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Description

What does it mean to be a 'fan' of musical theatre? And how does 'fandom' continue to shape the genre?

From listening to Original Cast Albums on repeat in the basement, to camping in line overnight for first
row tickets to Rent, to crowdsourcing new musicals and interacting with performers on TikTok, the activities a musical theatre fan engages in have changed significantly over time, but the love and passion at the heart of the experience has remained the same.

Fandom in Musical Theatre delves into the universe of musical theatre fandom, investigating its dynamic communities. This book traces the historical context of fandom and then examines what it currently means to be a musical theatre fan, as fan culture shifts towards the digital.

Including case studies on the 'diva worship' of Barbra Streisand, as well as Rent and Hamilton, this accessible introduction presents a multifaceted view of a passionate subculture often overlooked in
academic discourse.

Published in Methuen Drama's Topics in Musical Theatre series, this book will appeal to anyone interested in exploring the intersections of musical theatre culture, fan engagement and community formation.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Early to Mid-Century Fandom History
Chapter 2: Megamusicals to Web 2.0, Fandom History
Chapter 3: Current Musical Theatre Fandom

Conclusion
Bibliography

Product details

Explore Methuen Drama
Published 23 Jul 2026
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 120
ISBN 9781350514591
Imprint Methuen Drama
Series Topics in Musical Theatre
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Jessica Hillman-McCord

Jessica Hillman-McCord is a Professor in the Depar…

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