Musical Theatre Critical Companions – Serie

Discover five time Tony Award-nominee Michael John LaChiusa, one of the most significant revolutionaries working in American musical theatre, known for his innovative and daring approach to challenging the boundaries of contemporary theatre. Michael John LaChiusa: A Critical Companion is the first study that incorporates a diverse array of theoretical lenses on the work of the celebrated American composer, dramatist and lyricist. It also poses the question of how his varied theatrical techniques anticipated the resurgence in popularity in musical theatre in the past ten years. Presented through thematic chapters, this work focuses on seven of LaChiusa’s musicals (Marie Christine, First Lady Suite, First Daughter Suite, Giant, Hello Again, See What I Wanna See, and The Wild Party), surveying his oeuvre Off-Broadway, on Broadway and beyond from 1994 to 2014. Ideal for students of musical theatre looking for accessible contemporary analysis, this critical companion offers close readings and textual analysis of LaChiusa's work and original productions whilst effectively arguing for his contribution to “The New Musical Drama” that served as a foundation for some of the most successful musicals of recent years. Published in Methuen Drama's Musical Theatre Critical Companion series this book combines traditional essays with primary research and practitioner interviews that together offer the reader a fresh and accessible look at key moments of musical theatre as a form.

Discover five time Tony Award-nominee Michael John LaChiusa, one of the most significant revolutionaries working in American musical theatre, known for his innovative and daring approach to challenging the boundaries of contemporary theatre. Michael John LaChiusa: A Critical Companion is the first study that incorporates a diverse array of theoretical lenses on the work of the celebrated American composer, dramatist and lyricist. It also poses the question of how his varied theatrical techniques anticipated the resurgence in popularity in musical theatre in the past ten years. Presented through thematic chapters, this work focuses on seven of LaChiusa’s musicals (Marie Christine, First Lady Suite, First Daughter Suite, Giant, Hello Again, See What I Wanna See, and The Wild Party), surveying his oeuvre Off-Broadway, on Broadway and beyond from 1994 to 2014. Ideal for students of musical theatre looking for accessible contemporary analysis, this critical companion offers close readings and textual analysis of LaChiusa's work and original productions whilst effectively arguing for his contribution to “The New Musical Drama” that served as a foundation for some of the most successful musicals of recent years. Published in Methuen Drama's Musical Theatre Critical Companion series this book combines traditional essays with primary research and practitioner interviews that together offer the reader a fresh and accessible look at key moments of musical theatre as a form.

"There are very few times when I really want the audience to look at dance…Dance is just meant to be a framing device that matches emotionally what I want the audience to feel." - Andy Blankenbuehler Three-time Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler is one of the most recognizable choreographers working on Broadway today. Known particularly for his work on the hit musical Hamilton, collaborating once again with Lin-Manuel Miranda following their work on In The Heights, his distinct style and method of working is unique and distinguishable. This first critical study of both his style and extraordinary body of work explores everything from his background and training through to his rehearsal process and collaborative style. Told chronologically through his major shows, alongside interludes and reflections, this critical companion includes analysis alongside interviews with collaborators and Blankenbuehler himself. As well as guiding readers through specific shows, this book unpacks and explores Blankenbuehler’s philosophies with regards to storytelling through the body. It argues how his prioritization of the ensemble as crucial to understanding the action within a show consequently positions the ensemble body as an indispensable element through which the audience gains vital (sub)text. As a result of this decision his choreography has become distinctly different from his predecessors and peers. Published in Methuen Drama's Musical Theatre Critical Companions series this offers an accessible yet thorough study of a contemporary practitioner that is perfect for students, dancers and musical theatre fans alike.

"There are very few times when I really want the audience to look at dance…Dance is just meant to be a framing device that matches emotionally what I want the audience to feel." - Andy Blankenbuehler Three-time Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler is one of the most recognizable choreographers working on Broadway today. Known particularly for his work on the hit musical Hamilton, collaborating once again with Lin-Manuel Miranda following their work on In The Heights, his distinct style and method of working is unique and distinguishable. This first critical study of both his style and extraordinary body of work explores everything from his background and training through to his rehearsal process and collaborative style. Told chronologically through his major shows, alongside interludes and reflections, this critical companion includes analysis alongside interviews with collaborators and Blankenbuehler himself. As well as guiding readers through specific shows, this book unpacks and explores Blankenbuehler’s philosophies with regards to storytelling through the body. It argues how his prioritization of the ensemble as crucial to understanding the action within a show consequently positions the ensemble body as an indispensable element through which the audience gains vital (sub)text. As a result of this decision his choreography has become distinctly different from his predecessors and peers. Published in Methuen Drama's Musical Theatre Critical Companions series this offers an accessible yet thorough study of a contemporary practitioner that is perfect for students, dancers and musical theatre fans alike.

"Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick formed one of the most significant musical partnerships of the 1960s, creating some of the most beloved and enduring works in musical theater" (Jewish Ledger)The work of American musical theatre writing team Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick has been oddly overlooked by scholars, despite the fact that their most famous show Fiddler on the Roof is an enduring classic that is still being performed all over the world. Part of this reason stems from the fact that Bock and Harnick prided themselves on never writing the same show twice, giving them longevity in a form that was unmatched by their contemporaries.This critical companion to their work is the first book to focus on the integration of music and drama in their hit musicals. From domestic comedies (She Loves Me), contemporary satires (The Body Beautiful), historical epics (The Rothschilds), comedic fantasy (The Apple Tree) and of course, their tragicomic stories of everyday life (Fiddler on the Roof) this is the first book that will look at how the team reinvented themselves from show to show throughout the 'golden age' of Broadway and beyond.Published in Methuen Drama's Musical Theatre Critical Companion series, this book is structured into thematic chapters that cover themes such as patriarchy, Judaism, romance, women, Americana and satire, combining primary research, original study and interviews with their collaborators to offer a comprehensive and much-needed look at two critically overlooked giants of musical theatre.