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American Musicals- The Book

Posted by: jtong43 08:09 pm EDT 05/07/15

I bought the two volume set published by The Library of America. They are putting out sets of all the great American works of literature. Vol. 1 includes the book and lyrics of Shoe Boat; Pal Joey; On the Town; Oklahoma; South Pacific; Finian's Rainbow; As Thousands Cheer and Kiss Me Kate (1927-1949). Vol. 2 includes Cabaret; My Fair Lady; 1776; A Funny Thing; Guys and Dolls; Gypsy; Fiddler On the Roof and The Pajama Game ((1950-1969).
A great selection. If they did a vol. 3 (1960-2000) what should they include? Musicals with strong books. I nominate A Little Night Music. Others?


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re: American Musicals- The Book

Posted by: keikekaze 11:39 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: American Musicals- The Book - jtong43 08:09 pm EDT 05/07/15

For a 1970-to-2000 volume:

Chicago
A Chorus Line
Sweeney Todd
Into the Woods
City of Angels
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Titanic
Ragtime

I've limited my selection to Broadway and to shows that were hits or at least had respectably long runs, as the LoA seems to have done the same thing in the first two volumes. Of course, there are interesting failures and off-Broadway productions that might also be worth including.


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re: American Musicals- The Book

Posted by: MarkBearSF 10:19 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: American Musicals- The Book - jtong43 08:09 pm EDT 05/07/15

Interesting in that the criteria is "American" and a focus on books. Much of that period coincided with the reign of the sung-through euro epics (not American) and the desperate years of Broadway as it was ravaged by the AIDS epidemic and crime.

Also - a question that has never occurred to me. For a sung-through musical, what is considered to be the book?

In any event - my candidates
- A Little Night Music (I concur with you)
- A Chorus Line
- Sunday in the Park with George
- 1776
- La Cage aux Folles
- Rent
- City of Angels
- Annie


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re: American Musicals- The Book

Posted by: MarkBearSF 10:43 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: re: American Musicals- The Book - MarkBearSF 10:19 pm EDT 05/07/15

Explanation - some of my choices may not have had the strongest books (Rent) but was included because of their importance in the period.

If the list could include non-US creators, I'd have to include "Phantom" and "Le Miz" simply because of the same reason. (Although I personally have no desire to see either again)

Also, that period coincides with the peak of my personal god's output, but I really couldn't have 6 of my 8 choices be Sondheim musicals (Company, Follies, ALNM, Sunday, ITTW, Assassins).

I left out Follies. The layers in the lyrics (especially the pastiches) and the interplay of real events now and then with the ghosts of memory make it an inexhaustible masterwork. Yet the musical itself seems almost impossible to stage in a manner to fulfill the promise of the concept and score. That, and because the book has also been such an issue, I left it off the list.


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re: American Musicals- The Book

Posted by: Chazwaza 09:09 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: American Musicals- The Book - jtong43 08:09 pm EDT 05/07/15

Would be hard to pick just 8 or 10 from a 30 year stretch (assuming you meant 1970-2000)... but assuming there are a few volumes, and it goes to 2010... If I had to pick the 15 best they would probably be:

Follies
A Little Night Music
Chicago
Pacific Overtures (I debate whether I think this book is better or Company is)
A Chorus Line
Sweeney Todd
Sunday in the Park with George
Little Shop of Horrors
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Into the Woods
Once On This Island
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Assassins
Floyd Collins
The Wild Party (LaChiusa)
Caroline or Change
ok... that's 16, but I didn't want to cut any of them.

Yes, I know the majority of these are Sondheim shows... I just think most of his shows he writes with interesting and high-quality book writers, and I think they shows they work on are far more layered, complex and interesting than most other musicals. But keep in mind I did narrow it down to the 16 best, which means I cut out at least 10 good books from other shows with good books from this stretch of time.


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