Jack Viertel, senior vice president of Jujamcyn Theaters and the artistic director of New York City Center's Encores! series, has written a gift for anyone who considers themselves a writer, student of the theater, or simply a lover of the American musical. The thesis behind Viertel's The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built springs from a course he offers at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts - how lucky these BobCats are! Through countless examples from Golden-Aged classics (Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, etc.) to contemporary blockbuster hits (The Producers, Hairspray, etc.), this book embraces the importance of structure in the American musicals. To Viertel's credit, even when he cites shows you may dislike, you can't help but admire the iron-clad architecture that helped make them successes with popular audiences. And for those shows you adore, Viertel's insights will make you fall in love with them even more. For example, Viertel maps out the dependence and ultimate convergence of Guys and Dolls' brilliant double plot. He also highlights how the last thirteen minutes of Sweeney Todd's narrative re-explores no fewer than sixteen songs to create an unforgettable finale. After reading this book, I know I will never look at musicals the same way again. For better or worse; for musicals good and bad; I will view all future productions with a greater appreciation for their construction. From opulent opening numbers to classic conditional love songs to toe-tapping 'tent poles', to simple but effective dialogue that can help untie the "Gordian knot' of the play, each of these strategically placed moments are integral parts of the journey.
The Secret Life of the American Musical is available on Amazon.
The Secret Life of the American Musical is available on Amazon.
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