This volume investigates the historical development, structural components, and critical scholarship surrounding the musical theater genre. William A. Everett, a recognized scholar in musicology and theater history, compiles an extensive bibliographic framework to assist researchers in navigating the vast literature of the musical. The text provides a systematic approach to identifying primary sources, critical analyses, and performance histories essential for academic inquiry into the medium.

Experts identify this text as a foundational resource for students and scholars of musical theater history. Readers frequently note the comprehensive nature of the bibliographic entries, which serve as a primary starting point for academic research in the field.