Musicals is a handy guide to this ever-popular art form, offering essential information on 180 major (and some not so major) productions. Each accessible, detailed entry includes: composer, lyricist, and first American and British performances; principal characters, plot synopsis, and hit songs; original stage cast and film credits; recommended recordings; and interesting background information, reviews, and anecdotes. The guide also includes brief biographies of many of the composers and lyricists, an overview of the development of musicals, and a glossary of terms. Covering everything from landmark productions like "Showboat" and the hit shows of Rodgers and Hammerstein, to the extravaganzas of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Musicals is an essential companion for devotees and newcomers alike. Michael Patrick Kennedy is a London music reviewer. John Muir is music curator