The Routledge Companion to the Contemporary Musical (Routledge Music Companions) - by Jessica Sternfeld
The Routledge Companion to the Contemporary Musical is dedicated to the musical?s evolving relationship to American culture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In the past decade-and-a-half, international scholars from an ever-widening number of disciplines and specializations have been actively contributing to the interdisciplinary field of musical theater studies. Musicals have served not only to mirror the sociopolitical, economic, and cultural tenor of the times, but have helped shape and influence it, in America and across the globe: a genre that may seem, at first glance, light-hearted and escapist serves also as a bold commentary on society. Forty-four essays examine the contemporary musical as an ever-shifting product of an ever-changing culture. This volume sheds new light on the American musical as a thriving, contemporary performing arts genre, one that could have died out in the post-Tin Pan Alley era but instead has managed to remain culturally viable and influential, in part by newly embracing a series of complex contradictions. At present, the American musical is a live, localized, old-fashioned genre that has simultaneously developed into an increasingly globalized, tech-savvy, intensely mediated mass entertainment form. Similarly, as it has become increasingly international in its scope and appeal, the stage musical has also become more firmly rooted to Broadway?the idea, if not the place?and thus branded as a quintessentially American entertainment.
This is the final chance to submi nominations for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Stage Recording Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in theatrical and performance-based recordings released during the 2025 calendar year.
The offical motion picture soundtrack has been released for EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, the new cinematic experience from filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Listen to it now.
Joy Machine Records has released All the World's a Stage: Original Cast Recording – the new musical with book, music and lyrics by Adam Gwon. You can listen to the full album now.
The Wingstastic Book Fair brings theatre lovers an extraordinary opportunity to own rare and signed Broadway treasures while supporting a vital nonprofit mission: preserving theatre history.
Joy Machine Records has released All the World’s a Stage: Original Cast Recording – the new musical with book, music and lyrics by Adam Gwon. BroadwayWorld has an exclusive video of Elizabeth Stanely singing 'I Don't Ask.'
Broadway's Andrew Keenan-Bolger is making a showstopping YA debut with Limelight (now available where books are sold), a poignant coming-of-age novel about identity, first love, and the power of the arts to help young people feel seen. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book!
Broadway's Andrew Keenan-Bolger is making a showstopping YA debut with Limelight, a poignant coming-of-age novel about identity, first love, and the power of the arts to help young people feel seen. Keenan-Bolger will celebrate the release with two special events in New York City.
Adam Gwon’s new musical All the World’s a Stage will be released as an original cast album. BroadwayWorld has your exclusive first listen to Jon-Michael Reese singing 'I’m Your Man'.
The Al Hirschfeld Foundation will present a new collection titled Hirschfeld's Icons: A Poster Book featuring iconic figures like Elvis and Madonna. Set for release in April 2026, the book celebrates the artistry of Al Hirschfeld through captivating posters.
Tony Award winner and international musical theater performer Alfie Boe has set the release of his first-ever album of predominantly original material, Face Myself, arriving on April 10.
The Grand Teton Music Festival will release of Mahler: Symphony No. 5, available worldwide on Friday, March 13, 2026 on Reference Recordings. Featuring Sir Donald Runnicles leading the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra.
The concept album for the new musical in development, Signs of Life, will be released on all streaming platforms. The album will feature Shoshana Bean, Jenn Colella and more.
The Housemaid, the hit thriller film starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney, will arrive on Blu-ray, DVD, and an Amazon-Exclusive 4K UHD Combo Pack on March 17 from Lionsgate.
Atlanta-based composer and music producer Eugene IV is releasing an album featuring music from and inspired by the Theatrical Outfit world premiere of the musical Young John Lewis.
Claybourne Elder will release a studio recording of his popular one-man show, If the Stars Were Mine on April 3 from Center Stage Records. Produced by Elder and Andrew House and co-produced by Bryan Perri, this marks his debut album.
Just in time for the streaming debut of Wicked: For Good on Peacock, Republic Records will release a brand-new pop-up vinyl edition of the soundtrack featuring an embossed cover and a pop-up gatefold jacket depicting Elphaba, Glinda, Grimmerie pages, and more.
Ghostlight Records has announced the release of NEXT TO NORMAL – ORIGINAL LONDON CAST RECORDING as a special two-CD set on Friday, February 27. The album is currently available in streaming and digital formats.
Joy Machine Records has announced the second single from All the World's a Stage: Original Cast Recording – “Other Lives,” performed by rising theater star Eliza Pagelle – today, Friday, February 6.
Stella Cole has released My Funny Valentine, a 3 track EP out via Decca Records US. Cole also revealed the dates for her second residency at NYC's Café Carlyle.
The King’s Critique: Original Concept Recording—the new musical by Nat Zegree and Eric Holmes—has been released on streaming and digital platforms. Listen here!
Musical theatre composer and lyricist Will Larche is set to release a new album entitled Bumps in the Bathroom: and other lost shows. BroadwayWorld has your exclusive first listen to 'Julian (feat. Jared Reinfeldt)' here!
The Secret Agent, currently nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, is now available on digital platforms, retailing for $14.99 to rent and $19.99 to purchase.
For Record Store Day 2026, Republic Records will release a special vinyl edition of Wicked: One Wonderful Night, the live soundtrack of the 2025 NBC special.
Musical theatre composer and lyricist Will Larche is set to release a new album entitled Bumps in the Bathroom: and other lost shows. This album showcases a collection of songs from obscure indie musicals.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions has announced the first-ever release of Vince Guaraldi's complete soundtrack for 'It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown,' the 15th animated Peanuts special.
Prestige Classics' release of Frank Wildhorn's The Symphonic Suites will bring to audiences world-famous melodies from four iconic Wildhorn shows including Dracula and Jekyll & Hyde.
Literature to Life will launch BOOKS UNITE, a series of free community events in Paterson, NJ, featuring performances, book clubs, and workshops aimed at fostering community engagement through literature.
In his first book, Opening Doors: Reimagining the American Musical, John Doyle reflects on the 50-year theatrical journey taken by a boy who never dreamt it could happen to him. Through simply working at his craft and trying to earn a living he gained a reputation for thinking outside of the box and is credited with helping create a new art form – that of actor-musician led musical theatre. Read an excerpt here!