Mattie H. Long
Atkinson, Brooks,
Broadway
(New York: MacMillan and Co., 1970).
A comprehensive four part history of Broadway’s greatest shows. Periods cover 1900-1918, 1918-1938, 1939-1950. A postcript covers 1950-1970.
Engel, Lehman,
The American Musical Theater
(New York: MacMillan, 1967).
An excellent source of the development of the American musical theater from its earliest beginnings to printing date. Includes analyses of outstanding productions of the 1940’s and 1950’s, photographs. Appendix contains discography, published librettos, published vocal scores, and bibliography.
The Making of a Musical
(New York: MacMillan, 1968).
Useful chapter on
West Side Story
, showing parallel between it and Shakespeare’s
Romeo and Juliet
.
Ewing, David,
Complete Book of the American Musical Theater
(New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1958).
A rather complete listing of composers and lyricists from George Abbott to Vincent Youmans (listed alphabetically). Photographs of musicals from 1928 to 1958. Appendix 1 lists other outstanding musical productions from 1866 to 1958. Appendix 2 is a chronology of the American musical theater also from 1866 to 1958. Appendix 3 lists outstanding songs and the productions in which they were introduced.
Ferber, Edna,
Show Boat
(New York: Fawcett Crest, 1971). Literary source of the musical of the same name.
Green, Stanley,
The Rodgers and Hammerstein Story
(New York: The John Day Co., 1963).
This account covers the separate lives and careers of both men. It also traces their years of collaboration which produced shows such as
Carousel
,
The King and I
, and
Oklahoma
.
Green, Stanley,
The World of Musical Comedy
(New York: A.S. Barnes, 1974).
An excellently illustrated history of the development of American musical theater to 1968. Has a useful appendix which lists opening dates, theaters, number of performances, collaborators, producers, directors, choreographers, leading cast members, principal songs, and discography of every Broadway and Off-Broadway musical discussed in the book.
Howe, Irving and Wisse, Ruth R. Ed.,
The Best of Sholom Aleichem
(New York: Washington Square Press, 1979).
A collection of the stories of Sholom Aleichem, three of which are used in
Fiddler on the Roof
.
Laufe, Abe,
Broadway’s Greatest Musicals
(New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1968).
Useful account of Broadway’s hits from 1884 to publishing date. In-depth commentary on
Show
Boat
,
Oklahoma
,
South Pacific
and
My Fair Lady
.
McGowan, Kenneth,
Famous Plays of the 1920’s
(New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1959).
A collection of plays selected and introduced by Kenneth McGowan. Included are
The Moon
of the Caribees
, Eugene O’Neill;
What Price
Glory
?, Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings;
They Knew What They Wanted
, Sidney Howard;
Porgy
, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward;
Street
Scene
, Elmer Rice;
Holiday
, Phillip Barry. An excellent addition to anyone’s library.
Morrden, Ethan,
Better Foot Forward
(New York: Grossman Publishers, 1976).
A comprehensive history and analysis of the American musical theater.
Broadway Babies
:
The People Who Made the American
Musical (New York: Oxford University Press, 1983).
Enjoyable, informative reading. Focuses on innovations of the producers, the female stars, the star comics, the importance of the book, and score, the choreographer, and the new pop music. A selective discography is included, Morrden, Ethan based on chapters covered in the book.
Richards, Stanley,
Ten Great Musicals of the American Theater
(Radnor, Penn.: Chilton Book Company, 1973).
Contains librettos of
Of Thee I Sing
,
Porgy and
Be
ss
,
One Touch of Venus
,
Brigadoon
,
Kiss Me Kate
,
West Side Story
,
Gypsy
,
Fiddler on the Roof
,
1776
, and
Company
. Has accompanying photo illustrations of each show in the publication.
Sablosky, Irving,
American Music
(Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1969).
An excellent comprehensive historical account of the development of all styles of American music.
Shaw, George Bernard,
Pygmalion
(New York: Penguin Books, 1957).
Literary source of the musical,
My Fair Lady
.
Stein, Joseph,
Fiddler on the Roof
(New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1964).
Available at Yale Drama Library.