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Musical Theater Resources
Topics Covered
- Location of Materials
- Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
- Find. . .
Books About Musicals
A Synopsis
A Musical in HOMER (Vocal Score, Libretto, Recording, etc.)
A List of Musicals in HOMER - Key Web Sites
- Musical Theater vs. Musicals
Location of Materials
Most materials pertaining to musicals (books, vocal scores, librettos, and recordings) are located in the Music & Dramatic Arts Library (M&DA). Some materials are also located in the Babbidge Library or UConn Regional Campus Libraries.
Shelving Locations in the M&DA Library
- Dictionaries/encyclopedias: Reference area on Level 1 (see list below)
- Books: basement, books area
- Librettos: basement, books area
- Scores: basement, scores area
- Sound and video recordings: behind
circulation desk. Give call number to desk clerk.
[Browse by call number]
Everything is listed in HOMER, UConn's library catalog. Here's how to find a single musical or find a list of musicals in HOMER. Consult a librarian if you need assistance finding materials.
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
Most dictionaries and encyclopedias are in the Reference area in the Music & Dramatic Arts Library (Level 1), but some are in the basement stacks or at the Babbidge Library. Several have plot synopses, brief historical background, and/or biographical sketches. The song encyclopedias deal with specific songs (background information or indexing). This is a selective list. Additional materials can be found on nearby shelves.
The American Musical Theatre Song Encyclopedia.
By Thomas S. Hischak.
Music Ref. ML 102 .M68 H57 1999
American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle. By Gerald
Martin Bordman.
Music Ref. ML 1711 .B67 1992
American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre
Companion. By Ken Bloom.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M78 B6 1985 v.1-2
The Broadway Song Companion: An Annotated Guide to
Musical Theatre Literature by Voice Type and Song
Style. By David P. DeVenney.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M78 D48 1998
The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. By Kurt
Gänzl.
Music Ref. ML 102 .M88 G3 2001 v. 1-3
Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. By Anthony
Slide.
Babbidge Ref. PN 1968 .U5 S37 1994
Gänzl's Book of the Broadway Musical: 75
Shows, From H.M.S. Pinafore (1879) to Sunset Boulevard
(1994). By Kurt Gänzl.
Music Ref. MT 95 .G19 1995
Gänzl's Book of the Musical
Theatre. By Kurt Gänzl and Andrew
Lamb.
Music Ref. MT 95 .G2 1989
The Great Song Thesaurus. By Roger Lax.
Music Ref. ML 128 .S3 L4 1989
A Guide to Critical Reviews. Part II, the Musical,
1909 -1989. By James M. Salem.
Babbidge Ref. (Index Table 3) Z 5782 .S342 v.2
Hollywood Song: The Complete Film and Musical
Companion. By Ken Bloom.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M7 B6 1995 v.1-3
Keeping Score: Film and Television Music, 1980-1988;
With Additional Coverage of
1921-1979. By Alvin H. Marill.
Music Ref. ML 128 .M7 L5 1991
Little Musicals for Little Theatres: A Reference
Guide to the Musicals That Don't Need Chandeliers or
Helicopters to Succeed. By Denny Martin Flinn.
MT 955 .F55 2006
Musicals! A Complete Selection Guide for Local
Productions. By Richard Chigley Lynch.
Music Ref. ML 19 .L9 1994
New Grove Dictionary of Opera.
Music Ref. ML 102.O6 N5 1992 and Grove Music Online
(restricted to UConn community)
Show Music on Record: From the 1890s to the 1980s
and Show Music on Record: The First 100 Years. By
Jack Raymond.
Music Ref. ML 156.4 .O46 R4 1982 and stacks ML 156.4 .M8 R4
1992
Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows, and Careers of
Broadway's Major Composers. By Steven Suskin.
ML 128 .M78 S86 2000
Songs from Hollywood Musical Comedies: 1927 to the
Present. By Allen L. Woll.
Music Ref. ML 102 .P66 W64
Songs of the Theater. By Lewine, Richard.
Music Ref. ML 128 .S3 L55 1984
Find Books About Musicals
Use HOMER (UConn's library catalog) to find books. Select the Subject Heading Search and type one of the following terms:
Composer's last name (and first name/initial), e.g.,
sondheim s
Lyricist's last name (and first name/initial), e.g.,
kushner tony
Minstrel shows
Motion picture music
Musical films
Musical theater
Musicals This is helpful for finding general books about
musicals.
Operetta
Revues
Vaudeville
Alternatively, select HOMER's Keyword search, specify Book in the Limit To menu, and type your subject key words (e.g., sondheim, musicals, etc.). This search will find a few additional useful items, but may also pick up "junk" that clutters your results. Please see a professional librarian for details or assistance.
Find a Synopsis
Strategy 1: Many sound recordings include a synopsis. [Find a recording.]
Strategy 2: Many dictionaries and encyclopedias about musicals have synopses.
Strategy 3: in HOMER, select the Subject Heading search, then type musicals--stories. This finds additional books containing synopses.
