Coming Up Roses: The Broadway Musical in the 1950s (Broadway Musicals S) Hardcover – 1 Nov. 2000

A real page-turner for anyone who loves musicals, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the 'Golden Age' with many new and pertinent insights re the creation and staging of the great musicals of the 20th century. Unputdownable!

If you're old enough to remember seeing these on stage, this is a real treat. Quirky, opinionated, but genuine reactions. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I'd probably enjoy reading a dictionary if Ethan Mordden wrote it. It's probably the highest praise I can give to say that this book had me reading about shows I'd never even heard of with the same zeal I'd generally reserve for a well-written suspense novel. As much as this book is about Musical Theater, it's about Ethan Mordden -- his wit, his stunning knowledge of his subject, and his ability to place what might seem trivial into a context that both illuminates and fascinates. Reading this book amounts to the best kind of education: one you simply can't wait to continue. As the previous customer reviews have already covered the general contents of this book, I'll only add that "Coming Up Roses" is one of a series of books by Mordden which catalogs the history of American Musical Theater. Before I even finished "Roses," I had purchased copies of his "Beautiful Mornin'" (about Musicals of the 1940's) and "Make Believe" (the 1920's). His next edition -- "Open a New Window: Musicals of the 1960's" -- will be published November 2001. I'm absolutely hooked, and if you have a passion for Musicals, you're going to be, too. About that title of mine....Mordden's book has me hunting in used record stores for recordings of long-forgotten (and sometimes obscure) titles. This author has done a tremendous service to countless composers, performers and theater artists in recalling their work in its original incarnation, and causing us to reflect upon it one more time. Maybe we're the lucky ones, in fact; thanks to Ethan Mordden, the curtain keeps going up again and again and again.

I spent the entire summer reading through all of Mordden's "decade by decade" books. It felt like I was listening to someone who was on the spot for every production, which seems logical until you realize that Mordden would have to be around a hundred to have been present at each opening night. The author combines an abiding love of the art form and a deep sense of scholarship with amusing and occasionally bitchy stories about the personalities involved. If you read them in order, you have before you an exceptional chronicle of the rise and fall of musical theatre, an analysis of its structure and a passion for musicals that revitalized THIS drama teacher all over again!This particular volume was especially upbeat in that the 1950's saw musical theatre rise to the top of its form and popularity. I grew up listening to cast albums and Broadway songbooks sung by some of the greatest singers. Even so, I have uncovered so much new history here and uncovered many new show titles. (I even started buying some CDs of shows I had never heard - or heard of - before!) Mordden is anything but unbiased in his praise and putdowns: some true Broadway icons get smacked around a lot. (Watch out, George Abbott fans!) But he still provides a wonderful description of many shows, classic and now forgotten, from inception to reception. I'm very grateful to Mordden for providing the modern reading audience, as well as those of us in foreign climes (California) who never got to attend a Broadway opening night, with his rich and funny take on the history of musical theatre.

author's writes as though he talking directly to friends who already have a great deal of Broadway knowledge

Loved the detailed breakdown of structure of various musicals, reasons why some flopped and others didn't and how the 1950's reflected changes in the form.

A good look at Broadway during its Golden Age. Mordden is quite opinionated at times, but its a good look at a great era!