• The Secret Life of the American Musical

  • How Broadway Shows Are Built
  • By: Jack Viertel
  • Narrated by: David Pittu
  • Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (243 ratings)

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The Secret Life of the American Musical  By  cover art

The Secret Life of the American Musical

By: Jack Viertel
Narrated by: David Pittu
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Publisher's summary

For almost a century, Americans have been losing their hearts and losing their minds in an insatiable love affair with the American musical. It often begins in actors and reaches its passionate zenith when it comes time for love, marriage, and children, who will start the cycle all over again. Americans love musicals. Americans invented musicals. Americans perfected musicals. But what, exactly, is a musical?

In The Secret Life of the American Musical, Jack Viertel takes musicals apart, puts them back together, sings their praises, marvels at their unflagging inventiveness, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he invites us to fall in love all over again by showing us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate audiences, and how one landmark show leads to the next - by design or by accident, by emulation or by rebellion - from Oklahoma! to Hamilton and onward.

©2016 Jack Viertel (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An enlightening trip for lovers of musicals." ( Kirkus)

Featured Article: The Show Must Go On—Premier Audiobooks Now Playing for Theater Fans


A good play or musical is emblematic of what we love about entertainment—a chance to escape, to be fully immersed in another world, to engage with our most human emotions in a moment brought brilliantly to life by the talents of impeccable performers. It's possible to get your fix of the Great White Way in the comfort of your own home. Here are just a few of our favorite theater audiobooks to tide you over until curtain call.

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What listeners say about The Secret Life of the American Musical

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great review lacked music

Loved the story and the author but really would have been better with excerpts from the music

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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so good I need to buy the printed book

Where does The Secret Life of the American Musical rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Viertel has written an informed and informative exploration of classic american musicals.

What does David Pittu bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pittu is an an excellent reader.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

In love with the American Musical

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! This is one of the most engaging and thoughtful audio books I have ever listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

Viertel is an insider whose love of the American musical is exceeded, perhaps, only by his vibrant insights and encyclopedic knowledge. The book is like a musical itself, with the chapters taking us from the overture to the 11 o'clock number--a perfect synchronization of content and form.

What does David Pittu bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator channels Viertel's love and enthusiasm for the material and he is clearly familiar enough with the numerous song lyrics quoted in each chapter so that his reading maintains the rhythm and integrity of the lyrics. First rate job.

Any additional comments?

If you love the musical theatre, as I do, listen to this book and will come away loving it even more.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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ITS BETTER AS AN AUDIO BOOK !

Where does The Secret Life of the American Musical rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top 15 audio books ever

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love all the voices and hearing the scenes played out

Which character – as performed by David Pittu – was your favorite?

any of hims Mama rose

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

Such a wonderful pass at the truest of American art forms. Jack takes a stance and delivers. Bravo!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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If You Like Broadway Musicals, This Book Is A Must

If you're curious about what makes Broadway Musicals tick, you will find this book absolutely fascinating.
Mr. Viertel uses examples from some of the most successful Broadway shows to illustrate the structure of a musical.
This book is an eye opener for theater lovers.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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An Informative Lecture

An enjoyable informative look at the American Musical, I will use some of the ideas with my own students.

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So detailed

This book is packed with details about what makes a good musical and talks about specific aspects of many of the most famous musicals. Very valuable for anybody aspiring to write a musical. Also will help you appreciate the musicals you have seen or will see.

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  • AR
  • 08-10-17

A Treat for Lovers of the Broadway Musical

For lovers of the Broadway musical, this is a great big birthday cake of a book. Jack Viertel, a veteran producer who is also director of City Center's celebrated Encores! series, examines each part of a well-constructed musical from the overture to the finale, each in a separate chapter. He gives detailed examples of how these elements were made to work in the most successful musicals (and how they failed to work in a few unsuccessful ones), showing us how very difficult it is to put together a show that really works.

While his heart is with the great classic shows that he grew up with—he was born in 1949—he is open-minded enough to be able to recognize the merits of more modern successes like Hamilton, even when they break the rules. Even if you've heard some of the stories he tells before (I have), the book is still a hugely enjoyable tour of the Broadway musical as a form.

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An expert writes an expert book

What a joyful education! I am so grateful this book exists! This is a history and a love letter to the form.

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