Musicals are created by a disparate group of composers, lyricists, book writers, producers, directors, chorographers, theater owners, investors, general managers, casting directors, press agents, musical directors, orchestrators, dance arrangers, stage managers, and assistants. In The Anatomy of a Musical, producer Stuart Ostrow examines all of these in an attempt to fathom the musical's miraculous development, from the idea to the stage. Ostrow evaluates both the tangible and intangible essentials of a musical that make it fly or remain earthbound - music, lyrics, book, dance, direction, scenery, costumes, lighting, actors, energy, lunacy, drama, show savvy, and exhilaration. Master these essentials, and you can pick up your Tony Award. While the book is a celebration of the Broadway musical, it is also a meditation on what has caused its decline. It contains many personal references and anecdotes, some tragic, some comic, and others simply human. As the author shares his journey, he illuminates the character and ambitions of many of those he met along the way.