The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built

Author Jack Viertel made a wise choice when he cast himself as the person to write this book on "How Broadway Shows Are Built." He has served as a Broadway producer, an executive with the Jujamcyn Theaters in NYC, and has taught at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. The format for this book, "The Secret Life of the American Musical" comes from the curriculum he developed for one of the courses he taught at Tisch. Appropriately enough, the author has ordered the chapters of the book to mirror the way in which a Broadway musical is built, from Overture to Curtain Call. Within each chapter, he discusses the choices that the creative team must make at each stage of the show in engaging the audience and telling the story. In each case, he cites the American musicals he feels have done the best job of writing songs or dialogue that address the issue at hand. Curtain Up discusses opening numbers. Here is an excellent example of the format the author uses with great effect throughout the book: "Opening numbers can make or break a show. They have turned flops into hits (A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to the Forum), and their conception can be a cause for completely rethinking and reworking everything that comes after them (Fiddler on the Roof). They can be fabulously elaborate (A Chorus Line, Ragtime) or breathtakingly simple (Oklahoma), but whatever they are, they launch the enterprise. If they do what they're supposed to do, they hand . . . any capable director the tools to do the job." (p. 19) Along the way, Mr. Viertel offers anecdotes from an insider's perspective that add fascinating texture to this behind the scenes look at the artistic process. Among those stories is the recounting of the night when veteran Broadway actor, John Raitt, star of "Oklahoma," walked on stage before a performance of "The Who's Tommy." He was well known to the Broadway patrons of a certain age, but not to most of the members of this young audience. "This promised a dangerous disconnect. 'Hello, everybody. . . I'm Bonnie Raitt's dad!'" (p. 150) What a wonderful example of the passing of the Broadway torch from generation to generation. The author discusses his personal definition of the Golden Age of Broadway: "The architecture of musicals dates back to Broadway's Golden Age., the dates of which can be agreed upon by no one. My opinion is that it begins on the opening night of "Oklahoma"(March 31, 1943) and ends on the opening night of "A Chorus Line" (July 25, 1975. During those decades, musicals found a form that was so rock solid and so satisfying to audiences that the components of that form served as a road map for creators who revised and refined but never abandoned it.." (p, 4) In virtually every chapter, these questions are addressed: "At this point in the show, what does the audience need in order to understand what is happening, in order to care about the characters, and in order to have the energy and the desire to keep paying attention?" I am more than just a casual fan of Broadway. Like many others, my love for musicals began with listening to cheap cast albums that my parents had bought as premiums for shopping at the First National supermarket in our home town. This book not only reminded me of things I had seen and heard and loved over the decades, but offered insights into processes and dynamics I had only been vaguely familiar with. The book is a generous gift to lovers of musical theater.

Jack Viertel knows his sh...stuff. As a teacher of musical theatre technique and musical theatre history for more than 30 years, I can see through the charlatans who write books like this. And there are a good number of them. Therefore, it was a total joy to read the real goods from someone who has been a part of that very history for decades. Without being overly anecdotal and chatty, as some of these books tend to be, Mr. Viertel shares insights into the construction of musicals with an academic wisdom and a warm sense of humor. The thing you never doubt - and what really makes the book endearing - is his total and unmitigated passion for his subject matter. And when he does present an idea that is biased or slanted, he tells you so. In advance. For example, I don't know that I would lavish HAIRSPRAY with the amount of attention that Mr. Viertel does, but he reminds us early on that he had a very large hand in the creation of that show, and I think his pride in his own work (it IS an awfully good show) is commendable. I just don't know that it belongs in the same breath as GUYS AND DOLLS and GYPSY. But that's the fun part of being a musical theatre nut - getting to disagree with other musical theatre nuts about favorites! Anyway, if this is your world, this is a MUST, MUST, MUST READ. As a regular audience member at the invited dress rehearsals of the Encores series at City Center in New York, I have grown to look forward to Jack Viertel's introductions of the shows (he is the Artistic Director of Encores) as much as the shows themselves. He is witty and smart, a great teacher and an unabashed theatre-lover. All of that good stuff jumps out of every page of this book. Kudos.

Unique book - author writes in a fluid style which compares similarities and differences in well-known musicals. Viertel offers: 1) insights into the formulaic structure of the Broadway musical during the 1940's - 1960's, 2) a deep understanding of this genre - gained from personal experience; and 3) amusing tidbits and Broadway trivia (info on the title of "My Fair Lady" title is a gem). However, as Viertel compares various musicals in a "stream of consciousness" style of writing - he points out similarities that don't necessarily ring true. Sometimes, it feels like he's comparing the proverbial apple & orange. Overall, he's on firm footing, but it really helps to see the live shows or films for the comparisons to make sense. The short scenes in the book don't offer enough material to get the gist of a character or a specific scene. So, before reading, you should see well-known musicals by Oscar & Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Lerner & Lowe, Bock & Harnick, Jerry Herman, Sondheim, Styne, Bernstein,etc. Fortunately, I've seen most of the shows mentioned, but without a reference point from memory, it would have been frustrating to understand the author's conclusions. For example, I haven't seen "Sunday in the Park with George" by Sondheim, so, the discussion of this show didn't register at all. The best thing about the book by far is Viertel's passion for the stage and his love of musicals - these feelings come shining through.

