Complete Book of 1960s Broadway Musicals (eBook)

The book examines in specific detail every Broadway musical which opened during the seminal decade of the 1960s, a decade which encompassed traditional musicals (such as Hello, Dolly!) as well as iconoclastic ones (Hair). Besides technical information, the book includes extensive commentary for all 268 musicals which opened during the decade. It includes all New York City Center and Music Theatre of Lincoln Center revivals; New York City Opera revivals of Broadway musicals; productions of all pre-Broadway closings (musicals which closed either during New York previews or during pre-Broadway tryouts); all eight musicals which were produced at the 1964 New York World’s Fair; concert productions (usually of one-man or one-woman shows); and all imports which opened during the decade.The technical information includes details regarding cast and credits, plot, critical reviews, London productions, recordings, published scripts, and film versions.

---

While the 1960s may have been a decade of significant upheaval in America, it was also one of the richest periods in musical theatre history. Shows produced on Broadway during this time include such classics as Bye, Bye Birdie; Cabaret; Camelot; Hello Dolly!; Fiddler on the Roof; How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying; Oliver!; and Man of La Mancha. Performers such as Dick Van Dyke, Anthony Newley, Jerry Orbach, and Barbara Streisand made their marks, and other talentssuch as Bob Fosse, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe, Jerome Robbins, and Stephen Sondheimalso contributed to shows. In The Complete Book of 1960s Broadway Musicals, Dan Dietz examines every musical and revue that opened on Broadway during the 1960s. In addition to providing details on every hit and flop, Dietz includes revivals and one-man and one-woman shows that centered on stars like Jack Benny, Maurice Chevalier, Marlene Dietrich, Danny Kaye, Yves Montand, and Lena Horne. Each entry consists of:Opening and closing datesPlot summariesCast membersNumber of performancesNames of all important personnel, including writers, composers, directors, choreographers, producers, and musical directorsMusical numbers and the names of performers who introduced the songsProduction data, including information about tryoutsSource materialCritical commentary Tony awards and nominations Details about London and other foreign productionsIn addition to entries for each production, the book offers numerous appendixes: a discography, film and television versions, published scripts, Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and lists of productions by the New York City Center Light Opera Company, the New York City Opera Company, and the Music Theatre of Lincoln Center. A treasure trove of information,this significant resource will be of use to scholars, historians, and casual fans of one of the greatest decades in musical theatre history.