Description: With careful detail, Mordden highlights the shift in Broadway from shows that were mere star vehicles, showcasing big-name talents, to bolder stories, stuffed with character and atmosphere. During this period, subject matter became more intricate and plots more human; Mordden demonstrates how, in response, musical conventions were polished, writing became more finely crafted, and dance became truly indispensable. Along the way, readers not only meet the key players -- such as Ethel Merman, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Stephen Sondheim, and Leonard Bernstein -- but also get the backstage scoop on why The King and I and Gypsy pushed the envelope and why West Side Story is so timeless.

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