Broadway Musicals, 1943-2004

On March 31, 1943, the musical Oklahoma! premiered and the modern era of the Broadway musical was born. Since that time, the theatres of Broadway have staged hundreds of musicals—some more noteworthy than others, but all in their own way a part of American theatre history.

With more than 750 entries, this comprehensive reference book provides information on every musical produced on Broadway since Oklahoma's 1943 debut. Each entry begins with a brief synopsis of the show, followed by a three-part history: first, the pre-Broadway story of the show, including out-of-town try-outs and Broadway previews; next, the Broadway run itself, with dates, theatres, and cast and crew, including replacements, chorus and understudies, songs, gossip, and notes on reviews and awards; and finally, post-Broadway information with a detailed list of later notable productions, along with important reviews and awards. An appendix lists musicals of interest that fall outside this work's parameters (i.e., only musical shows produced on traditionally defined Broadway). Indexed by song title and personnel for quick and easy reference.