The 1910s shaped the future of the American musical. While many shows of the decade were imports of European operettas, and even original Broadway musicals were influenced by continental productions, the musicals of the 1910s found their own American voice.
In
The Complete Book of 1910s Broadway Musicals
, Dan Dietz covers all 312 musicals that opened on Broadway during this decade. Among the shows discussed are
The Balkan Princess
,
The Kiss Waltz
Naughty Marietta
The Firefly
Very Good Eddie
Leave It to Jane
Watch Your Step
See America First
, and
La-La-Lucille.
Dietz places each musical in its historical context, including the women’s suffrage movement and the decade’s defining historical event, World War I.
Each entry features the following:
Plot summary
Cast members
Creative team, including writers, lyricists, composers, directors, choreographers, and producers
Opening and closing dates
Number of performances
Critical commentary
Musical numbers and the performers who introduced the songs
Numerous appendixes include a chronology, discography, filmography, Gilbert and Sullivan productions, Princess Theatre musicals, musicals with World War I themes, and published scripts, making this book a comprehensive and significant resource.
will captivate and inform scholars, historians, and casual fans about this influential decade in musical theatre history.