Strategy 4: These two books list additional sources that contain synopses:
Index to Opera, Operetta and Musical Comedy Synopses
in Collections and Periodicals and Musical Theater
Synopses: An Index. By Jeanette Marie Drone.
Music Ref. ML128.O4 D76 and Suppl.
Find a
Musical in HOMER
(Vocal Score, Libretto, Recording, Etc.)
1. Go to HOMER (the library
catalog).
2. For type of search, click
Keyword.
3. Under search terms, type key words separated by the word
"and." You can use names (composer is best, but librettist,
lyricist, or performer may work), title words, and
format.
4. You can use the Limit To menu to
specify Music Score, Musical Recordings (All), or
Videorecording.
Examples using Stephen Sondheim's musical, Into the Woods
Sound Recordings:
sondheim woods mcd Finds a
musical compact disc.
sondheim
woods lp Finds an LP
album.
sondheim and woods
and (mcd or lp)
Keyword Boolean search finds CDs or LPs. Also try
HOMER's Limit To menu. Select "Musical Recordings
(All)."
sondheim woods
peters Finds items with performer
Bernadette Peters.
Videorecordings:
sondheim
woods dvd Finds
DVDs.
sondheim woods
vhs Finds VHS cassettes.
sondheim woods video?
Finds videorecordings, videodiscs, videotapes,
videocassettes, or other video formats.
Vocal Scores/Librettos:
sondheim woods vocal Finds a
vocal score with some or all of the songs.
sondheim woods librett?
Finds a libretto or librettos or libretti. (Libretto =
book/script.) Sound recordings (above) may also contain
librettos.
sondheim woods
children listen Finds the song
"Children Will Listen" from Sondheim's musical, Into
the Woods.
Find a List of Musicals in HOMER
To browse by call number on the computer (since similar materials are shelved together), use HOMER's Call Number search. You can also go to the shelves and browse books, librettos, and scores. (Sound and video recordings are behind the circulation desk, so you must use HOMER.)
1. Go to HOMER (the library
catalog).
2. For type of search, click Call
Number.
3. Type the beginning of the call number range.
For CDs: type: MCD s/st
Browses musical compact discs:
shows/soundtracks.
For LPs: type LP s/st
Browses LP records:
shows/soundtracks.
For DVDs: type DVD s/st The library
does not have many of these yet.
For books: type ML 1711 (histories) or
MT 955 (production; also see MT
956)
For librettos: type ML 48 Browse
through ML 50.9. Includes operas as well.
For vocal scores: type M 1503 Browse
through M 1509. Includes operas.
To browse a list of topics pertaining to musicals (e.g., histories, directories, librettos, or a list of musicals in any format), select the Subject Heading search and type musicals.
To browse by format or by name (e.g., composer, lyricist, or librettist), select the Keyword search, and type musicals [format/name]. Format could be MCD, LP, DVD, VHS, video?, librett?, or vocal (as in vocal score).
Examples:
musicals MCD Finds CDs of musicals (complete or
excerpted).
musicals librett? Finds librettos
(libretti), both in books and recordings.
musicals sondheim Finds scores, books,
and CDs with or about Sondheim's musicals. Use
the Limit To menu to specify format, e.g.,
books.
musicals sondheim mcd Finds CDs of
Sondheim's musicals (complete or excerpted).
Key Web Sites
Broadway.com Lists current productions on and off Broadway.
CastAlbumDB.com Searchable and browsable database of cast albums (stage musicals and recordings of film and TV musicals) released on LP and compact disc.
Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) Comprehensive database of shows produced on Broadway, including cast/crew, production dates, venue, and other historical information. Also includes historical and statistical information about theatres and Broadway. Created by the Research Department of League of American Theatres and Producers, the national trade association for Broadway. Based on theater programs and news reports.
Music Theatre International Web site of major licensing company provides information and links to licensing and production information, study guides, scores, databases, etc.
Musicals (Broadway & Hollywood) & Operettas (from University of Washington Libraries) List of metasites pertaining to musicals.
Musicals.net Includes songlists, synopses, selected lyrics, forums, and current news.
Musicals101.com "Comprehensive site with information on the history of musicals, composers, reviews, photos, etc. Also includes index of musicals with opening dates and the name of the licensing company which holds the rights to the show."
Theatricopia Musical theater metasite created by by Jill Hobgood. Includes links to pages pertaining to awards, books, composers, games, general sites, lyrics, magazines, mailing lists, multimedia, performers, shows, and shops.
[top]
Musical Theater vs. Musicals
"Musical theater . . . is a broad term meaning any type of music in the theater. . . . A musical . . . is a genre of popular musical theater (others are operetta, burlesque, vaudeville). Music theater seems to have a more narrow definition, designating a rather specific genre . . . often small in scale and primarily of the 20th century, that combine elements of music, drama, and sometimes dance in unconventional ways that result in works distinct from traditional forms" (Eunice Schroeder, "Music Theater vs. Musical Theater," in the Notes Style Sheet, accessed 28 July 2006).
This page was found at http://www.lib.uconn.edu/music/musicals.html