Product Description

When Lady in the Dark opened on January 23, 1941, its many firsts immediately distinguished it as a new and unusual work. The curious directive to playwright Moss Hart to complete a play about psychoanalysis came from his own Freudian psychiatrist. For the first time since his brother George's
death, Ira Gershwin returned to writing lyrics for the theater. And for emigre composer Kurt Weill, it was a crack at an opulent first-class production. Together Hart, Gershwin, and Weill (with a little help from the psychiatrist) produced one of the most innovative works in Broadway history.

Though Lady in the Dark was a smash-hit, it has never enjoyed a Broadway revival, and a certain mystique has grown up around its legendary original production. In this ground-breaking biography, bruce mcclung pieces together the musical's life story from sketches and drafts, production scripts,
correspondence, photographs, costume and set designs, and thousands of clippings from the star's personal scrapbooks. He has interviewed eleven members of the original company to provide a one-of-a-kind glimpse into the backstage story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #505954 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-29
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

Theatre Library Association website: http://tla.library.unt.edu/awards.html
2006 Special Jury Prize, Theatre Library Association, George Freedley Memorial Award

Review
"A fine piece of work that should help nudge studies of the Broadway musical in significant new directions by proving the benefits of careful attention to sources and contexts."--Tim Carter, "Kurt Weill Newsletter"

"Mcclung is adept at chronicling Broadway's glamour and the backstage indiosyncrasies of its stars. Given Lady's size--and the demands of its lead--there has yet to be a Broadway revival. His book is the next best thing."--Debra Griboff, Encore Magazine

Reviews of the Musical

"The American stage may as well take a bow this morning. For Lady in the Dark uses the resources of the theatre magnificently and tells a compassionate story triumphantly." --Brooks Atkinson, New York Times

"Lady in the Dark demonstrates with fine conclusiveness that Miss Gertrude Lawrence is the greatest feminine performer in the theater."--Richard Watts, Jr., New York Herald Tribune

"For both as an example of stagecraft at its most breath-taking, and as an invitation to a performance by Gertrude Lawrence which is incredible in its virtuosity, Lady in the Dark is little short of miraculous."--John Mason Brown, New York Post

Advance Praise for Lady in the Dark: Biography of a Musical

"mcclung has written an absorbing account of virtually every detail that went into the making of an innovative show. Filled with clear musical and dramatic descriptions, his exhaustively documented account of Lady in the Dark traces not only the portrayal of psychotherapy and gender identity on the musical stage, but also the evolution of attitudes to musical theater itself during the middle of the twentieth century."--Thomas Riis, University of Colorado at Boulder

"bruce mcclung engagingly illuminates Lady in the Dark as it evolved from Moss Hart's real-life sessions with noted psychiatrist Dr. Lawrence Kubie into Hart's historic theatrical collaboration with Ira Gershwin and Kurt Weill, a tour de force for its legendary first lady Gertrude Lawrence. Thanks to mcclung, we are no longer in the dark about the artistic meaning and rich cultural context of this fascinating and timely show, which captivated America's attention and left an enduring but previously unexplored legacy."--Geoffrey Block, University of Puget Sound

About the Author
bruce d. mcclung, a native of California's Mojave Desert, teaches American and European music history at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music.

Customer Reviews

A book fit for a lady
I have so far only read half of this book and am thoroughly enjoying it. It is very detailed and the description of the opening night performance is fascinating. Those without a background in music may be a little put-off by how technically it goes into the music (I have a background in music and was still a bit confused). But, so far, so good. A great book for Broadway, Gertrude Lawrence, Kurt Weill, Moss Hart and Ira Gershwin fans, as well as those who want a good look into the puting of a Broadway musical in 1941.

Perhaps this book can spark a revival
I think that this is the most complete discussion of a musical show that I have ever seen. 'Lady in the Dark' is certainly worthy of study. It was a musical that broke new ground in theatre.

Mr. McClung begins with the first concept sketches for staging and costumes. From there it's on to discussion of the first drafts of the play, production scripts, and more on to final drawings for for the sets. With a cast of 101, it was a huge production with what was for then a sky high budget.

When it opened it broke new ground in that the leading lady (played by Gertrude Lawrence) is going through psychoanalysis.

Since its closure all three of the shows originators have died (Moss Hart, Ira Gershwin, Kurt Wheill). Their indivitual estates have rights to their particular parts of the play. It would be a major undertaking to put together such disparate people to revive the show. It hasn't happened yet. Perhaps this book will spark enough interest that a revival becomes possible.

The Bible of Lady in the Dark
For anyone who has an interest in the musical play Lady in the Dark, this book is a Bible of knowledge for the reader! McClung misses nothing and dissects the score, production, development and every nuance present in making a full diagnosis of this exceptional musical piece. The introduction, most notably, is one of the most impressive points, where McClung recreates scene-by-scene Opening Night of Lady in the Dark at the Alvin Theater (now the Neil Simon Theater) back in 1941. His insights and deep understanding of the plot, music and structure opens doors to how (and how not!) to update this piece for the current Broadway stage, which hopefully, this book will be the first step in the process. He also paints a lasting picture of one of the stage's most talented actresses, Gertrude Lawrence through interviews with the remaining living cast members of the original production and other sources.

In a personal review point, I thank McClung for writing this book, as Lady in the Dark has been a favorite show of mine for many years and I have always wanted to know more about it but the resources were scarce. With this book, almost every resource is there, and nearly every question answered. And even for those who don't know Lady in the Dark, this is the perfect opportunity to learn, and this book makes a precedent of how great musicals should be dissertated and studied.

A stellar piece of writing, a must read for anyone interested in the stage or musical theater history.