This volume collects 28 biographies of the greatest songwriters and lyricists of Broadway musicals. It goes below the surface to see what made them tick and to uncover the secrets of their success - as well as the personal foibles that sometimes led to their downfall. In presenting these life histories, full of drama, humor, and poignancy, "The Geniuses of the American Musical Theatre" gives us the story of the golden age of Broadway from a well-informed, witty, and warm-hearted new perspective. The first book of its type ever assembled, it is a tremendous attraction for all those who love theatre and popular music, with intimate, little-known details of popular songwriters' lives.