The Magical Mice of Broadway (with Illustrations by Sandra K. Simpson)
When Broadway closed for over a year, the Magical Mice of Broadway crept into the theaters and took over, keeping Broadway's flame alive until the people could come back. A magical that imagines a a hopeful alternative to Broadway's closure during Covid-19, The Magical Mice of Broadway is a fairy tale for both kids and adults who love theatre.
In March of 2020, Covid-19 reared its ugly head and shut down Broadway for more than a year. Overwhelmed and depressed by seeing my favorite pastime (as well as my livelihood) grind to a halt, I spent months in a daze. Imagining all of those empty theatres and the myriad talented people sidelined by this pandemic, the absence of Broadway in our world landed me in a funk. During this time, I happened upon an online article about how New York City theatres, in the wake of the stilled human traffic, were experiencing an uptick of mice in many of the venues. (When the people are away, the mice will play, so to speak). This article prompted me to imagine a Broadway that was never forced to shutter, but was instead overtaken by a band of magical thespian mice who kept theatre alive while the people were indeed away. The result was The Magical Mice of Broadway, my catharsis for getting through Broadway's pandemic hiatus. I partnered with my old high school friend and artist Sandra K. Simpson who set to bringing my story to life with visual splendor and quirky humor. We both hope that this book will speak to the child in us all and serve as an inspiration for always keeping theatre's flame burning.
Musical Misfires: Three Decades of Broadway Musical Heartbreak looks at 151 musicals that did not run long enough to be considered hits. Such shows were once called flops but that is no longer an appropriate description. Some of these were superb pieces of musical theatre that, for one reason or another, couldn't find an audience, did not please the critics, couldn't pay the high weekly bills, or just were not right for the time and place in which they opened. Oft-overlooked gems like The Scottsboro Boys, Grey Gardens, Sweet Smell of Success, Xanadu, If/Then, Caroline, or Change, Bright Star, Steel Pier, The Last Ship, and Tuck Everlasting are explored alongside such famous musicals as American Idiot, Victor/Victoria, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sister Act, All Shook Up, Be More Chill, Shrek the Musical, Seussical, and Young Frankenstein that never reached hit status on Broadway. Jukebox musicals, cutting-edge musicals, movie adaptations, teenage musicals, biographical musicals, history musicals, and even horror musicals are among the many genres included in this captivating journey of Broadway shows from 1989 to 2020 in search of success. Illustrated with forty-two photographs (most in color) and filled with backstage stories, reviews from the press, and commentary on why the musicals were not hits, Musical Misfires is indispensable reading for anyone who loves musical theatre, both its triumphs and it heartbreaks.
From I Love Lucy to Blackish, sitcoms have often paved the way for social change.
Television comedy has long been on the frontline in how America evolves on social issues. There is something about comedy that makes difficult issues more palatable—with humor an effective device for presenting ideas that lead to social change. From I Love Lucy, which introduced the first television pregnancy, to Will & Grace normalizing gay characters, the situation comedy has challenged the public to revisit social mores and reshape how we think about the world in which we live.
In Sitcommentary: Television Comedies that Changed America, Mark A. Robinson looks at more than three dozen programs that have tackled social issues, from the 1940s to the present. The author examines shows that frequently addressed hot button topics throughout their runs—such as All in the Family, Maude, and Blackish—as well as programs with special episodes that grappled with a societal concern like ageism, class, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Among the important sitcoms discussed in this volume are such beloved shows as The Brady Bunch, A Different World, The Facts of Life, The Golden Girls, Good Times, The Jeffersons, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, M*A*S*H, Modern Family, Murphy Brown, One Day at a Time, Roseanne, and Soap. Each has broken down barriers and facilitated discussion, debate, and social evolution in America.
Arranged in chronological order, these TV shows have influenced the masses, by tackling tough topics or by shining a spotlight on taboo subjects. With discussions of some of the most popular shows of all time, Sitcommentary will appeal to fans of these shows as well as anyone interested in the cultural history of America and American television.
““Comedy has been a staple of television since its inception, with situation comedies drawing families together around an everexpanding TV screen. Robinson (The World of Musicals) highlights 40 sitcoms that demonstrate that TV can be more than just escapist entertainment—viewers of these shows witnessed America’s evolution on social issues set to a laugh track. Organized chronologically, the book spotlights groundbreaking series: the taboos they broke, the controversies they generated, and the reception they received. Readers can easily skip to their favorite programs or dig into some of the lesser-known offerings, but those who read the volume straight through will be rewarded with a narrative that shows how we moved from The Amos ’n’ Andy Show to Black-ish, from All in the Family to Modern Family, and from One Day at a Time (1975) to One Day at a Time (2017). Robinson’s encyclopedic knowledge of television history and enthusiasm shines through but don’t prevent him from addressing problematic elements of the shows (or troubling behavior by their casts). VERDICT A useful and readable guide to social issues as seen through sitcoms. Beyond its scholarly use, this book will be appreciated by nostalgic readers.”
