A great reference book that I am glad exists as a historical record. With the subtitle "The Legacy That the History Books Left Out," this book is clear from the start that it aims to document the numerous and impactful contributions of femme writers to the musical theater genre. There's not much room for in-depth exploration but the book is successful in inking the record of women musical theater writers thus far.

The structure of this book leaves something to be desired. I appreciated the organization of writer vignettes by decade, as it storytells the development of musical theater as a genre. However, this structure was muddied in regards to writers with decades-long careers. In addition, the documenting of co-collaborators resulted in repetitive copy.

The writing was informative, but not necessarily engaging. It's not a book to read cover to cover--it fares much better as a reference guide, in my opinion.

I am grateful for the free ARC ebook copy that was provided to me by NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rounded up. This is an important work, highlighting so many women who impacted off-Broadway and Broadway through their writing. There were a few times I was confused how specific authors were split (as co-collaborators were sometimes mentioned in different decades). There were also times previous sections were referenced but recall was tricky due to the sheer volume of information, while other times, information was repeated if there were multiple women who collaborated on the same major piece. These are small critiques compared to the mass volume of information that is provided and its importance in lifting women’s voices as writers for Broadway.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Jennifer Ashley Tepper’s “Women Writing Musicals” is a necessary inclusion in the musics theatre history canon. As a female musical theatre librettist myself, and a long time fan of Tepper’s work, it’s an absolute pleasure to dive in with her expert research at the helm.

Spanning from before the turn of the century to modern day, the book explores both household names and forgotten, unsung creatives. It feels as though no stone is left unturned.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I will say that I had different expectations for this book than what it ended up being. I expected a sort of history of women who have worked on musicals throughout history, and nuggets of information on their lives, contributions, and remarkable things that they had done. The end result, however, is something a little less detailed and very general, but nonetheless still important.

The descriptions of the women and their lives and works are short, almost obituary or blurb pieces, instead of being deep dives on each of them. I did expect a bit more about each and all of them, but understand this would have been difficult given the length of the book and sheer volume of people covered. I feel like this works well almost as a coffee table book - perfect for little nuggets of study, but not for a single sit-down to read.

I do admire, however, the sheer amount of women who were canvassed in this book, and wince at the propensity of those in theatre to dismiss or play down the contributions of women in some contexts. This is a very important book for a certain subset of study, and I definitely admire it on that front. I do just wish it took a little more time being a book as opposed to simply a compilation.

As a huge Broadway fan who’s seen over 20 shows this year, Women Writing Musicals by Jennifer Ashley Tepper was an absolute delight to read. This book is a treasure trove of stories about over 300 women who’ve shaped the history of Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals—many of whom have been overlooked for far too long.

Tepper’s research is incredible, spotlighting everyone from legends like Jeanine Tesori to hidden gems like Micki Grant and María Grever. The stories are inspiring, eye-opening, and a reminder of the vital role women have played in shaping theater. Whether it’s Tin Pan Alley pioneers, protest musical writers, or today’s trailblazers, each chapter feels like a celebration of creativity and resilience.

If you love Broadway, theater history, or simply want to discover incredible stories of women breaking barriers, this book is a must-read. It’s a fitting tribute to the women who’ve written the soundtrack of our lives, on stage and beyond.

Jen Tepper is such a gift to the Broadway community. Her research is invaluable and the relationships she’s able to form in order to glean the wealth of information she does for her writing are remarkable. It’s so evident how much she cares about Broadway, and how much love and effort she puts into carefully documenting these stories—how important she realizes it is to capture them before it’s too late, and to celebrate all of the people whose names will never be at the top of a marquee but whose contributions have shaped American theatre nonetheless. I’m so grateful to live in a world where she’s writing. This is a fantastic volume to add to a theatre lover’s collection.

