All That Jazz: The Life and Times of the Musical Chicago Hardcover – April 2, 2018

Exceptional. Mordden is the best American writer on the subject of musical theater. Here, in discussing the many pleasures of the Kander & Ebb musical "Chicago," he begins with the city itself and how corruption flourished there, especially in the areas of law enforcement, courtroom dramatics and newspaper sensationalism. He introduces us to the 1920s reporter Maurine Watkins Dallas, the actual models for "jazz slayers" Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly and how they were portrayed as a play, silent film, the cleaned-up "Roxie Hart" movie starring Ginger Rogers and -- most spectacularly, Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera in the "musical vaudeville" directed by Bob Fosse and the film version of that musical starring Renee Zellwwegger and Catherine Zeta Jones. Every step in this property's colorful history is examined with wit and wisdom by Mordden. Special attention is given to the troubled history of trying to get the musical "Chicago" onstage and Kander & Ebb's brilliant use of various vaudeville and Broadway performers of the era as the inspiration for numbers (Bert Williams, Helen Morgan, Sophie Tucker, etc.). Lyricist Fred Ebb's favorite trivia question was "Name the Broadway musical that was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won none. "It was the original 1975 production of "Chicago," since everything that year went to "A Chorus Line." The phenomenal, record-breaking , stripped-down revival of "Chicago" starring Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth ultimately turned out to be the real "singular sensation." The movie musical, with its own novel framing device, dropped several numbers, but was one of the very few musicals to win the Oscar for "Best Picture." Deservedly so. Take a bow. Mr. Mordden and all associated with this show business phenomenon.

Ethan Mordden is, of course, one of the best writers on the Musical Theatre that we have, as well as being THE most entertaining.His multi-book survey of our national treasure, decade by decade,is, by far, the most extensive... and opinionated overview that we are likely to getAll of which is to say that, even when the reader (Okay, THIS reader) might disagree with his premise. Which is to say "Chicago" is not only NOT the greatest musical since "Oklahoma", it's not even the most challenging Kander & Ebb score. ... that's either "The Visit" or... wait for it... "Zorba. (Although I will allow that "Chicago" is their most successfully sustained.)I am ruminating because, let's face it: If you're a fan of the musical, you already know you're going to get this, and if you're not.. you're not reading this.

Nearly 10 million people have seen the revival of this show, a built-in audience for this book if there ever was one. However, the book quickly glosses over the revival (and the later movie) near the end, focusing most of its pages on several older movies and previous theatrical versions of the show, so unless you are interested in the history of the City of Chicago and several early movies, this book is not for you. The author seems to have thought that we needed a deep backstory of the City of Chicago and how such crimes could occur, when the show, other than having the title "Chicago", could easily take place in any location and still be a crowd-pleaser. A scholarly work from a noted theater historian, but not an easy or particularly enjoyable read.

I thought it would have lots of photos of the musical.The book is about how and where the musical came from and how it became a musical.It was written as a morality play by a woman journalist in very corrupt and high crime Chicago.Cecil B. Demille later made a movie.Eventually, it became a musical.There were some changes to the story and how the characters were presented from one incarnation to another.

not a particular style of writing I care for. lots of information of Chicago, the town and inhabitants and the long past of the recent Chicago, play and film that we know and love. too much past, not enough present. the author has all the facts (lots and lots of facts) though they were not styled for pleasure reading. i'm spoiled, I guess, I like to be entertained. thank you for your hard work.

Great for musical theater fans. Great to be listening while working.

Mordren is probably one of the best writers on the Broadway musical and this book is first rate.

Loved it!!

A nicely detailed exploration of the background to and creation of the musical Chicago. I particularly liked revisiting the intention and staging of the original production.

It is a gift but not given yet as the day is still a few days away

Excellent