Gerald Bordman

Gerald Bordman (1931-2011) was an American theater historian and reference book author who specialized in American musical theater and drama. His comprehensive works on theatrical history became standard references in the field, particularly his multi-volume American Theatre series. Bordman's most influential work, The American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle, first published in 1978, provided a detailed year-by-year examination of American musical theater from the mid-1800s through the late 20th century. The book was regularly updated through multiple editions and remains a fundamental resource for theater scholars and enthusiasts. As a historian and critic, Bordman authored numerous other significant works including American Musical Comedy (1982), American Operetta (1981), and American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama. His research methodology was known for its meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive coverage of both major productions and lesser-known works. Beyond his focus on theater history, Bordman also produced The Oxford Companion to American Theatre and Jerome Kern: His Life and Music, demonstrating his breadth of knowledge in theatrical biography and musical composition. His work continues to be cited extensively in academic research and theatrical studies.

Readers value Bordman's books primarily as detailed reference sources for theater research and historical documentation. Reviews highlight the encyclopedic scope and chronological organization of his works, particularly The American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle. What readers liked: - Comprehensive coverage of both famous and obscure productions - Clear chronological structure - Detailed production information and cast lists - Usefulness for academic research What readers disliked: - Dense, dry writing style - Limited analysis or interpretation - Focus on facts over storytelling - Some factual errors in early editions Ratings average 4.2/5 on Goodreads and 4.4/5 on Amazon across his titles. Multiple reader reviews describe the books as "exhaustive" and "thorough." One Amazon reviewer notes they are "better as reference works than reading cover-to-cover." Several academic reviewers praise the bibliographic detail while critiquing the lack of cultural context. Library Journal called his writing "authoritative but sometimes tedious."

American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle (1978) - A comprehensive year-by-year examination of American musical theater from the colonial period through the 1970s.

American Operetta: From H.M.S. Pinafore to Sweeney Todd (1981) - A historical survey of American operetta development, including its European influences and evolution into modern musical theater.

Jerome Kern: His Life and Music (1980) - A biographical study of composer Jerome Kern's career and musical contributions, including detailed analysis of his works.

Days to Be Happy, Years to Be Sad: The Life and Music of Vincent Youmans (1982) - A biography documenting the career of Broadway composer Vincent Youmans and his musical achievements.

The Oxford Companion to American Theatre (1984) - An alphabetical reference work covering American theater history, personalities, plays, and theatrical terms.

American Musical Comedy: From Adonis to Dreamgirls (1982) - A chronological study of the development of American musical comedy from the 1880s through the early 1980s.

American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama (1987-2001) - A four-volume series detailing American theater history from 1869 to 2000.

Cecil Smith wrote multiple scholarly works on American musical theater history and provided detailed chronological accounts of Broadway productions from the 1800s through the 1900s. His research methodology and focus on theatrical development parallels Bordman's comprehensive approach.

Stanley Green published reference works documenting Broadway musicals and Hollywood musicals with detailed production information and historical context. His encyclopedic style covers similar territory to Bordman's catalogs of American theater.

Ethan Mordden produced a series of books examining Broadway musical theater decade by decade through the 20th century. His historical analysis of theatrical developments and production details aligns with Bordman's systematic documentation methods.

David Ewen authored numerous books on American popular music and musical theater with extensive factual documentation of shows and creators. His work catalogs theatrical history in a reference format comparable to Bordman's encyclopedic style.

Ken Bloom created comprehensive reference works on Broadway including detailed production histories and biographical information about theater personalities. His factual compilations of theatrical data serve a similar function to Bordman's historical record-keeping.