TH 367: Musical Theater History & Analysis: Home
Welcome
Playbill, Theatre Mania, Broadway.com
Welcome to the research guide for Musical Theater History
Use the links below to find reviews and production information for musicals past and present.
Find books on musical theater history and analysis in the "Books" box. Search for CDs and scores in the Catalog.
Questions? Can't find what you need? Ask a Librarian! Or chat with library staff below in the yellow box
Books from the Catalog & Ebooks
Broadway.com
To find books on Musical Theater history and theory in the Library catalog, try the following search:
Click the link below to access almost 200,000 electronic books
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Ebsco Ebook Collection This link opens in a new windowElectronic books collection. Over twice the size of the library's print collection and provides broader subject coverage for non-arts topics. Read books online with a user-friendly interface that requires no downloading or download books to desktop, laptop, or mobile device. Link to detailed tutorials.
Useful Links
Today
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Internet Broadway Database (IBDB)IBDB provides a comprehensive database of shows produced on Broadway, including all "title page" information about each production. IBDB also offers historical information about theatres and various statistics and fun facts related to Broadway.
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Playbill VaultOriginal Cast, Production Dates, Awards etc. for Broadway productions.
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Broadway Musical HomeThis site has a specific catagory for shows that are considered "flops".
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Lost Plays DatabaseThe Lost Plays Database is a wiki-style forum for scholars to share information about lost plays in England, 1570-1642. Its purpose is to add lost plays to scholarly discussions of early modern theatrical activity.
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International Bibliography of Theater and Dance This link opens in a new windowSelect "Unlocked" on left side filter to access articles. Full text articles on drama, theatre, dance, choreography, modern dance, ballet, opera, puppetry, performance production, scenic design, lighting & sound design, costume, cinema, and film.
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ProQuest Research Library This link opens in a new windowPeriodical and newspaper articles, includes full-text articles for printing or download. Including production reviews.
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New York Times (1980 to current) This link opens in a new windowRequires a Seattle Public Library card to access.
Provides full-text articles from the New York Times 1980 - current. -
New York Times Historical (1851 - 2011) This link opens in a new windowRequires a Seattle Public Library card to access.
New York Times Historical (1851 - 2011)
A ProQuest database that includes the entire historical run of The New York Times from 1851-2011. Digital page and article images. -
Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text This link opens in a new windowFull text articles on cinematography, film & television theory, preservation & restoration, production, reviews, technical aspects, screenwriting. See list of journal titles.
Finding Musical Theater CDs/ Scores
To find musical theater CDs in the Library's collection, use the Advanced Search.
Change the drop-down menu to "Title" and select "Audio : CD" as the format.
To find scores (usually vocal selections), change the format to "Score".
Finding Production Reviews
Time Out
Looking for a review of a particular production?
At the Cornish Library, Gale and the International Bibliography of Theater and Dance; and at Seattle Public Library, the New York Times databases, contain newspaper reviews.
Searching for reviews looks a little different in each database, but the principles are the same. Using the database's Advanced Search option, you can target your search to find specific types of documents.
In the Advanced Search in either database, enter your search terms (eg. "The Pajama Game"), and then choose the type of information you would like, under "Document Type"
**Look for broad choices like "Review" or "Entertainment Review, " in addition to the more specific "Theater Review"**
You can use additional limiters as well, such as "Full Text," or narrow by date range. You may also want to limit by location, publication title, or language.
The Pajama Game (1953)