John Kenrick combines a passion for entertainment history with the practical know-how earned working on stage productions at every level from amateur to Broadway. This Queens native pulls back the curtain and introduces audiences and students to the fascinating people behind show business legends. Every month, his website Musicals101.com introduces thousands of visitors to the history of stage and screen musicals. His book Musical Theatre: A History is used in colleges worldwide.
The reprint offers a faithful reproduction of a work first published in 1858, preserving the historical context and language of the era. Readers can expect to encounter themes and narratives reflective of the time, providing insights into the cultural and social dynamics of the 19th century. This edition aims to maintain the authenticity of the original text, making it a valuable resource for those interested in literature from this period.
Musical Theatre- A History presents a comprehensive history of stage musicals from the earliest accounts of the ancient Greeks and Romans, for whom songs were common elements in staging, to Jacques Offenbach in Paris during the 1840s, to Gilbert and Sullivan in the UK, to the rise of music halls and vaudeville traditions in America, and eventually to Broadway’s Golden Age with George M. Cohan, Victor Herbert, Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Leondard Bernstein, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 21st century has also brought a popular new wave of musicals to the Broadway stage, from The Producers to Spamalot. Musical Theatre- A History covers it all, from the opening number to the curtain call, offering readers the most up-to-date history of the art form. Informative and entertaining, Musical Theatre offers an accessibly written history of the musical theatre, richly illustrated with anecdotes of shows and show people. It is cause for celebration for those working in the theatre as well as its legion of fans.
