The complete history of the musical is covered; from its earliest origins in dance halls and vaudeville, to the record-breaking West End musicals and spectacular Broadway shows of today. Discover the history, plots and stars of musical theatre and movie musicals, go backstage to find out behind-the-scenes gossip and delve into profiles of successful creators such as Disney and Andrew Lloyd Webber in this illustrated celebration. Plus fun infographics summarize plot, characters and songs making this a handy reference guide of all the best-loved musicals.The complete history of the musical is covered; from its earliest origins in dance halls and vaudeville, to the record-breaking West End musicals and spectacular Broadway shows of today. Discover the history, plots and stars of musical theatre and movie musicals, go backstage to find out behind-the-scenes gossip and delve into profiles of successful creators such as Disney and Andrew Lloyd Webber in this illustrated celebration. Plus fun infographics summarize plot, characters and songs making this a handy reference guide of all the best-loved musicals.