The Oxford Handbook of the Global Stage Musical

The stage musical constitutes a major industry not only in the US and the UK, but in many regions of the world. Over the last four decades many countries have developed their own musical theatre industries, not only by importing hit shows from Broadway and London but also by establishing or reviving local traditions of musical theatre. In response to the rapid growth of musical theatre as a global phenomenon, The Oxford Handbook of the Global Stage Musical presents new scholarly approaches to issues arising from these new international markets. The volume examines the stage musical from theoretical and empirical perspectives including concepts of globalization and consumer culture, performance and musicological analysis, historical and cultural studies, media studies, notions of interculturalism and hybridity, gender studies, and international politics. The thirty-three essays investigate major aspects of the global musical, such as the dominance of Western colonialism in its early production and dissemination, racism and sexism--both in representation and in the industry itself--as well as current conflicts between global and local interests in postmodern cultures. Featuring contributors from seventeen countries, the essays offer informed insider perspectives that reflect the diversity of the subject and offer in-depth examinations of specific cultural and economic systems. Together, they conduct penetrating comparative analysis of musical theatre in different contexts as well as a survey of the transcultural spread of musicals.

Robert Gordon is Professor of Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he established the first European MA as well as a BA in Musical Theatre. Robert's many scholarly publications include The Purpose of Playing and British Musical Theatre Since 1950, jointly authored with Olaf Jubin and Millie Taylor. He also edited The Oxford Handbook of Sondheim Studies and, together with Olaf Jubin, The Oxford Handbook of the British Musical. Olaf Jubin was Professor of Musical Theatre and Media Studies at Regent's University London, and is currently teaching at Goldsmiths, University of London. In addition to his publications on the mass media and musical theatre, he is joint author of British Musical Theatre since 1950 (with Robert Gordon and Millie Taylor), co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of the British Musical, and editor of Paris and the Musical: The City of Light on Stage and Screen.