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| Jerry Herman: Poet of the Showtune
ISBN: 9780300133240
Platform/Publisher: JSTOR / Yale University Press
Digital rights: Users: unlimited; Printing: chapter; Download: chapter
Subjects: Herman Jerry 1933–; Composers -- United States -- Biography;
Citron (Sondheim and Lloyd-Webber: The New Musical) profiles Jerry Herman, composer/lyricist of shows like Hello, Dolly!, with the input of Herman as well as his colleagues. After outlining Herman's background in summer camp musicals, college at the University of Miami, short stint in the army, and work as a lounge pianist, the author ably details Herman's shows. Another plus is his coverage of Broadway, e.g., his account of the many "Dollys" (the part was written for Ethel Merman, who played it at the end of the play's long Broadway run). Along the way, readers are offered details about Herman's private life, though the focus never strays from his career. The fullest treatment of Herman's work--and the only full-length book on Herman besides Herman's memoir Showtune--this is recommended for all libraries with an interest in American musical theater, popular culture, or music.--Bruce R. Schueneman, Texas A&M Univ. Lib., Kingsville (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.
Stephen Citron is well known for shedding fresh light on the American musical theater and the artists who inhabit it. His previous books include Songwriting, The Musical from the Inside Out, and biographies of Noël Coward, Cole Porter, Alan Jay Lerner, Oscar Hammerstein 2nd, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. |
