Product Description

Those who participate in the theater at any level as well as those with an avid interest in the subject will discover some fresh ideas here.
- Library Journal

Musicals are the most popular form of theatre around. While straight plays struggle to survive on Broadway, musicals play to near capacity houses. They are also a favorite of school and community groups. In this smart and practical guide, New Line Theatre artistic director Scott Miller looks at twenty musicals from a director's point of view, with solid suggestions for anyone thinking of embarking on such a production. Includes discussions of Gypsy, Assassins, Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, and West Side Story, as well as many others.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #413771 in Books
• Published on: 1996-05-20
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Amazon.com
From Assassins to West Side Story is that rare theater textbook that is so articulate, insightful, and downright playful that it can be read simply for pleasure. If you're planning to direct one of these 16 shows, though, you'll have a far richer production for having employed its points. Scott Miller shows an uncommon, detailed understanding of the emotional machinery of these shows. He explores the use of the dies irae theme throughout Sweeney Todd; points out how the title character in Pippin becomes extraordinary only when he resolves to be ordinary; proposes unceasing motion as a staging concept and a theme in Les Miserables; suggests techniques to best let an audience grasp that time flows backward in Merrily We Roll Along; and ponders the nature of reality and unreality at the core of Man of La Mancha. Keep those cast albums ready, because you'll definitely be putting them on.

From Library Journal
The subtitle "director's guide" is somewhat misleading and could do this fine book a significant disservice. Although it will certainly assist directors in planning productions with greater depth and impact, it should also attract a much broader audience?actors, production staff, teachers, theater enthusiasts, and the like. Director, composer, and lyricist Miller offers a creative look at 16 musical icons, including Cabaret, Into the Woods, Les Miserables, Sweeny Todd, Gypsy, Carousel, and more. The result is not just a series of plot rehashes with production credits, though. Miller truly examines each show's contribution to the theatrical experience by providing character analyses, historical commentary, approaches to production, and thoughts on interpreting symbolism, themes, and musical textures. He aims at the heart of each work and reaches it with artistic insight. Those who participate in the theater at any level as well as those with an avid interest in the subject will discover some fresh ideas here. For circulating libraries with large collections in the performing arts.?Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Midwest Book Review
This director's guide to musical theatre provides an unusual focus on musical themes, creator intentions, and understanding musical theatre's varied directions and offerings. Any involved in the theatre will want to use this as a guide to understanding the origins and pairings of music with theatre: it covers most of the classics.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful resource for directors, actors and theatre lovers
I bought this book expecting that it would tell me how to direct all of these legendary musicals. It was quite the contrary. The author doesn't exactly give you suggestions, but gives you tings that you can look at and delve deeper into. He'll give his opinion of symbolism of characters and subtext of the plot. He gives no ultimatums on how these shows should be directed, but gives valuable insight on how possible ways to direct each show. It's very interesting going so deep into the cores of these shows that I couldn't put the book down the first time I read it. I found the chapters on Assasins and Cabaret especially appealing. Overall, a very very good read.

Essential reading for serious musical theater lovers
I'm a major fan of Scott Miller's books, and this one is no exception. It is readable, well thought out, and filled with perceptive analysis of 16 classic musicals. His fresh insights frequently open my eyes to key aspects of shows I have known for years. Or at least I thought I knew them! If more directors took Miller's ideas to heart, it would prevent countless run-of-the-mill productions from boring theater goers year after year. I'll admit that Miller's attitude towards Sondheim's works borders on adoration (for example, I don't believe ASSASSINS was nearly as important as he makes it sound), but that is hardly a vice. If you love musical theater, you owe it to yourself to spend some time with this book. If you stage musicals, you owe it to your casts and customers to read anything and everything this man has written on the subject. (I especially recommend his equally fascinating DECONSTRUCTING HAROLD HILL.)

WONDERFUL!
This is one of the most humorous, honest and delightful books about theatre out there. Whether you want to learn about theatre or you know it all....... this book is for you!