Writing Musical Theater |  | Authors: Steven L. Rosenhaus, Allen Cohen
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Category: Book
List Price: $42.00
Buy New: $30.58
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Seller: midtownscholarbookstore
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 612968
Media: Hardcover
Edition: illustrated edition
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2
ISBN: 1403963959
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.066792
EAN: 9781403963956
ASIN: 1403963959
Publication Date: February 7, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
This complete guide to writing the modern musical covers the entire process of creating a show, from finding and working out the initial idea, through the writing of both songs and libretto, to the ways in which writers can market a finished show and get it produced. Written in a lively and user-friendly style, it is the first book to provide detailed information on the entire process by Broadway insiders. With many Broadway shows between them-including Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat-Cohen and Rosenhaus tell readers how to break into the glamorous and competitive world of Broadway musical theater.
Book Description
This complete guide to writing the modern musical covers the entire process of creating a show, from finding and working out the initial idea, through the writing of both songs and libretto, to the ways in which writers can market a finished show and get it produced. Written in a lively and user-friendly style, it is the first book to provide detailed information on the entire process by Broadway insiders. With many Broadway shows between them, Cohen and Rosenhaus tell readers how to break into the glamorous and competitive world of Broadway musical theater.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
The Best Book on the Subject February 12, 2007
Ron Ash
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
I've read many of the other books about writing musical theatre, and this is hands-down the best one. Not only is it thorough and informative, but it is the only book to my knowledge that has in-depth advice about the actual music element. This is an essential read for anyone writing a musical, or anyone who is curious about how they are constructed.
This book is divided in sections, and explains more about the actual creative process than any other similar book. The authors provide helpful examples and honest advice, and they are not at all about self-promotion like the other leading book on the subject. This book will be as helpful to experienced writers as it will be to novices.
Bravo! March 31, 2006
Walter J. Stutzman (Madison, CT USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
No matter what motivates your interest in musical theater, you should own this book. Each of the authors is a rare blend: a successful artist who can teach effectively about his craft.
One way to think of this book is "the theory and practice of musical theater." The first ("theory") part of the book describes the elements comprising musical theater: staging, stories and music. It also provides a history of American musical theater, showing how these elements evolved to their
present state. Every important point is illustrated with an example. More importantly, each example is accompanied with a well-reasoned explanation of why it illustrates the topic under
discussion. Nothing drags in this section: the years of teaching experience allow the authors to know exactly the right amount of detail to present.
What makes "Writing Musical Theater" unique is the "practice" section, in which two stories are adapted into the musical theater form. The reader can follow the authors' creative efforts, from selecting a story to matching words with music. Even if you have no aspirations to write your own musical, this
section will increase your appreciation for any works in this genre (old or new). Let me emphasize that this section is accessible to both musician and non-musician.
A substantial and well-commented bibliography allows the reader to delve into any of the topics to any desired level of detail. And for aspiring creators, there are many practical suggestions about taking a completed work to its first productions
If this were a musical instead of a book, the ads would read "Two great teachers show you how good musical theater is created...don't miss it." I'm sure "Writing Musical Theater" will have a long run.
Informative and a Delight to Read Even if you just Watch the Show April 23, 2006
John Matlock (Winnemucca, NV)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is an amazing book for anyone interested in musical theater. It consists of two main parts:
First is an analysis of the musical. The show is broken down into its basic component parts, then each part is broken down individually and discussed. The main parts are the libretto, characters, lyrics, and of course the music. The discussion explains how each part is needed to make a successful story, and is illustrated with specific examples from shows.
Second is a tutorial that leads you step by step through the first stages of creating a musical based on the principles discussed in the first part. An interesting technique here is the use of two musical projects that were created for this purpose.
A third part of the book consists of the four appendicies that give some history of the musical, recommended reading and listening.
The whole book though has an overtone of extreme knowledge on the part of the authors. They show this by their selection of the parts of shows that exactly illustrate what they are discussing.
I'm not planning to write a musical, just to go to them, This has greatly improved my enjoyment of the couple of shows that I've seen since I read it.
Invaluable Musical Theater Guide May 2, 2006
Thomas Gruenewald
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Allen Cohen and Steven L. Rosenhaus have written a wonderful guide to writing musical theater appropriately title WRITING MUSICAL THEATER. The book is invaluable not only for the aspiring composer, lyricist, and book writer but also for any lover of America's great art form who wants to know just how a show is put together. The experience of the authors (both active practitioners and educators) is evident on every page. I can heartily recommend this book to the student and the aficionado.
Excellent resource May 13, 2007
John Marsland (NC, USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is a first class book; well worth the money. I'm writing my first musical, and I got many many tips and ideas. It was very helpful to watch the authors create their own new musicals, so that I could observe some of the process. It would be helpful for the reader to be very familiar with a broad set of musicals, or be willing to do some research; the authors draw comparisons to other shows throughout the book. Most I knew, but a few I did not. They seem to love Sondheim (thankfully I saw "George" the week before). They crack a bit on Les Mis - one of my fav shows. Outstanding book.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
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