American Musicals (1927-1969)

 

The Complete Book and Lyrics to 16 Broadway Classics

Library of America edition

Now in a landmark two-volume collection, The Library of America presents sixteen enduring masterpieces charting the Broadway musical’s narrative tradition from the groundbreaking Show Boat (1927) through the genre’s Golden Age to its response to the turbulent 1960s with the Tony Award–winning shows Cabaret and 1776. Based on new research, this historic collection presents the complete libretto of each musical in its Broadway opening night version, making these beloved stories available as never before. Irving Berlin and Moss Hart’s As Thousands Cheer is published here for the first time. Show Boat and Pal Joey are presented in newly restored versions. Seven other shows, including South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, and My Fair Lady, return to print for the first time in decades.

 

Superheroes!

 

Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture

Based on the documentary by Michael Kantor 
Crown Archetype, 2013


Based on the three-part PBS documentary series Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle, this companion volume chronicles the never-ending battle of the comic book industry, its greatest creators, and its greatest creations. Covering the effect of superheroes on American culture—in print, on film and television, and in digital media—and the effect of American culture on its superheroes, Superheroes: Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture appeals to readers of all ages, from the casual observer of the phenomenon to the most exacting fan of the genre.

“From its roots in the pulp novels of the early 1900s to its contemporary ubiquity, Superheroes! provides intriguing fodder for those of us who wonder how this age of adolescence dawned, and why it’s stuck around so long. . . . colorfully and copiously illustrated . . . the companion volume to the three-part PBS documentary series Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle. If the television series represents an express ride through 75 years of comics history, its more comprehensive coffee-table iteration is ideally suited to those of us nerds who’d prefer to take the local." – The New York Times Book Review

 

Broadway: The American Musical

 

Based on the documentary by Michael Kantor Bulfinch Books, 2004

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.

“Those critics and theatergoers who have for some time lamented the death of the Broadway musical can take heart: thanks to this glorious paean, the hills are once again alive with the sound of music—and much more. Though this nostalgia-laden tome is designed as a companion book to a forthcoming PBS series, it stands on its own as a particularly striking and comprehensive take on a uniquely American art form. The copious illustrations alone are worth "the price of admission.” . . .With its beguiling blend of entertainment and history, this splendid work is a must-have, whether you're a musical-comedy devotee (i.e., you know that Barbara Cook's Broadway debut was in 1951's Flahooley) or a neophyte (you're not sure who Barbara Cook is).” – Publishers Weekly

 

 

Broadway: The American Musical

 

(Revised Paperback version)

Revised with information leading into 2011 season.

"This epic tome by Michael Kantor and Laurence Maslon adds five more years and 40 more pages to the original book, which came out in 2004 as a companion piece to their memorable six-part, Emmy-winning PBS documentary series of the same name.... Handsomely produced and intensely researched."   –Playbill

 

The Sound of Music Companion

 

Although there have been books about the making of the film version of The Sound of Music, Maslon uses the opportunity of a current London revival of this popular American musical to bring these stories together. Interweaving the threads of historical narrative about the von Trapp family, the professional lives of the creative geniuses behind the scenes, production anecdotes, and the phenomenal cultural impact of the show, Maslon covers the century, from Maria's birth in Austria in 1905 to Andrew Lloyd Webber's newest London stage production in 2006.. This coffee-table companion volume will help fans enjoy the show to its fullest. Highly recommended for popular theater collections.

--Library Journal

 

The South Pacific Companion

 

Simon and Schuster, 2008

Here for the first time is the authorized companion to South Pacific's many memorable incarnations spanning seven decades, from the original Broadway production of 1949 to the musical's first return to Broadway in spring 2008. The South Pacific Companion, authorized by The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, features the complete lyrics to all the major songs, rare photos, never-before-seen archival material, maps of the plot's war-torn locales, historical documents, and other insider information from every major theatrical, film, concert, and television production of the musical.

“Maslon illuminates the show’s sources as thoroughly as he did Sound’s, invaluably including chapter-by-chapter synopses of James A. Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific (1947) as well as plenty of exposition on the South Pacific campaign in World War II and the work of the Seabees in it. His placing of the show’s development and performance history in the context of its creators’ busy schedules is also keenly gratifying.” – Booklist

 

SOME LIKE IT HOT

 

THE OFFICIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMPANION

HarperCollins, 2009

The Official 50th Anniversary Companion details the history of this side-splitting farce from its roots as an obscure 1951 German film to its Hollywood conception, where Billy Wilder transposed the material to the Roaring Twenties and cast the brilliant Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon in the starring roles. 

As well as previously unpublished images, posters, and documents from the MGM archives, this book includes selections from the screenplay; songs and music used in the film's jazz era setting; background information on Chicago during Prohibition, the story of the Broadway and West End musical versions; the previously undiscovered television pilot based on the movie; and the ongoing legacy of the most famous drag comedy in film history.

As well as previously unpublished images, posters, and documents from the MGM archives, this book includes selections from the screenplay; songs and music used in the film's jazz era setting; background information on Chicago during Prohibition, the story of the Broadway and West End musical versions; the previously undiscovered television pilot based on the movie; and the ongoing legacy of the most famous drag comedy in film history.

“The movie is so fresh, so vigorous, so full of pep and life force – and so sly – that it's hard to believe "Some Like It Hot" is now 50 years old.  But it is, and Laurence Maslon, an associate professor at the Tisch School of the Arts and author of several books about American musicals, comedies, and specifically "The Sound of Music" and "South Pacific," has offered a pleasing coffee-table tribute to this one. . .If you love the movie, you'll love this book.”
– 
David Loftus, California Literary Review

 

 

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