Despite the stock market crash of October 1929, thousands of
theatregoers still flocked to the Great White Way throughout the
country's darkest years. In keeping with the Depression and the
events leading up to World War II, 1930s Broadway was distinguished
by numerous political revues and musicals, including three by
George Gershwin (Strike Up the Band, Of Thee I Sing, and Let 'Em
Eat Cake). The decade also saw the last musicals by Gershwin,
Jerome Kern, and Vincent Youmans; found Richard Rodgers and Lorenz
Hart in full flower; and introduced both Kurt Weill and Harold
Arlen's music to Broadway. In The Complete Book of 1930s Broadway
Musicals, Dan Dietz examines in detail every musical that opened on
Broadway from 1930 through 1939. This book discusses the era's
major successes, notorious failures, and musicals that closed
during their pre-Broadway tryouts. It includes such shows as
Anything Goes, As Thousands Cheer, Babes in Arms, The Boys from
Syracuse, The Cradle Will Rock, The Green Pastures, Hellzapoppin,
Hot Mikado, Porgy and Bess, Roberta, and various editions of
Ziegfeld Follies. Each entry contains the following information:
*Plot summary *Cast members *Names of all important personnel,
including writers, composers, directors, choreographers, producers,
and musical directors *Opening and closing dates *Number of
performances *Critical commentary *Musical numbers and the
performers who introduced the songs *Production data, including
information about tryouts *Source material *Details about London
and other foreign productions Besides separate entries for each
production, the book offers numerous appendixes, including a
discography, filmography, and list of published scripts, as well as
lists of black-themed and Jewish-themed productions. This
comprehensive book contains a wealth of information and provides a
comprehensive view of each show. The Complete Book of 1930s
Broadway Musicals will be of use to scholars, historians, and
casual fans of one of the greatest decades in musical theatre
history.
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