The Big Parade: Meredith Willson's Musicals from The Music Man to 1491

In the 1950s, Meredith Wilson's The Music Man became the third-longest-running musical after My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music. Dominic McHugh's book The Big Parade reveals Willson's pre-Broadway career and the reception of his other three musicals, highlighting his commitment to innovation and novelty.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In the 1950s, Meredith Willson's The Music Man achieved remarkable success, becoming the third-longest-running musical after My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music. This remarkable achievement occurred in a decade that witnessed the premieres of other popular works by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls, and Bernstein and Sondheim's West Side Story. The Music Man continues to be a popular choice for productions and has been featured in various television shows, including Family Guy and Grace and Frankie.

While Willson is best known for The Music Man, his career as a composer and lyricist is far more extensive. In his book, The Big Parade, author Dominic McHugh delves into newly uncovered letters, manuscripts, and production files to reveal the unique combination of experiences that shaped Willson's pre-Broadway career and led him to compose The Music Man at the age of 55. McHugh also provides a comprehensive analysis of the reception of The Music Man and examines the strengths and weaknesses of Willson's other three musicals.

Through his sustained commitment to innovation and novelty, Willson's works showcased a distinctive blend of musical styles and themes. The Big Parade offers valuable insights into the processes involved in writing these musicals, as well as the challenges and hardships faced by artists working in the commercial theatre. It sheds light on the creative processes, collaborations, and commercial considerations that shaped Willson's theatrical works and contributed to their enduring popularity.

In conclusion, The Big Parade by Dominic McHugh provides a fascinating and in-depth exploration of Meredith Willson's life and career. It sheds light on the origins of The Music Man, the reception of his other musicals, and the creative processes that shaped his theatrical works. Through its rich content and insightful analysis, the book offers a deeper understanding of Willson's contributions to the world of musical theatre and his lasting impact on the genre.

Weight: 638g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197554739