The way some histories portray the advent of musicals, you'd
think the genre emerged fully formed with "Show Boat." Yet in
truth, it took root decades earlier. In "Strike Up the Band" Scott
Miller tells the whole story of musicals, pulling back the curtain
on the amazing innovation and adventurousness of the art form,
revealing its political and social conscience, and chronicling its
incredibly rapid evolution over the last century.
"Strike Up the Band" focuses not only on what happened on stage
but also on how it happened and why it matters to us today. It's a
different kind of history that explores the famous and, especially,
the not-so famous productions to discover the lineage that paved
the way to contemporary musicals. Digging into 150 shows, Miller
offers a forward-looking perspective on treasures from each era -
such as "Anything Goes," "West Side Story," "Hair," and "Rent" -
while also looking at fascinating, genre-busting, and often
short-lived productions, including "Bat Boy," "Rocky Horror Show,"
"Promenade," and "The Capeman," to see how even obscure or
commercially unsuccessful musicals defined and advanced the
form.
Moving decade by decade, Miller offers insight and inside
information about the artistic approaches various composers,
lyricists, bookwriters, and directors have taken, how those
approaches have changed over time, and what social and historical
forces continue to shape musical theatre today. He provides a
strong sense of what groups have historically controlled the
industry and how other groups' hard work and vision continue to
change the musical theatre landscape for the better. In fact,
"Strike Up the Band" opens a new and vitally important discussion
of the roles played in the musical's history by people of color, by
gays and lesbians, by people with disabilities, and by women. It
frames musical theatre as an important, irreplaceable piece of
American history and demonstrates how it reflects the social and
political conditions of its time - and how it changes them.
On Broadway or off, "Strike Up the Band" is as adventuresome,
detailed, and thoughtful in tracing the story behind the musical as
it is in celebrating the form's diversity, vigor, innovation, and
promise. Join Scott Miller not only in commemorating great moments
on stage, but in gaining a powerful understanding of what the
musical was, what it is today, and what it is becoming.
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