Writing the Broadway Musical

by Aaron Frankel

Book Overview

Brimming with advice and techniques, this essential reference for book- and songwriters clearly explains the fundamentals of the three crafts of a musical--book, music, and lyrics. Using copious examples from classic shows, Frankel has created the quintessential musical writers' how-to. Among the topics: definitions of musical theater; differences between musical books and straight plays and between poetry and lyrics; what a score is and how it develops;...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306809435
• ISBN13: 9780306809439
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Thorough, Well-Organized Guide for Playwrights

Frankel's concise, clear volume on writing large-scale musicals is a welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to understand how this peculiar theatrical genre works-- when it does. By focusing on two artistically successful, well-known pieces in the canon-- "My Fair Lady" as a well-executed classic musical with linear plot, "Company" (my personal favorite) as a well-executed plotless musical whose songs move character forward--, Frankel can support his intelligent teaching points with concrete yet familiar examples. I'm very happy to see this book back in print.

176 pages of solid advice

Many of today's top talents in musicals on and off Broadway have studied with Aaron Frankel. Now anyone can learn the ropes from this honored director and instructor in a step-by-step guide that makes for good reading whether you are a writer, composer, or simply an avid theatergoer. I enjoyed the previous edition and found this revised and updated one an even more interesting read.

Writing the Broadway Musical

Aaron Frankel writes with the voice of helpful and comprehensive experience. He is a writer - and teacher - of the highest order, and there are important points made in this book that are of great value to actors, directors and producers, as well as the playwrights for whom the book is primarily intended. Mr. Frankel is one of the few authors who expresses himself with both a clear, accessible style and a with a talent for engaging the reader every step of the way.

Hallelujah It's Back In Print!

Finally this fabulous book is back in print. If you are writing a musical, thinking about writing a musical or simply interested in how musicals are put together, get your hands on this book. It has got to be the clearest, most straight talkin', no bull approach to musical theatre writing I've read. It'll get you thinking and keep you writing!

Great! It gives you the fundementals to writing a musical.

I have taken Aaron Frankel's class at the New School in NYC and used his book along with it. It has been a very interesting process for me to learn how to write a musical (I thought I was a novelist) and his book has been extremely helpful. I now know a lot more about putting the fundementals in place for a successful musical...and I get the feeling that if I ever go back to writing novels it will make me a better novelist as well. His book is relatively brief, but it is thick with advice and techniques. It covers everything from the making of a good story, to lyric writing. I strongly reccomend it. I understand that he is in the process of working with his publisher on a reprint. I have found copies of his book in retail book stores so at this moment it is not completely sold out.