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The World of Musicals: A 2-Volume Encyclopedia of Stage, Screen and Song
“A chronology of important events in the history of musical theatre in the United States and an index round out this well-done introductory tool. Recommended for school and public libraries.”
“This two-volume encyclopedia by independent scholar Robinson highlights stage, screen, and made-for-television musicals. Aimed at high school students, it is geared to those choosing appropriate performance materials... Even though the major intent of this work is to assist those involved with school or community theater, this set will appeal to fans of musicals of all kinds. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.”
Written with high school students in mind, The World of Musicals: An Encyclopedia of Stage, Screen, and Song encompasses not only Broadway and film musicals, but also made-for-television musicals, a genre that has been largely ignored. The two volumes cover significant musicals in easily accessible entries that offer both useful information and fun facts. Each entry lists the work's writers, composers, directors, choreographers, and cast, and includes a song list, a synopsis, and descriptions of the original production and important revivals or remakes. Biographical entries share the stories of some of the brightest and most celebrated talents in the business.
The encyclopedia will undoubtedly ignite and feed student interest in musical theatre. At the same time, it will prove a wonderful resource for teachers or community theatre directors charged with selecting and producing shows. In fact, anyone interested in theatre, film, television, or music will be fascinated by the work's tantalizing bits of historical and theatre trivia.
Encyclopedia of Television Theme Songs
The first book on this topic, featuring 1,000 detailed entries, this encylopedia examines the phenomenon of television theme songs. Organized alphabetically by TV series from The A-Team to Zorro, the individual themes are designated by title, composer, lyricist and performer, with an analysis of how the theme captured the show's spirit. Each entry also includes the series' cast credits, its network, the years of its original run, and an in-depth program description. Fascinating facts and anecdotes about each theme song are included, along with an assessment of its popularity, and (whenever appropriate) a list of industry awards that the song has won. Devotees of the captivating and oftimes unforgettable themes for such series as The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rawhide and Scooby-Doo have a genuine treat in store.
“A good book to bring back smiles and personal memories associated with the shows that, for most Americans, personify pop culture.”
“Hischak and Robinson offer descriptions of over 900 Disney songs featured in film, on television, and in their theme parks since 1930. Organized alphabetically by song title, paragraph-long entries detail writers, original context, publication date, and notable performers. For easier entry location, various appendixes give an alternate title list, a song writer’s directory, film or program listings, and a guide to various recorded formats. Most at home in collections for Disney enthusiasts or cultural studies scholars.”
The Disney Song Encyclopedia
Songs written for Disney productions over the decades have become a potent part of American popular culture. Since most Americans first discovered these songs in their youth, they hold a special place in one's consciousness. The Disney Song Encyclopedia describes and discusses hundreds of famous and not-so-famous songs from Disney films, television, Broadway, and theme parks from the 1930s to the present day.
Over 900 songs are given individual entries and presented in alphabetical order. The songwriters and original singers are identified, as well as the source of the song and other venues in which it might have been used over the years. Notable recordings of the song are also listed. But most important, the song is described and what makes it memorable is discussed. This is not a reference list but a true encyclopedia of Disney songs. The book also contains a preface describing the criteria for selecting the songs, a glossary of song terms, a list of all the Disney songs and their sources, a songwriter's directory in which every song by each composer/lyricist is listed, a bibliography, a guide to recordings and DVDs of Disney productions, and an index of people and titles.
“This impressive volume describes more than 900 songs written for Disney movies, videos, musicals, television shows, recordings, and theme parks....No other volume offers a comprehensive list or description of Disney songs. Recommended for large performing arts collections.”
“This first of its kind, this small volume of annotated entries succinctly describes 940 original songs used to date by Disney in its films, television programs, home videos, stage musicals, and more... worthwhile and entertaining resource.”
“The authors compile over 900 songs, from Disney’s earliest cartoons-the ones we all know by heart-to the latest Disney productions like High School Musical , and provides a paragraph about each. . . . As you browse through the book, you realize how influential “Uncle Walt” was on American popular music.”