Although not officially a series or a set, author Dietz continues his examination of Broadway musicals after publishing separate volumes covering the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. This 1970s installment examines 285 musicals that opened on Broadway during the decade. Included here are full-fledged musicals, personal appearances, reviews, and operas. Entries include the hosting theater, opening and closing dates, and Tony awards or nominations. Authors and composers, production personnel, cast, and number of acts are also detailed. A list of musical numbers with the principal performer follows. Some delightful commentary and unknown facts are also divulged, and Deitz provides a thorough synopsis of each show's plot as well as information about the production staff and performers. Critical reception and review references are also provided. Deitz manages to include information on cast recordings and movie or video/DVD releases, some rather rare and hard to come by, as well as information on published scripts and librettos. Numerous appendixes finish out the volume, along with a detailed index and bibliography. This volume is a robust addition to the collection of works covering Broadway musicals decade by decade. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.