🌟 A Comprehensive and Inspiring Tribute to Women in Musical Theatre 🌟

As a woman myself who has spent the past year writing a jukebox musical for my Master’s project, Women Writing Musicals by Jennifer Ashley Tepper felt like an invaluable resource and a powerful affirmation of the vital contributions women have made to this art form. Tepper meticulously chronicles the stories of over 300 female creators who shaped Broadway and Off-Broadway history, from celebrated legends like Betty Comden and Jeanine Tesori to lesser-known pioneers such as Micki Grant and María Grever.

The book is thoughtfully organised by decades, creating a chronological tapestry of innovation and artistry that reflects the evolution of theatre over time. Each profile is concise—ranging from a paragraph to a couple of pages—making the book feel more like an encyclopaedia than a narrative history. Yet, Tepper’s engaging writing ensures that these women come alive, with each story offering a glimpse into the resilience, talent, and ingenuity required to thrive in such a demanding industry.

What makes this book particularly useful for scholars and practitioners is the comprehensive index and list of cited shows at the end, an excellent resource for anyone seeking to delve deeper into the history of musical theatre. Tepper also includes fascinating anecdotes that illuminate the broader cultural and social contexts in which these women worked, from the protest musicals of the 1970s to the trailblazing all-female writing team of 1922.

This is not a casual read to breeze through but rather an essential reference for anyone passionate about theatre. It’s a treasure trove of information that I would recommend to academics, students, and theatre lovers eager to explore the often-overlooked contributions of women in musical theatre.

Many thanks to Rowan and Littlefield and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. It was an absolute privilege to read and review such a significant work.

🎵 Women Writing Musicals is more than a book—it’s a standing ovation for the women who have shaped the landscape of musical theatre. Bravo! 👏

As a middle school musical theatre teacher I devoured this book! I cannot wait to share it with my students. They seem to know all the men in musicals that most classes study, but this book will help introduce them to how powerful women have been in the broadway and off broadway community!

Thank you to NetGalley, and Rowman & Littlefield for this eARC. It was an honor and delight getting to read this. Being a reader who loves to read non-fiction, this was a wonderful treat for my grey matter. What a lovely premise, and yay for me to get to read this during non-fiction November.

Women Writing Musicals, is highly detailed, and the content vehemently shows that the author has researched well, and in deep over the subject. It’s commendable how the names and their stories are arranged categorically, making it easy for reader, theatre/musical aficionados, and the commoner or someone naïve with respect to the sub-genre.

The book has narrative in detail not only about achievements, accomplishments, and contributions of women in the history of Broadway and its shaping, but also writes about the difficulties women faced doing so. The contributions of women in the progression of Broadway history is something that remains much overlooked over decades and we can’t say for definite if it’s totally the opposite right now, but something documented like this is a pretty solid manner of bringing it forth for the world to know.

I also applause for the Introduction to the book before the contents even begin, as it shows the state of mind, and motivation of the author to contemplate such a powerful book.

A thorough outline of the amazing women behind the scenes in musical theater. If you want to nerd out, this is it! The author is upfront about how she organized these women, and the women she inevitably had to leave out. I appreciate reading the author's thought process prior to the body of work.

Many thanks to Net Galley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review, .
A lovely and informative look at women in musical theatre. In a field that feels overrun by men, it's nice to read about the careers of women who changed the face of musical theatre.

I would love to see this book used in college courses about the history of musical theatre!

Jennifer Ashley Tepper is the author of the iconic Untold Stories of Broadway book series and Creative director of New York’s 54 Below cabaret. I can think of nobody better to write this book, and as a musical theater lover I enjoyed every minute. As someone who has been involved in musical theater for over 50 years (my debut musical, Days O’ The Pioneers, was performed by my 4th grade class) I was also surprised to find out that I learned a LOT. Tepper profiles over 300 women who have been involved as composers, lyricists, and book writers for hundreds of musicals. In a very real way, Women Writing Musicals is the story of musical theater in America, as there isn’t a decade in musical theater history where women have not been involved at the highest levels, often shaping the field with innovative creative material.

