A New York Times BestsellerFor almost a century; Americans have been losing their hearts and losing their minds in an insatiable love affair with the American musical. It often begins in childhood in a darkened theater; grows into something more serious for high school actors; and reaches its passionate zenith when it comes time for love; marriage; and children; who will start the cycle all over again. Americans love musicals. Americans invented musicals. Americans perfected musicals. But what; exactly; is a musical?In The Secret Life of the American Musical; 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 nextmdash;by design or by accident; by emulation or by rebellionmdash;from Oklahoma! to Hamilton and onward.Structured like a musical; The Secret Life of the American Musical begins with an overture and concludes with a curtain call; with stops in between for ldquo;I Wantrdquo; songs; ldquo;conditionalrdquo; love songs; production numbers; star turns; and finales. The ultimate insider; Viertel has spent three decades on Broadway; working on dozens of shows old and new as a conceiver; producer; dramaturg; and general creative force; he has his own unique way of looking at the process and at the people who collaborate to make musicals a reality. He shows us patterns in the architecture of classic shows and charts the inevitable evolution that has taken place in musical theater as America itself has evolved socially and politically. The Secret Life of the American Musical makes you feel as though yoursquo;ve been there in the rehearsal room; in the front row of the theater; and in the working offices of theater owners and producers as they pursue their own love affair with that rare and elusive beastmdash;the Broadway hit.
#351358 in eBooks 2015-06-17 2015-06-17File Name: B010VTSHN6
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Definitive book on a new aesthetic of electronic musicBy John_GDr. Roads. who teaches computer music research. obviously knows his stuff. The book is a well-written discussion of a new aesthetic of electronic music. It could become THE Text Book on the Subject. Text is written at college-level comprehension.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This book is a survey of aesthetics and techniques used ...By William T. BajzekThis book is a survey of aesthetics and techniques used in electronic music of all sorts. Its very academic and dry. but very thorough and informative.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Simon Yri CoolsVery informative and thought provoking.
