The American Musical: History & Development traces the origins of music theatre from its 18th century European roots to the present. Highlights include:

• exploration of the minstrel show, burlesque and the revue.
• documentation of true music comedy the Princess Musicals of Jerome Kearn and P.G. Woodhouse leading to the masterpiece of American music drama, Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat.
• Cole Porter, the Gershwin Brothers, Rodgers and Hart.
• Oklahoma, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
• Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Weber.
• An...