For Theater LoversGiven the many fine local theater groups in our area -- Epoch Arts and Podium Players are our favorites, of course -- many in our community may be interested in Geniuses of American Musical Theater : the Composers and Lyricists by Herbert Keyser.
This large format, heavily illustrated book includes concise biographies, as well as insider looks at the men and women who made their mark on Broadway and gave us some of the most enduring musicals of our time. Even if every name in the book doesn't immediately ring a bell, we bet you know more than a little about their work. Example chapters feature:
Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story) -- Cole Porter (Kiss Me Kate, De-Lovely) -- Meredith Willson (The Music Man, Unsinkable Molly Brown) -- Harry Warren (42nd Street) -- Jule Styne (Funny Girl) -- Charles Strouse (Annie) -- Frank Loesser (Guys and Dolls) -- Andrew Lloyd Webber (Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar) -- Stephen Sondheim (Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeny Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum).
