Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time

It's so stereotypical that I love Broadway musicals - oh, well. A fact is a fact. This is an absolutely gorgeous book. 101 of the greastest shows ever staged on Broadway - wonderful pictures from the original productions, plus profiles of the giants of the art form, as well as some of the lesser talents (though no less beloved). This book is a treasure for musical theatre lovers. Hmmmm...can't let well enough alone. One kvetch. I don't know anyone who consideres "I Can Get It For You Wholesale," "Do Re Mi," or "Destry Rides Again" to be among the "greatest" musicals of all-time. Especially when "Nine," "The Secret Garden," "The Will Rogers Follies," "Rent" and the three landmark Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine shows: "Sunday in the Park with Geogre," "Into the Woods" and "Passion," are conspicuously absent from this book. Oh, well, as they sang in "South Pacific": "It's a waste of time to worry, over things that they have not; Be thankful for, the things they got!"

The immediate thing that strikes you upon picking up this mammoth book is the amazing (RARE!) photos. Jerry Orbach, who does the foreward, even admits that some photos of HIMSELF he had never seen! For example, I am one of the biggest "EVITA nuts" out there, and there were three pictures of Patti LuPone I'd never seen before. The sheer amount of photos is enough to make this book a "must-buy." Yet, that's not to negate the detailed text. There are performer highlights as well as quips and trivia from most shows. My only problem is the list. As with all "Best of..." lists, there are many obvious choices (FUNNY GIRL, SOUND OF MUSIC, HELLO DOLLY!, GYPSY) as well as quite a few shockers. I at first thought the book was firmly leaning backward until I noticed THE FULL MONTY. Not that I have a problem with that show (or with any of the following shows) but why is THE FULL MONTY in here, but not THE PRODUCERS? I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE is in here - but not RENT. DESTRY RIDES AGAIN is in here - but not ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. No MISS SAIGON. Even 42nd STREET is missing. Of course, it is obvious that "list books" will always have glaring omissions (or additions!) - even if the book is The *1000* Greatest Shows of All Time. Nevertheless, don't let that editor's hatchet take away from your enjoyment of this book.

This book is great! It gets those songs going in your head and your foot tapping as you read! Lots of wonderful pictures that bring back memories of the shows you've seen, and makes you want to see the shows that you haven't. Has great sidebars with snippets of information. Overall, the book is a great deal and would make a great gift.

When you first open this book you can't help but turn to those shows that have become your favorites. I first turned to Gypsy, then Evita, Phantom, Cats, and on and on. All my favorites were there. Most of them, showed the original cast from the first production. Gypsy featured Ethel Merman as Mama Rose, Sandra Church as Louise/Gypsy in the original production. The book then goes on to other Rose's: Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters. In each case it talks about the unique characterizations brought to the stage by the leading lady. This is typical treatment for this book where most of the plays (the really popular ones) get similar treatment. In addition there are side bars that give details on some of the other people (directors, composers, custome people, etc.) that have made these shows what they are. There's only one problem with the book, you can't put it down. I know, I've tried, and somehow it falls open to My Fair Lady....

"Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Musicals of All Time" is a theatrical banquet, a party at Mame's Beekman Place apartment, an airbourne ride after Peter Pan sprinkles fairy dust, a red staircase entrance into Harmonia Gardens. It's WHY we love the musical theatre. I hardly agree with all of the authors' choices, but that's the fun of the book. Easily four dozen photos (mostly in color and magnificently reproduced) made me delirious: Angela Lansbury blowing her bugle in "Mame," Beatrice Lillie and Tammy Grimes in "High Spirits," Carol Channing's "Hello, Dolly!" second act entrance, 21-year-old and still-spontaneous Barbra Streisand in never-before-published photos from "Funny Girl," an entrancing "Carnival!" picture, Dolores Gray and her look-alike mother, Susan Johnson's two motorcycle photos, a candid shot of Ethel Merman having a shoe removed by her dresser. The list goes on and on. Two major books about Broadway musicals have reecently been published. "Broadway: The American Musical" (a tie-with the the PBS three-part series) is extremely interesting, superbly researched and scholarly. "Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Musicals of All Time," reviewed here, is more enjoyable because it captures the flavor, thrill, excitement, glamour, star-power, magic and zest of seeing the best of Broadway's musical theatre. If you have to choose one, get this one. Better still, get both.