I fell in love with musical theatre at the age of 12 (53 years ago) thanks to a wonderful teacher for whom I used to baby sit. His record collection comprised only musical theatre and classical music - he said that they were the two purest forms of music and storytelling. Before he and his wife went out, he'd leave me one or two LPs to play and then ask me questions about them when he returned. His love for the genre stayed with me for ever - I even worked in professional theatre for 10 years - and I was so, so, so hoping that this book wouldn't disappoint me. Finding this book was like hearing My Fair Lady (the first show I listened to) for the very first time all those decades ago. Like my teacher, the author has a pure, unapologetic love for musicals and it permeates every sentence of this book. His knowledge and insight are, of course, unparalleled, but so accessible and engaging. I've read books on this genre that speak for chapters about one song chorus - and how the notes (sung backwards or upside down or in a minor chord or some such) are a counterpoint (or some such) to the character's conflict, of some such- all gobbledygook to a non-musical lay-person who just loves the song. Jack simply tells us, clearly and often passionately, why we love the song and how the composer/director/choreographer led us to love the song. And the one after that. And the one after that. And, in turn, the whole show. Not to manipulate us, but to satisfy us. To give us what we came for. And this book does the same. Bravo, Jack!!!!! Bravo!!!! Encore!!!! More!!!!! More!!!!

Jack Viertel's new book, "The Secret Life of the American Musical" is a stunningly informative book about the structure and success (or lack thereof) of modern day musicals. In a compelling style, the author takes us through a performance from "Overture" to "Curtain Call" and describes in great detail how every aspect of a musical works. His experience in the world of musicals gives him credence that few other writers would be able to claim. The book is set in a chronological order of a performance and being just a few years younger than Viertel, he helped me relive moments of musicals from my childhood. He particularly enjoys certain ones...."Guys and Dolls", "Gypsy" and "Fiddler", to name just three, but what makes Viertel's knowledge so wonderful is that he ably relates how musicals are set up and executed. I was especially fond of three chapters...."If I Loved You", "Intermission" and "Clambake", particularly enjoying his take on what was served at intermission a half-century ago. He also introduces the reader to things like the "11 o'clock number", a phrase about which I had never heard. His final chapter concerning recordings is a beautiful way to end the book. I must admit that my own experience of musicals is much more confined to those of the fifties, sixties and seventies, so when Viertel launches into musicals beginning thirty years ago to the present...well, those were quicker reads for me. Yet all in all, "The Secret Life of the American Musical" is comprehensive with an nicely produced narrative. It's a must read for those who enjoy and want to know more about the American musical experience.

This is one of the best books around on the creative process, forget musicals: it's about the construction of the mind's eye. Mr. Viertel writes lucidly, and with a mammoth inventory at hand about musicals old, new, great, bad, and forgotten. But it really gives the reader, if he/she is interested in the creative arts, a primer on how to put an exhibition on. Impossible to put down, impossible to give it enough praise.

I'm a big Broadway fan and go to theater often. The Secret Life of the American Musical was a great read. It's obvious that Mr. Viertel really knows and loves his subject matter. It's written in a conversational tone and I found myself having to limit myself to a chapter a day because when I first received the book I was afraid I would finish it in two-three days and I wanted to really savor it because I was enjoying it so much. In addition to being thoroughly entertaining, this book really helped me understand why some musicals work for me and some don't -- and gave me a vocabulary to talk about it. It inspired to me to listen to 'new' soundtracks for shows I wasn't familiar with as well as re-listen to familiar soundtracks with a different ear. And I love that Mr. Viertel shares personal experiences with his decision making behind the scenes as well as looks at shows within the context of the history of musical theatre. I've given this book as a gift to a few friends and they love it too. If you're a fan of musical theatre, you will love this book.

It was informative to learn that the talent in writing infectious melody embellished with taste class and decorum did not disappear, only the taste class and love of beauty,artistry,and appreciation of genius by the audience did. Today Broadway and the media, in order to fill seats, have to cater to the ethics and values, music and mores of the denizens of the inner city ghetto . Dysfunction,profanity,vulgarity and filth and repetitious,monotony,mindless drumbeat, moaning and screaming called "singing" and other manifestations of genetic insufficiency are not my cup of tea. How I long for a Broadway play to showcase grace, style,wit instead of mindless depravity,rancid ,toxic, bottom-feeding garbage.

Most informative book on how an American musical is built

Beautifully written insights into how the best Broadway shows are constructed.

After reading a lot of books on the subject, I was delighted to discover a new insight into the subject. Amusing to read and cleverly exposed.

Lots of insights and anecdotes from an industry insider. A good read but wish there were more. Give us the other side of the coin -- the anatomy of a flop. Why did 3 R&H shows fail to gain traction? There is more to be said.

Great, book.Bought for my wife who loves it!