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(More customer reviews)In WICKED: A MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY, Paul Laird sets out to examine the musical WICKED, the Stephen Schwartz/Winnie Holzman Broadway hit that has gone on to win awards and play to countless audiences worldwide. Laird is clear in what he wants to accomplish in this book: this is not merely a recollection of the creative process behind the blockbuster musical but, rather, a thorough examination of the musical's score and orchestration. Of course, Laird does recall the creation of the show (something that has been already examined in Carol de Giere's comprehensive and thorough DEFYING GRAVITY: THE CREATIVE CAREER OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, FROM 'GODSPELL' TO 'WICKED' and David Cote's coffee table book WICKED: THE GRIMMERIE, both of which are certainly worthy of a read); his main focus is not on the people behind the show but on the music and, to some extent, lyrics and book of the show.
Laird reviews several different versions of the score and libretto of WICKED, including the very first draft of the script from 2001. It is striking to see the similarities and differences between these earlier versions of the show and the finalized version currently playing on Broadway. Laird also delves into the orchestrations of William David Brohn, which definitely give even greater weight to WICKED's already enchanting score. Laird's approach is both scholarly and enjoyable. He definitely uses a great deal of musical terminology (and rightly so), so for those readers who are not too sharp on these terms, I would highly recommend using the internet to look them up.
It would have been nice to have a detailed analysis of the book and lyrics, but I guess you can't have everything. Besides, Laird does not specifically set out to explore the book and lyrics of the show. All in all, WICKED: A MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY is a must for any WICKED fan or for anybody interested in musical theatre.
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In 2004, the original Broadway production of Wicked earned 10 Tony nominations, including best musical. Based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, the show continues to run on Broadway and has touring companies throughout the United States and around the world. In Wicked: A Musical Biography, author Paul Laird explores the creation of this popular Broadway musical through an examination of draft scripts, interviews with major figures, and the study of primary musical sources such as sketches, drafts, and completed musical scores.Laird brings together an impressive amount of detail on the creation of Wicked, including a look at Maguire's novel, as well as the original source material, The Wizard of Oz. This volume also offers a history of the show's genesis along with examinations of the draft scenarios and scripts that demonstrate the show's development. Laird also explores Stephen Schwartz's life and work, providing an analysis of the composer and lyricist's work on the show through song drafts, sketches, and musical examples. Laird also surveys the show's critical reception in New York and London, noting how many critics failed to appreciate its qualities or anticipate its great success. The unusual nature of Wicked's story--dominated by two strong female leads--is also placed in the context of Broadway history. A unique look into a successful Broadway production, Wicked: A Musical Biography will be of interest to musicologists, theatre scholars, students, and general readers alike.
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