The Australian Musical
From the beginning
Published on 5. November 2019
Book
Hardback
432 pages
978-1-76052-966-6 (ISBN)
Description
Musical theatre has a special place in the hearts of Australians. Whether it is The Boy from Oz, Bran Nue Dae or Muriel's Wedding, we love to see Australian stories on the big stage with all the glamour, energy and vibrancy a musical can offer.
However magical they are on stage, performances leave behind few traces. Australia has a rich, hidden history of achievement in musical theatre which is now largely forgotten. Drawing on their long careers in musical performance, and extensive research in public and private collections, Peter Wyllie Johnston and Peter Pinne have compiled a definitive account of the history of musical theatre in Australia.
From small amateur performances in the early days, to international achievements, to the new wave of Australian musicals from the 1990s right through to the explosion of creativity in the 21st century, they recount the emotional roller-coaster of successes and disappointments of one of the most demanding art forms. Also included is an authoritative guide to over 300 Australian musicals.
Richly illustrated with colour photos from the early days to the present, The Australian Musical is a book to treasure for years to come, and an invaluable resource for anyone involved with theatre and music.
'This history helps to cement my relationship with Australian musical theater, which is in for the long haul.' - TED CHAPIN, President, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization
'This fine book is surely the family tree of the Australian musical - an impressive study and fascinating read.' - REG LIVERMORE AO
'Groundbreaking . . . strips away assumptions and misconceptions about Australian musicals, and exposes their true history for the first time' - from the introduction by MARK MADAMA, Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Michigan
However magical they are on stage, performances leave behind few traces. Australia has a rich, hidden history of achievement in musical theatre which is now largely forgotten. Drawing on their long careers in musical performance, and extensive research in public and private collections, Peter Wyllie Johnston and Peter Pinne have compiled a definitive account of the history of musical theatre in Australia.
From small amateur performances in the early days, to international achievements, to the new wave of Australian musicals from the 1990s right through to the explosion of creativity in the 21st century, they recount the emotional roller-coaster of successes and disappointments of one of the most demanding art forms. Also included is an authoritative guide to over 300 Australian musicals.
Richly illustrated with colour photos from the early days to the present, The Australian Musical is a book to treasure for years to come, and an invaluable resource for anyone involved with theatre and music.
'This history helps to cement my relationship with Australian musical theater, which is in for the long haul.' - TED CHAPIN, President, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization
'This fine book is surely the family tree of the Australian musical - an impressive study and fascinating read.' - REG LIVERMORE AO
'Groundbreaking . . . strips away assumptions and misconceptions about Australian musicals, and exposes their true history for the first time' - from the introduction by MARK MADAMA, Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Michigan
Reviews / Votes
'Immaculately researched and fabulously comprehensive' - Stage Whispers'Lovingly compiled' - The Australian
'A masterpiece, a fabulous coffee table book which is brimming with facts and photographs' - ATV Today
'What a treasure trove this will be for fans of the genre, and, really, for anyone who's interested in the history of the performing arts in Australia.' - The Courier Mail
'The Australian Musical is an authoritative, definitive account of the history of musical theatre in Australia. It is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to investigate Australian musicals, a publication to regularly dip into for information, and a book that musical fans will treasure.' - Limelight Magazine
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Sydney
Australia
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 235 mm
Weight
1974 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-76052-966-6 (9781760529666)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Peter Wyllie Johnston is a musician and writer, Director of the Australian Music Theatre Research Institute (TAMTRI) and Associate Professor with honorary status at the University of Melbourne. His publications include From the Melburnian (2011), The Nick Enright Songbook (2014), Morag Beaton-Her Life and Her Art (2019) and more than 200 articles on music. He is the composer of the music and lyrics of Moses-the Spirit of Freedom, the additional book of Joanna White's Girl in Pink, and the music, lyrics and book (with literary contributions by Trent O'Bryan) of Tamarama.
Peter Pinne is one of the most prolific creators of Australian stage musicals, with credits including Prisoner--Cell Block H the Musical, and the theme tune for Sons and Daughters. For many years he worked in senior roles for the Grundy Organisation on such iconic shows as Neighbours, Prisoner, The Young Doctors and Secret Valley. He is the author of the discography Australian Performers, Australian Performances, and writes reviews and articles for industry magazine Stage Whispers.
Peter Pinne is one of the most prolific creators of Australian stage musicals, with credits including Prisoner--Cell Block H the Musical, and the theme tune for Sons and Daughters. For many years he worked in senior roles for the Grundy Organisation on such iconic shows as Neighbours, Prisoner, The Young Doctors and Secret Valley. He is the author of the discography Australian Performers, Australian Performances, and writes reviews and articles for industry magazine Stage Whispers.
Content
Foreword by John Kotzas, CEO, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Preface by Peter Wyllie Johnston
Introduction by Mark Madama, Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Michigan
Part I: A History of the Australian Musical
1. From Federation to FFF 1901-20
2. Adelaide and the Origins of the Australian Musical 1920-32
3. Australia Finds a Voice 1932-36
4. The Random Years 1937-60
5. No More Gumnuts and Wattle 1960-79
6. The Enright Era 1979-85
7. A Bran Nue Dae 1986-2000
8. New Voices for a New Century
Part II: The A-Z of the Australian Musical
Acknowledgements
Notes
Image References
General Index
Index of Australian Musicals
Index of Song Titles
Preface by Peter Wyllie Johnston
Introduction by Mark Madama, Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Michigan
Part I: A History of the Australian Musical
1. From Federation to FFF 1901-20
2. Adelaide and the Origins of the Australian Musical 1920-32
3. Australia Finds a Voice 1932-36
4. The Random Years 1937-60
5. No More Gumnuts and Wattle 1960-79
6. The Enright Era 1979-85
7. A Bran Nue Dae 1986-2000
8. New Voices for a New Century
Part II: The A-Z of the Australian Musical
Acknowledgements
Notes
Image References
General Index
Index of Australian Musicals
Index of Song Titles