Here’s the first thing I learned: the first woman to write a libretto for a Broadway musical was Ann Julia Hatton in 1793. Yep, only a decade after independence the Broadway lights were on and women were a central part of it. By the 1870s, Black women were creating and performing musical shows. Although the Broadway story is overwhelmingly white, I was surprised to see contributions from Black and Hispanic women from as long ago as the 19th Century.

The book is organized by decades, and most of the profiles of the women included are short, ranging from a paragraph to (occasionally) 2 pages. This makes the effect of the book much like an encyclopedia rather than something a casual reader would sit down and read right through, a comprehensive index and list of cited shows is at the end of the book for those who want to explore further. The profiles, however, are not dry or dull Tepper makes these women real, and very interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the theater and wants to learn more.

Many thanks to Rowan and Littlefield and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Women Writing Musicals by Jennifer Ashley Tepper is a fascinating and in-depth exploration of the contributions and impact women have had on the world of musical theater. Tepper, a well-known figure in Broadway circles, sheds light on the often overlooked female creators who have shaped and continue to shape the genre. Through interviews, historical context, and personal stories, the book celebrates the achievements of these talented women while also addressing the challenges they have faced in a male-dominated industry. With Tepper’s insightful and passionate writing, Women Writing Musicals is not only a tribute to the trailblazers but also an inspiring read for anyone interested in the history and future of musical theater. It’s an empowering and essential resource for theater enthusiasts and those who champion diverse voices in the arts.

(Thanks to Rowman & Littlefield for providing me with an eARC.)

The book was organized into small sections about each woman, along with their work in various musicals. The information focused on their musical theatre work instead of being summaries of their lives. It was informative and there were a lot of shows and songs that I wanted to look into further.

I was curious to read this book because my interest in musicals is intro-level and I thought this would be a way to expand my knowledge. It most definitely did that, but I also think this book would be best for people who are musical theater buffs. The book is quite lengthy and I found myself losing interest at points. I did like the framing of the book, with chapters containing a decade of time, and a series of biographies within those chapters/decades. The writing is very accessible and I did feel like I learned a ton of new information about women in musical theatre history. This feels like it would make a good reference book, as well.

As a lover of musical theatre this was such a joy to stumble upon! Women are often so easily overlooked and forgotten in the arts, so it was wonderful to see how much research and effort Jennifer Ashley Tepper put into making sure these women's stories were told and their work remembered. A fascinating deep dive into the world of musical theatre, this book spans the 18th century all the way up to these post-pandemic years, which means there was a of information to absorb, yet it never felt tedious or dry. The author's respect for these women and their craft was clear from page one, which made for a truly lovely read.

Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield, Applause, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Ashley Teppler! An icon writing about icons. I loved this look into the role of women writers in the history of the musical, and will definitely be giving this out as Christmas presents to my theatrically inclined friends!

Jennifer Ashley Tepper clearly went in-depth with her research for WOMEN WRITING MUSICALS. It was a very interesting and easily digestible read. I did really enjoy looking at her sources cited as well. It definitely makes you want to go into an in-depth rabbit hole of more niche musical theatre shows that people do not (but should) talk about enough today.

Women Writing Musicals was a fascinating read. After an introductory chapter on the 18th and 19th centuries, the book chapters were organised by decade, and within those chapters were a series of biographies showcasing the women writing for musical theatre in that time period. These paragraphs varied in length from a few lines to a couple of pages depending on the contributions made. On the one hand, I thought this layout worked well, and it resulted in a book that can easily be dipped into for just a few minutes at a time. On the other hand, part of me would have liked more of a narrative, placing each writer within the context of musical theatre at the time. By the end, though, I decided that probably wasn't necessary, as readers of this book are unlikely to be musical theatre novices and fans would already have a good sense of different periods of musical theatre history, having encountered style through the shows themselves or from other general books of musicals. There were small profile pictures of the women, but that was the only illustration throughout; a few additional images, such as show posters or snapshots of relevant sheet music, might have added a little more charm and variety. But overall I thought this book an excellent reference work for musical theatre fans and I am giving it four stars.