Wicked
Subtitle: a musical biography
By: Paul R. Laird
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Lanham, Md
Language: eng
Number of pages: 341
ISBN-13: 9780810877511; 9780810877528
Subjects: History and criticism; Musicals
Description: In 2004, the original Broadway production of Wicked earned 10 Tony nominations, including best musical. Based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, the show continues to run on Broadway and has touring companies throughout the United States and around the world. In Wicked: A Musical Biography, author Paul Laird explores the creation of this popular Broadway musical through an examination of draft scripts, interviews with major figures, and the study of primary musical sources such as sketches, drafts, and completed musical scores. Laird brings together an impressive amount of detail on the creation of Wicked, including a look at Maguire's novel, as well as the original source material, The Wizard of Oz. This volume also offers a history of the show's genesis along with examinations of the draft scenarios and scripts that demonstrate the show's development. Laird also explores Stephen Schwartz's life and work, providing an analysis of the composer and lyricist's work on the show through song drafts, sketches, and musical examples. Laird also surveys the show's critical reception in New York and London, noting how many critics failed to appreciate its qualities or anticipate its great success. The unusual nature of Wicked's story--dominated by two strong female leads--is also placed in the context of Broadway history. A unique look into a successful Broadway production, Wicked: A Musical Biography will be of interest to musicologists, theatre scholars, students, and general readers alike --Publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Gregory Maguire's novel in the American land of Oz; title: Stephen Schwartz before Wicked; title: Collaboration and creation : bringing Wicked to the stage; title: Wicked : from scenarios to final script; title: The music and lyrics of Wicked; title: Orchestration; title: Critical reception and public acceptance; title: Beyond New York : Wicked hits the road; title: Wicked in context.