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The Oxford Companion to the American Musical
Theatre, Film, and Television
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• A vividly written resource on the American musical— the first to cover Broadway, film, and TV in one volume
From films ranging from An American in Paris and Flying Down to Rio to such Broadway landmarks as Oklahoma and West Side Story and television hits such as Cinderella and High School Musical, the American musical has thrilled audiences around the world. Now, in The Oxford Companion to the American Musical, readers have at last an engaging and authoritative reference to this highly popular genre—the only such book to cover stage, film, and television musicals in one volume.
With more than two thousand entries, this book offers a wealth of information on musicals, performers, composers, lyricists, producers, choreographers, and much more. There are biographical entries on stars ranging from Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby to Mary Martin and Mae West as well as such contemporary show-stoppers as Nathan Lane, Savion Glover, and Kristin Chenowith; on composers ranging from Irving Berlin and George Gershwin to Richard Rodgers and Andrew Lloyd Webber; and on choreographers such as Bob Fosse, Tommy Tune, and Debbie Allen. The plays and films covered range from modern hits such as Mamma Mia! and Moulin Rouge to timeless classics such as Yankee Doodle Dandy and Show Boat. Also, many musicals written specifically for television are included, and many entries follow a work (such as Babes in Toyland) as it moves across genres, from stage, to film, to television. The Companion also includes cross references, a comprehensive listing of recommended recordings, and a useful chronological listing of all the musicals described in the book.
Whether you are curious about Singin in the Rain or Spamalot, The Wizard of Oz or Grease, this well-researched and entertaining resource is the first place to turn for reliable information on virtually every aspect of the American musical.
"Everything you ever wanted to know about the American musical—at your fingertips. What could be better, or more useful?"
—Marvin Hamlisch
"Kudos to Thomas Hischak for The Oxford Companion to the American Musical. Resources such as these are extremely important, not only as historic and academic records, but for future generations of artists who need to understand the legacy they have inherited."
—Carol Channing
About the Author:
Thomas S. Hischak, State University of New York College, Cortland
Press Reviews:
"There are two principle uses for a volume such as this. It can be grabbed to check quickly a fact or confirm memory - for example, an essential bit of chronology ar a quick reminder of a plot. But it also allows for wonderful serendipity as the eye is caught, in passing, by an unexpected entry, and the mind becomes entangled in an increasingly unpredictable journey from curious distraction to even more curious detail. In both these functions - reference and rambling - Hischak's book excels." - John Snelson, Times Literary Supplement
"[T]he arrival of these two volumes... is both timely and hugely welcome... Very much a labour of love... Hischak traverses a fascinating path, pausing at appropriate moments to offer greater detail - cast lists for key musicals in particular offer a fascinating opportunity to lose oneself for hours at a time in the book - as well as a useful list of recordings and Tony and Academy Awards. There is something of interest or surprise to be found on every page... Hischack drills deeply and enthusiastically into the musical from an American perspective... this is a valuable and informative treasure trove." - Classical Music
"How wonderful it is to have the entire history of the American musical theater, both on stage and on film, now available in one handy volume. Amazingly comprehensive and thoroughly researched, The Oxford Companion to the American Musical is a must for any theater professional or any theater fan." - Stephen Flaherty, Tony and Drama Desk award-winning composer of Ragtime, Once on this Island, and Seussical
"Everything you ever wanted to know about the American musical—at your fingertips. What could be better, or more useful?" - Marvin Hamlisch
"Kudos to Thomas Hischak for The Oxford Companion to the American Musical. Resources such as these are extremely important, not only as historic and academic records, but for future generations of artists who need to understand the legacy they have inherited." - Carol Channing
See the publisher website: Oxford University Press
> From the same author:
American Literature on Stage and Screen (2012)
525 Works and Their Adaptations
Subject: Technique > Adaptation
American Plays And Musicals On Screen (2004)
650 Stage Productions And Their Film And Televison Adaptations
Subject: Technique > Adaptation
> On a related topic:
Storytelling in Motion (2024)
Cinematic Choreography and the Film Musical
The Politics of the Musical Theatre Screen Adaptation (2023)
An Oxford Handbook of Musical Theatre Screen Adaptations
Race, Sexuality, and Gender and the Musical Screen Adaptation (2023)
An Oxford Handbook of Musical Theatre Screen Adaptations, Volume 2
Stars, Studios, and the Musical Theatre Screen Adaptation (2023)
An Oxford Handbook of Musical Theatre Screen Adaptations, Volume 3
Singing a Different Tune (2023)
The Slavic Film Musical in a Transnational Context
Dir. Helena Goscilo
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