The Musical from the Inside Out

Rarely is a book about the theatre as entertaining and informative as Stephen Citron’s new guidebook to the creation of the musical. Filled with anecdotes, practical advice, and sparkling comments from the biggest Broadway insiders, The Musical from the Inside Out examines this major theatrical form from the creator’s point of view. Mr. Citron takes the reader through basic training and onto finding and securing material, writing the libretto, adding the songs, auditioning the players, workshopping, rehearsals, previews, and the excitement of opening night. He reveals the secrets of success as well as some of the common pitfalls of failure. There’s never been a book like this, wrote a columnist from London’s West End. Mr. Citron’s bounty of information comes from his own vast experience; from interviews with well-known directors, producers, lyricists, composers, librettists, stage managers, and scenic artists; and from such luminaries as Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Hal Prince, Jerome Robbins, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, and Fred Ebb. The Musical From the Inside Out is an adventure for musical fans and required reading for professionals or amateurs involved in creating a musical.