinctive four-decade career choreographi…
Traces the journey of Kiss Me, Kate, by Cole Porter, Sam and Bella Spewack, charting its development from concept to curtain call, a behind-the-scenes look at the artistic decisions that shaped its legacy. Through several case studies, Robbins examines how it has remained relevan…
Music historian and critic Lawrence Schulman will release new titles including a third GARLAND volume and a photographic biography of Judy Garland, with forewords from Will Friedwald and James Fisher.
CENTER STAGE RECORDS has announced the release of The Pianist: World Premiere Recording – based on the new musical stage adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman’s internationally acclaimed memoir, the basis of Roman Polanski’s Academy Award-winning film.
Ghostlight Records has released the CHESS (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) on CD and vinyl, featuring Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher from the Imperial Theatre revival.
Broadway Records released the world premiere cast recording of THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, featuring music by Anna Mullarkey from the National Theatre's revival starring Nicola Coughlan.
Broadway director and choreographer Richard J.
Decca Records will release the original cast album of 13 GOING ON 30 – THE MUSICAL, featuring Lucie Jones and David Hunter from the show's Manchester premiere cast.
Jonathan Bailey will take on the title role in Audible's new global adaptation of Dracula, joining Ella Purnell, Aimee Lou Wood, Maggie Gyllenhaal and more in the full-cast audio production.
Composer Ian Ferguson and writer Lauren LeBlanc will release a cast album of their original musical THE PENUMBRA, following its Dallas Children's Theater workshop presentation.
Tori Keenan-Zelt will discuss her play THE JONBENÉT GAME during an evening event at The Drama Book Shop in New York City, exploring themes of true crime, memory, and grief.
Johanna Telander's new concept album reimagines global 'Ladies in White' ghost legends, featuring an all-female cast including Militia Vox, Natalie Toro, Felicia Curry and Melody Munitz.
MEMENTO GOREY: The Last Interviews with Edward Gorey, a new book by Christopher Seufert, collects unpublished interviews and photographs documenting the designer's life and work.
The original stage work BIG MAN: A NEW MUSICAL, currently in development, will release the show's second single “Wander” in streaming and digital formats featuring Kevin Chamberlin.
The New York City Center Gala production of Bat Boy: The Musical (New York City Center Cast Recording) is available in digital and streaming formats.
Evita: The Full Album, the full cast recording of Jamie Lloyd's West End production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita, led by Rachel Zegler, is available now.
You can now get a first listen to two new singles from the upcoming album Beau: The Musical recording.
Theatre Communications Group will publish an anthology of more than thirty plays by women+ playwrights, a civic initiative from the Flynn Center with the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize examining democracy in America.
Audible has a packed slate of new releases and live programming arriving this September, featuring everything from conversations with Barack Obama and a return to the fan-favorite Bobiverse to Colin Kaepernick's deeply personal story and more.
The Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show will record a cast album, featuring Rachel Dratch as “Narrator,” Luke Evans as “Frank-N-Furter,” Amber Gray as “Riff Raff,” Stephanie Hsu as “Janet,” Juliette Lewis as “Magenta,” and more.
This Ain’t No Disco: World Premiere Recording – Songs from the Musical by Stephen Trask and Peter Yanowitz is out now in digital and streaming formats.
Night Side Songs – the cast album of the transformative new musical produced by Lincoln Center Theater at LCT3 / the Claire Tow Theater – is available in streaming and digital formats now with a music video for My Stuff out now.
The original Broadway cast recording for Schmigadoon! is currently available to stream everywhere you listen to music.
Composer Yu-Peng Chen, known for scoring Genshin Impact, will release a 12-movement symphonic suite for piano and orchestra tracing a journey from birth to farewell.
Night Side Songs – the cast album, will be released in streaming and digital formats.
BroadwayWorld has your exclusive first listen to Lena Hall singing Lay Your Head from This Ain’t No Disco: World Premiere Recording – Songs from the Musical.
The musical Suffs is being adapted into a young adult novel! The book is written by the musical's writer, Shaina Taub, alongside author Betsy Cornwell.
Tony Award-winning producer and founder and CEO of Broadway Plus, Nathaniel Hill, is releasing a book.
Composer Micah Levy has released a revised, updated version of his orchestral children's album, previously performed by the Dallas, San Diego and Utah Symphonies, for streaming platforms.
Center Stage Records will release This Ain’t No Disco: World Premiere Recording – Songs from the Musical by Stephen Trask and Peter Yanowitz in digital and streaming formats.
That Parenting Musical recently recorded a studio cast album starring Christopher Jackson, Kara Lindsay, Bonnie Milligan, Max Mendoza Crumm, Vidushi Goyal, and Scott Rathbun, with a release date yet to be revealed.
Joy Machine Records will release two new singles from the upcoming album Beau: The Musical (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording) in August, with a full album due this fall.
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