Uncovering the Creative Process Behind Broadway Musicals: An Exploration of the American Musical

Raphael Teixeira: If you're a music theater fan, or if you want to have a deeper understanding of how musicals work, in an easy-to-read book, this is the place to start. Doesn't delve too deep in examples but checks all the main boxes. As an aspiring musical writer I found this book a true must-have.

Australia on Sep 21, 2020

Ian G. Lees: Most informative book on how an American musical is built

United Kingdom on Aug 22, 2020

A. Close: Lots of insights and anecdotes from an industry insider. A good read but wish there were more. Give us the other side of the coin -- the anatomy of a flop. Why did 3 R&H shows fail to gain traction? There is more to be said.

Canada on Jun 19, 2020

Doro W: I fell in love with musical theatre at the age of 12 (53 years ago) thanks to a wonderful teacher for whom I used to baby sit. His record collection comprised only musical theatre and classical music - he said that they were the two purest forms of music and storytelling. Before he and his wife went out, he'd leave me one or two LPs to play and then ask me questions about them when he returned. His love for the genre stayed with me for ever - I even worked in professional theatre for 10 years - and I was so, so, so hoping that this book wouldn't disappoint me. Finding this book was like hearing My Fair Lady (the first show I listened to) for the very first time all those decades ago. Like my teacher, the author has a pure, unapologetic love for musicals and it permeates every sentence of this book. His knowledge and insight are, of course, unparalleled, but so accessible and engaging. I've read books on this genre that speak for chapters about one song chorus - and how the notes (sung backwards or upside down or in a minor chord or some such) are a counterpoint (or some such) to the character's conflict, of some such- all gobbledygook to a non-musical lay-person...

United States on May 19, 2020

Alan L. Chase: Author Jack Viertel made a wise choice when he cast himself as the person to write this book on "How Broadway Shows Are Built." He has served as a Broadway producer, an executive with the Jujamcyn Theaters in NYC, and has taught at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. The format for this book, "The Secret Life of the American Musical" comes from the curriculum he developed for one of the courses he taught at Tisch.

Appropriately enough, the author has ordered the chapters of the book to mirror the way in which a Broadway musical is built, from Overture to Curtain Call. Within each chapter, he discusses the choices that the creative team must make at each stage of the show in engaging the audience and telling the story. In each case, he cites the American musicals he feels have done the best job of writing songs or dialogue that address the issue at hand.

Curtain Up discusses opening numbers. Here is an excellent example of the format the author uses with great effect throughout the book:

"Opening numbers can make or break a show. They have turned flops into hits (A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to the Forum), and their conception can be a...

United States on Jun 27, 2019

Neil Roberts: Unique book - author writes in a fluid style which compares similarities and differences in well-known musicals. Viertel offers: 1) insights into the formulaic structure of the Broadway musical during the 1940's - 1960's, 2) a deep understanding of this genre - gained from personal experience; and 3) amusing tidbits and Broadway trivia (info on the title of "My Fair Lady" title is a gem).

However, as Viertel compares various musicals in a "stream of consciousness" style of writing - he points out similarities that don't necessarily ring true. Sometimes, it feels like he's comparing the proverbial apple & orange.

Overall, he's on firm footing, but it really helps to see the live shows or films for the comparisons to make sense. The short scenes in the book don't offer enough material to get the gist of a character or a specific scene. So, before reading, you should see well-known musicals by Oscar & Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Lerner & Lowe, Bock & Harnick, Jerry Herman, Sondheim, Styne, Bernstein,etc. Fortunately, I've seen most of the shows mentioned, but without a reference point from memory, it would have been frustrating to...

United States on May 25, 2018

JOAN VIVES: After reading a lot of books on the subject, I was delighted to discover a new insight into the subject. Amusing to read and cleverly exposed.

Spain on May 12, 2017

James Whiteside: Great, book.Bought for my wife who loves it!

United Kingdom on Apr 19, 2016