Jerome Kern Encyclopedia

Thomas S. Hischak is the author or coauthor of more than twenty books, including Theatre as Human Action (Scarecrow Press, 2006), Off-Broadway Musicals since 1919 (Scarecrow Press, 2011), and The Disney Song Encyclopedia (Taylor Trade, 2012). He is professor of theatre at the State University of New York College at Cortland.

Hischak credits Kern in the preface with creating "the sound of the American musical," which is the case he attempts to make with this sorely overdue reference work. In prose that is not overly academic, articles cover Kern's musicals, songs, and collaborators, including performers with meaningful connections to the composer. Musicals are consistently presented with information on style, author, lyricist, location and date of debut performance, run, alternate productions and revivals, and key performers; following is a summary of the plot and history of the production, highlighting songs important to the plot or to Kern's career. Overall, the entries about songs are nontechnical, but occasionally dabble in soft music theory. The author instead addresses the song's history: use in a production, notable performances, and appearances in other musicals or innominate interpolations. Hischak introduces performers and collaborators by their connection to Kern, and then expands on their careers with further contextual information. Photographs appear throughout, with excellent captioning providing additional information unavailable in the accompanying article. The highly useful appendixes cover the chronology of Kern's awards, musicals, interpolations, and discography. Extensive bibliography and thorough indexing. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above.