About this item

The Broadway musical is one of Americas great indigenous popular forms, a glorious hybrid that emerged out of our speech, our tempo, our moral attitudes, our way of moving as Leonard Bernstein put it. Now, in this first volume of a landmark two-volume collection, The Library of America presents eight enduring masterpieces charting the Broadway musicals narrative tradition from the groundbreaking Show Boat 1927 through the start of the genres Golden Age in 1949. Based on new research, this historic collection presents the complete libretto of each musical in its Broadway opening night version, making these beloved stories available as never before. Irving Berlin and Moss Harts As Thousands Cheer is published here for the first time. Show Boat and Pal Joey are presented in newly restored versions.