The Complete Book of 1970s Broadway Musicals

The book examines in specific detail every Broadway musical which opened from the 1969 fall season through the 1979 season. The 1970s was an exciting decade in theatre. In addition to shows by Stephen Sondheim (Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, and Sweeney Todd) and the concept musicals, there were old-fashioned shows such as Annie; major revivals such as No, No, Nanette; underappreciated shows such as Over Here!; cult musicals on the order of The Grass Harp and Mack and Mabel; mind-boggling disasters such as Lysistrata, Dude, and Rainbow Jones; and a number of forgotten bombs which never made it to Broadway. There were also hit Black musicals on the order of The Wiz and Raisin; and personal-appearance revues with such performers as Bette Midler, Lena Horne, Gilda Radner, and Tony Bennett.

Technical information includes details regarding cast and credits, plot, critical reviews, London productions, recordings, published scripts, and film versions. The book also includes extensive commentary for more than 250 musicals which opened during the decade. The book includes all New York City Center and Music Theatre of Lincoln Center revivals; New York City Opera revivals of Broadway musicals; productions of all pre-Broadway closings (musicals which closed either during New York previews or during pre-Broadway tryouts); concert productions (usually of one-man or one-woman shows); and all imports which opened during the decade.