Nymph Errant


Book Description

This famous "lost" musical, a hit in London in the thirties and later a triumph for Gertrude Lawrence and Elizabeth Welch, was recently restaged to bravos in London. Its whimsical story follows innocent Evangeline Edwards as she bids farewell to a Swiss finishing school and sets off across Europe and looking for love and adventure. She gets into one scrape after another and is rescued by a series of unsuitable men (a French producer, Russian musician, Austrian nudist, Italian count, Greek magnate, Turkish Pasha and a eunuch all played by the same actor).




Music Theory Through Musical Theatre


Book Description

Music Theory through Musical Theatre provides a way of teaching music theory by way of musical theatre. Not simply a traditional music theory text, the book tackles the theoretical foundations of musical theatre and musical theatre literature with an emphasis on preparing students for a professional career.




Cole Porter


Book Description

In his life and in his music, Cole Porter was the top—the pinnacle of wit and sophistication. From the 1910s through the ‘50s, from Yale pep rallies through the Broadway triumphs of Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate, he delighted audiences with a glittering torrent of song: “I Get a Kick Out of You.” “Night and Day,” “Love for Sale,” and “Just One of Those Things.” The bright surface of these gems—their catchy melodies and ingenious lyrics—made them instant pop hits. Their more subtle qualities and their musical and emotional depth have made them lasting standards, among the greatest glories of the American songbook. In Cole Porter, William McBrien has thoroughly captured the creator of these songs, whose life was one not only of wealth and privilege but also of tragedy, secrecy, and courage. A prodigal young man, Porter found his aesthetic and emotional anchor in a long, loving, if sexless marriage, while continuing to maintain many discreet affairs with men. In 1937, at the height of his success, he suffered a near-fatal riding accident; his last eighteen years were marked by pain, drugs, and repeated operations on his legs, years of physical agony but unstinting artistic achievement. Here is the book that Porter’s fans have long hoped for—a life that informs the great music and lyrics though illuminating glimpses of the hidden, complicated, private man.




The Musical from the Inside Out


Book Description

Rarely is a book about the theatre as entertaining and informative as Stephen Citron's new guidebook to the creation of the musical. Filled with anecdotes, practical advice, and sparkling comments from the biggest Broadway insiders, The Musical from the Inside Out examines this major theatrical form from the creator's point of view. Mr. Citron takes the reader through basic training and onto finding and securing material, writing the libretto, adding the songs, auditioning the players, workshopping, rehearsals, previews, and the excitement of opening night. He reveals the secrets of success as well as some of the common pitfalls of failure. "There's never been a book like this," wrote a columnist from London's West End. Mr. Citron's bounty of information comes from his own vast experience; from interviews with well-known directors, producers, lyricists, composers, librettists, stage managers, and scenic artists; and from such luminaries as Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Hal Prince, Jerome Robbins, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, and Fred Ebb. The Musical From the Inside Out is an adventure for musical fans and required reading for professionals or amateurs involved in creating a musical.




Show Tunes


Book Description

This comprehensive musical theatre reference book chronicles the work of Broadway's great composers, from 1904 to 1999. Nine hundred shows and almost 9000 show tunes are included, comprising the entire theatrical output of 36 important Broadway composers along with notable musicals by others.




The Complete Lyrics Of Cole Porter


Book Description

From "Begin the Beguine" to "It's Delovely" to "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" and "I Get a Kick Out of You", here are the complete lyrics to the much-loved songs of Cole Porter--800 songs meant to be hummed, sung, danced to, and remembered. "A record of (Porter's) artistic development and of the time in which he flourished".--Rhoda Koenig, New York Magazine.




Catalog of Copyright Entries


Book Description




Theater Week


Book Description




The Complete Entertainment Discography, from the Mid-1890s to 1942


Book Description

"The first book to trace the recording careers of the great entertainers: singers, comics, actors and actresses, vocal groups, show-business personalities."--Book jacket.




Moanin' Low


Book Description

The first comprehensive guide to pre-1934 female popular vocal recordings sung in English—from around the world and including all styles—this discographical study includes solos, duets, trios, and quartets composed by the great songwriters of the early 1900s (from Irving Berlin to Victor Young). The majority of the listings includes material that has not been previously published, and a large number of entries profile such prolific artists as Helen Clark and Gladys Rice, who are not in previous discographies. A special feature includes data on sound-on-disc recording made for early talking-picture musical shorts (especially by Vitaphone) that is not documented elsewhere. A comprehensive title index includes composer credits for the majority of the titles listed. The first comprehensive guide to pre-1934 female popular vocal recordings sung in English—from around the world and including all styles—this discographical study includes solos, duets, trios, and quartets composed by the great songwriters of the early 1900s (from Irving Berlin to Victor Young). The majority of the listings includes material that has not been previously published, and a large number of entries profile such prolific artists as Helen Clark and Gladys Rice, who are not in previous discographies. A special feature includes data on sound-on-disc recording made for early talking-picture musical shorts (especially by Vitaphone) that is not documented elsewhere. A comprehensive title index includes composer credits for the majority of the titles listed. Many of the records documented in this volume are by the artists who introduced these songs at this time or who performed them in the original productions of the shows or movies for which they were written. The singing styles include those of cabaret performers, music-hall and vaudeville acts. Songs for the stage, screen, and radio are also included.