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Description
A gateway resource to understanding the historical and contemporary women who have been foundational in bringing musicals and plays to life on the iconic stages of Broadway, and beyond.
When considering the birth and evolution of Broadway, we have heard of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and of Bob Fosse and Joe Papp, but what about women such as Gail Merrifield, Julie Taymor, Lorraine Hansberry, and Zelda Fichandler? Without them, we would not have landmark classics such as The Great White Hope, The Lion King, and a Raisin in the Sun, not to mention New York's beloved free Shakespeare in the Park from the Public Theater or even the Tony Awards. Understand the evolution of Broadway from its early days through today by getting to know the female playwrights, composers and lyricists, directors, producers, choreographers, technicians, and leading actors who have defined this iconic performance genre.
Each chapter covers the many roles that it takes to make a show unforgettable, profiling the leading women in that field, including contemporary firsts like Larissa Fasthorse (first Native American woman playwright on Broadway) and Waitress (the first Broadway musical led by an all-female creative team). Profiles of shows that feature women's stories and female leads are also covered, from My fair Lady to Wicked, from Chicago to Six. Beyond New York City's Broadway, this primer also dedicates a chapter to exploring the leading women in the world theater, including in London's West End, India, Iran, and Israel.
Table of Contents
Timeline
1. From “The Broad Way” to Broadway: An Introduction
2. Playwrights
Caldwell, Anne
Childs, Kirsten
Donnelly, Dorothy
Ephron, Nora
Fasthorse, Larissa
Goodrich, Frances
Hansberry, Lorraine
Hatton, Ann Kemble
Hellman, Lillian
Henley, Beth
Holzman, Winnie
Hopkins, Pauline Elizabeth
Hudes, Quiara Alegría
Kanin, Fay
Kerr, Jean
Kron, Lisa
Lee, Young Jean
Loos, Anita
Nichols, Anne
Norman, Marsha
Nottage, Lynn
Parks, Suzan-Lori
Shange, Ntozake
Spewack, Bella
Swados, Elizabeth
Taub, Shaina
Vogel, Paula
Wasserstein, Wendy
3. Composers and Lyricists
Ahrens, Lynn
Asare, Masi
Bareilles, Sara
Comden, Betty
Fields, Dorothy
Grant, Micki
Green, Amanda
Leigh, Carolyn
Moss, Lucy
Rodgers, Mary
Swift, Kay
Tesori, Jeanine
4. Producers and Directors
Producers
Crawford, Cheryl
Fichandler, Zelda
Flanagan, Hallie
Furman, Jill
Gandy, Irene
Jones, Margo
McCann, Elizabeth
Nugent, Nelle
Selznick, Irene Mayer
Directors
Carroll, Vinnette
Chavkin, Rachel
Havoc, June
Paulus, Diane
Silverman, Leigh
Stroman, Susan
Taymor, Julie
5. Choreographers
Brown, Camille A.
Clarke, Hope
Daniele, Graciela
De Mille, Agnes
Garcia, Karla Puno
Haney, Carol
Lee, Baayork
Lynne, Gillian
Marshall, Kathleen
Reinking, Ann
Scott, Ellenore
Tharp, Twyla
White, Onna
6. Designers and Technicians
Aldredge, Theoni V.
Bernstein, Aline
Cho, Linda
Hilferty, Susan
Hould-Ward, Ann
Kim, Willa
Klotz, Florence
Roth, Ann
Sharaff, Irene
Zipprodt, Patricia
Zuber, Catherine
Hair and Makeup Designers
Avallone, Angelina
Cimino, Sarah
Loukas, Leah
Mathis, Nikiya
Lighting Designers
Katz, Natasha
Madeira, Marcia
Musser, Tharon
Rosenthal, Jean
Schriever, Jennifer
Scenic Designers
Björnson, Maria
Buether, Miriam
Christie, Bunny
Hauck, Rachel
Sound Designers
Hefferan, Palmer
Paz, Jessica
Staub, Joanna Lynne
Stage Managers
Cave, Lisa Dawn
Jenkins, Beverly
Mitchell, Ruth
7. Leading Ladies
Alexander, Jane
Allen, Debbie
Andrews, Julie
Bailey, Pearl
Bayes, Nora
Benanti, Laura
Block, Stephanie J.
Burnett, Carol
Channing, Carol
Chenoweth, Kristin
Cushman, Charlotte
Davis, Viola
DeBose, Ariana
Ebersole, Christine
Foster, Sutton
Goldsberry, Renée Elise
Grant, Lee
Hall, Juanita
Hayes, Helen
Hilty, Megan
Hurder, Robyn
Jones, Cherry
Lansbury, Angela
LuPone, Patti
Martin, Mary
McDonald, Audra
Menzel, Idina
Merman, Ethel
Miller, Marilyn
Miller, Patina
Minnelli, Liza
Moreno, Rita
Neuwirth, Bebe
Peters, Bernadette
Ralph, Sheryl Lee
Rashad, Phylicia
Rivera, Chita
Rose, Anika Noni
Salonga, Lea
Soo, Phillipa
Tyson, Cicely
Uggams, Leslie
Verdon, Gwen
Appendices
Encore 1 – First Ladies of the American Theater
Encore 2 – What's in a Name?
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Product details
| Published | Dec 10 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (PDF) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 384 |
| ISBN | 9798765143148 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 20 bw |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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