A volume of original essays, written by contributors from British and American universities, which explores the development of this vibrant American form - from its early-20th-century origins to some more recent productions. Some of the essays provide historical sketches of the musical, while others concentrate on such well-known examples as Porgy and Bess and West Side Story . Among the topics discussed are Scandinavian stereotypes in early musicals, and the relationship between the genre and American business. The composers examined include Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim. While they adopt varying approaches to their material, the contributors are united by their awareness of the centrality of the musical to modern American culture.