Overview
Discover the surprising stories behind Broadway's most remarkable songs! When Robert Preston shouted “Ya got trouble!” in The Music Man, when Carol Channing glided down a gilded staircase in Hello, Dolly!, when Barbra Streisand defied us to rain on her parade in Funny Girl, audiences were instantly enchanted. Showstoppers! explores the creation and impact of Broadway's most memorable songs.
Gerald Nachman draws on interviews with iconic figures like Patti LuPone, Joel Grey, and Jerry Herman to uncover the backstage drama and creative collaborations that brought these songs to life. Showstoppers! is a must-read for musical theater enthusiasts eager to appreciate the cultural significance and hidden stories behind their favorite Broadway hits.
Reviews
"The fertile fields of musical theatre have been tilled so well and so often you might think all the gold nuggets have been plucked, published and repeated till they’re lore. Well, think again. Gerald Nachman is a determined, tenacious prospector in addition to being an engagingly witty showbiz historian. In his latest and liveliest tone, SHOWSTOPPERS!, he comes up with some new wrinkles in the old gypsy robe." —Playbill magazine
“Showstoppers! is like a great Broadway season: hit after hit, with nary a flop in sight! Nachman employs the big numbers from the big shows as his entry point into the world of musical comedy, using the showstoppers to analyze how the great shows work and how the various elements, from the cast to the score to the script, come together. Whether you’re a hardcore Broadway buff or a stranger here yourself, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in this well-written, diligently researched volume.” —Will Friedwald,
author of Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America’s Most Popular Songs
“Gerald Nachman has the great good sense to let the creators of these brilliant theatrical moments speak for themselves, which gives us the feeling that we are really there at the birthing of the songs and dance numbers that have thrilled us all of our theatergoing lives. For that alone, Showstoppers! is a treasure trove of theatrical inspiration.”
—Jack Virtel, author of The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Classic Broadway Shows Are Built
“Wonderfully written and exciting to read.” —Martin Charnin, creator of Annie
“Whether you don’t know a lot about musical comedy or think you know it all, Gerald Nachman’s Showstoppers! has multiple insights, canny observations, and is a lot of fun!” —Ken Bloom, author of Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time
"[Nachman] knows these songs and these shows inside-out and has conducted tireless research and multiple interviews. Fans of show tunes will enjoy dipping in and out of these short, easy-to-read snapshots." —Booklist
Author Biography
Gerald Nachman has been writing about musicals for over fifty years. His reviews and columns have been published in the New York Post, New York Daily News, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, New York Times, Esquire, GQ, Cosmopolitan, and Theater Week. He is the author of six books, including Seriously Funny, Raised on Radio, and Right Here on Our Stage Tonight!
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