The secret life of the American musical
Subtitle: how Broadway shows are built
By: Jack Viertel
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 312
ISBN-13: 9780374256920
Subjects: Analysis, appreciation; History and criticism; Musicals; Production and direction
Description: "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.
Notes: Includes index.

"Listening to Broadway": pages 271-294.
Table of contents: title: Overture; title: Curtain up, light the lights : opening numbers; title: The wizard and I : the "I want" song; title: If I loved you : conditional love songs; title: Put on your Sunday clothes : the noise; title: Bushwhacking 1 : second couples; title: Bushwhacking 2 : villains; title: Bushwhacking 3 : the multiplot, and how it thickens; title: Adelaide's lament : stars; title: Tevye's dream : tent poles; title: La vie bohème : curtain: act 1; title: Intermission; title: Clambake : curtain up: act 2; title: Suddenly Seymour : the candy dish; title: All er nothin' : beginning to pack; title: The small house of Joseph Smith, the American Moses : the main event; title: I thought you did it for me, momma : the next-to-last-scene; title: You can't stop the beat : the end; title: Curtain call : how Woodie Guthrie, of all people, changed Broadway musicals forever.