Death Before Sentencing
Making a case for substantial prison reform, this week's review examines the lack of accountability American county and local jail systems take for the avoidable deaths of detainees.
Posted on in Review of the Week
The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia
This week's review charts the life and career of the late composer and lyricist whose groundbreaking work revitalized the world of musical theater
Posted on January 10, 2022 in Review of the Week
The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia
Pender, Richard F. Rowman & Littlefield, 2021
652p bibl index, 9781538115862 $135.00, 9781538115879 $128.00
As the former executive editor and publisher of the website Everything Sondheim and managing editor of The Sondheim Review, Pender has impeccable credentials for producing this volume. The alphabetically arranged entries cover all aspects of Sondheim’s career, including all musicals and other works and significant personnel such as George Abbott and Arthur Laurents. Ten songs are covered in depth to illustrate the breadth and depth of Sondheim’s composition, and additional essays cover such varied topics as favorite films, opera, and musical likes (and dislikes). Essays on individual shows include synopses of production history, musical numbers, scores, critical reviews, recordings, and original cast and characters; all essays are well written and focused on facts rather than Pender’s opinions. Some black-and-white photos are included, although they could be more crisply focused. The sole criticism to this otherwise excellent resource is the index, which does not list every song, performer, or character mentioned in the essays. That point aside, this encyclopedia is required reading for those interested in musical theater, and it will be particularly valuable when read in conjunction with Hat Box: The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim (2011).
Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals; general readers.
Reviewer: A. J. Adam, Strategic Planning Online
Subject: Humanities – Performing Arts – Music
Choice Issue: Apr 2022
Enjoy this week’s review? Check out more reviews of related titles:
- Hollywood Diplomacy: Film Regulation, Foreign Relations, and East Asian Representations
- Horror Film: A Critical Introduction
- The Poetry of Pop
- Animated Personalities: Cartoon Characters and Stardom in American Theatrical Shorts
- Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art
Related Posts
-
-
Making the MexiRican City
To commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month, this week's review analyzes the community-building and activist practices Mexican and Puerto Rican migrants employed in 20th-century Michigan.
Posted on in Review of the Week
-
Understanding and Teaching Contemporary US History Since Reagan
This week's review offers a roadmap for teaching contemporary US history, providing instructors with tips to tackle recent divisive topics and engage students with primary sources.
Posted on in Review of the Week
-
Laboring for Justice
Researching the experiences of day laborers in Denver, Colorado, this week's review examines wage theft and nefarious labor practices that reflect broader systemic labor issues in the US.
Posted on in Review of the Week