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Title: The Secret Life of the American Musical
Subtitle: How Broadway Shows Are Built
Author: Jack Viertel
Narrator: David Pittu
Format: Unabridged
Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
Language: English
Release date: 03-01-16
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 101 votes
Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music
Publisher's Summary:
For almost a century, Americans have been losing their hearts and losing their minds in an insatiable love affair with the American musical. It often begins in actors and reaches its passionate zenith when it comes time for love, marriage, and children, who will start the cycle all over again. Americans love musicals. Americans invented musicals. Americans perfected musicals. But what, exactly, is a musical?
In The Secret Life of the American Musical, Jack Viertel takes musicals apart, puts them back together, sings their praises, marvels at their unflagging inventiveness, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he invites us to fall in love all over again by showing us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate audiences, and how one landmark show leads to the next - by design or by accident, by emulation or by rebellion - from Oklahoma! to Hamilton and onward.
Critic Reviews:
"An enlightening trip for lovers of musicals." (
Kirkus)
Members Reviews:
so good I need to buy the printed book
Where does The Secret Life of the American Musical rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?
Viertel has written an informed and informative exploration of classic american musicals.
What does David Pittu bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?
Pittu is an an excellent reader.
In love with the American Musical
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely! This is one of the most engaging and thoughtful audio books I have ever listened to.
What did you like best about this story?
Viertel is an insider whose love of the American musical is exceeded, perhaps, only by his vibrant insights and encyclopedic knowledge. The book is like a musical itself, with the chapters taking us from the overture to the 11 o'clock number--a perfect synchronization of content and form.
What does David Pittu bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?
The narrator channels Viertel's love and enthusiasm for the material and he is clearly familiar enough with the numerous song lyrics quoted in each chapter so that his reading maintains the rhythm and integrity of the lyrics. First rate job.
Any additional comments?
If you love the musical theatre, as I do, listen to this book and will come away loving it even more.
GREAT book for people writing musicals.
This is a wonderful book that will be informative to anyone that is a Broadway fan. But is especially nice for anyone working in the business, and especially writers. It covers classic musicals, to the newest hits of the late 2010s. What is nice, is it tells why some work, why others don't. What is good, what is bad. What makes something work, and why others fail. It covers the mistakes, and the artistry. That is helpful for writers, and also others in the creation process. If you already study Broadway, it will just confirm what you already know, and might not provide new information, since if you already study, you probably already have an extensive theatre geek background. But it's a terrific reference, and confirmation of what you already know, is still a help, anyway, if you're buying this for reference, or even entertainment. And if you're just a fan or student and new to Broadway, it will fill you in completely.
