Laurence Maslon Book order (chronological)

This first volume of a two-volume collector’s edition presents eight masterpieces that trace the evolution of the musical from the groundbreaking Show Boat through the genre’s mid-century peak. Featuring the complete libretto of each musical in its Broadway opening night version, this collection makes these cultural treasures accessible like never before. Each text is enhanced with additional song lyrics, biographical sketches of the creators, original cast lists, detailed accounts of production history, textual notes, and full-color portfolios of illustrations from each musical’s original run. The volume includes landmark works by notable talents: Show Boat (1927) by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern, which revolutionized the musical form; As Thousands Cheer (1933) by Irving Berlin and Moss Hart—published here for the first time—capturing the early Depression era; Pal Joey (1940) by John O’Hara, Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart, with its sophisticated take on ambition in a Chicago nightclub; Oklahoma! (1943) by Rodgers and Hammerstein, celebrating the American heartland; On the Town (1944) by Comden, Green, and Bernstein, depicting three sailors on shore leave; Finian’s Rainbow (1947) by Saidy, Harburg, and Lane, blending Irish mythology and Jim Crow politics; Kiss Me, Kate (1948) by the Spewacks and Porter, which won the first Tony Award for Best Musical; and South Pacific (1949) by Rodgers, Hammerstein, and Logan, a Pu

Together again for the first time, here come the greatest comic book superheroes ever assembled between two covers

Selected as America's Funniest Movie by the American Film Institute, this classic continues to resonate with audiences, highlighting key elements of American culture: jazz, gangsters, and Marilyn Monroe. The companion chronicles the film's journey from its origins as a little-known 1951 German film to its Hollywood adaptation, where Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond reimagined it in the Roaring Twenties, casting Monroe alongside Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The book features previously unpublished images, posters, and documents from MGM archives, along with selections from the screenplay, casting notes, and production anecdotes. It includes location shots from the iconic Del Coronado in San Diego, which stood in for Florida, and explores the jazz music that defined the film's era. Additional content covers Chicago during Prohibition, the Broadway and West End musical adaptations (one starring Curtis), and a previously undiscovered television pilot inspired by the film. With cameo appearances by notable figures like Arthur Miller and Al Capone, this companion is the definitive account of the legendary drag comedy, detailing its full story from start to finish, from wig to high heels.

2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the movie 'South Pacific'. To celebrate, this book covers the history of the original musical and film and their historical context. It includes over 150 images from the film and the stage show.

The Sound Of Music Companion

Along with jazz and abstract expressionism, the Broadway musical is one of the few uniquely American art forms. A companion to the six-part PBS documentary series, BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL is the first comprehensive history of the musical, from its roots at the turn of the 20th century through the smashing successes of the new millennium. The compelling, in-depth text is lavishly illustrated with a treasure trove of photographs, sheet-music covers, posters, scenic renderings, production stills, rehearsal shots, and caricatures, many previously unpublished. Complementing the narrative are lively sidebars that highlight the stars, the shows, and the songs--the key ingredients that make the musical great. Each chapter also included essays written by some of Broadway's most fascinating luminaries, past and present. An entertaining amalgam of unpublished material, candid and production photographs, and a trunkful of anecdotes and Broadway lore, BROADWAY will appeal to eighth-graders in their first high school musical as well as to connoisseurs of the art form.