This volume investigates the historical trajectory and artistic evolution of the American musical theater from its inception through the turn of the 21st century. Gerald Bordman, a respected authority on the subject, synthesizes decades of research to provide a comprehensive chronicle of the genre. By organizing the material chronologically by season, the author establishes a clear framework for understanding how musical comedy, operetta, and revues shifted in response to changing cultural climates and production standards.

Experts and theater historians frequently cite this work as a foundational reference text for the study of American musical theater. Readers often note the density of the prose and the exhaustive nature of the indexing, which makes it a standard resource for academic and professional research.