From the genteel female impersonators of the 1910s to the raucous drag queens of La Cage Aux Folles, from the men of The Normal Heart to the women of Fun Home, and from Eva Le Gallienne and Tallulah Bankhead to Tennessee Williams and Nathan Lane, Gays On Broadway deftly chronicles the plays and... číst celé
In Pick a Pocket Or Two, acclaimed author Ethan Mordden brings his wit and wisdom to bear in telling the full history of the British musical, from The Beggar's Opera (1728) to the present, with an interest in isolating the unique qualities of the form and its influence on the American model.
Building on the continued success of Ethan Mordden's Opera Anecdotes, The New Book of Opera Anecdotes continues where the original left off, bringing into conversation the new corps of major stars that has arisen since the original book's 1985 publication, presenting completely new, fresh stories that cover the aesthetic and stylistic shifts this latest period has ushered in.
On Streisand begins with a broad year-by-year outline of the landmark achievements, followed by a short biography, some chapters exploring key points in the artistry, then-the major part of the book-a work-by-work analysis. The work-by-work section is broken down into separate chapters, each organized chronologically: the stage shows, then the television shows and concerts, then the movies, and last (because longest) the recordings. Throughout, Mordden follows Streisand's independence, which he sees as her central quality. Throughout all of the chapters on Streisand's shows, concerts, films, and recordings, Mordden illustrates how she was exercising individualistic control of her career from her very first audition, and how the rest of her professional life unfolded from that point. A book written by an opinionated expert whose prose is consistently full of flair and wit, On Streisand: An Opinionated Guide will appeal to general readers in all aspects of American life that Streisand has touched, from film to television to popular music to stardom.
Author Ethan Mordden tells the full story of Chicago - a play, a silent film, a talkie remake, a musical, and a movie musical - to unveil the racy satire inherent in American musical comedy.
From the earliest talkies to the present, Hollywood has drafted the great Broadway songwriters to create successful musicals, while mistrusting and even abusing them. Here's the book that chronicles what happens when stage geniuses come up against the anti-intellectual producers of Hollywood.
Offers a history of American musical theater from the 1920s through to the 1970s, and includes such famous works as "Oklahoma!," "The Red Mill," and "Porgy and Bess."
Giving each of Stephen Sondheim's musicals its own chapter, Ethan Mordden applies fresh insights and analysis to consider Sondheim's place in modern art, addressing the newcomer and the aficionado alike.
Exploring the complexities of gay friendship and desire, this collection features a range of characters navigating their relationships in unexpected ways. A bartender at a gay bar finds himself entwined in a tumultuous romance with a mechanic, while a nerd's date with a bodybuilder spirals into chaos. Additionally, a cop and journalist confront their emotional entanglement through a shared model train project. With familiar faces from previous works, the stories delve into themes of identity, intimacy, and the often blurred lines between friendship and romance.
A noted historian of the Broadway musical chronicles the braided lives of two of the 20th-century's most influential artists. Mordden shows the romance of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya in a dual biography scored to music from Weil's greatest triumphs.