Introduction - American Musical Theater and Its Discontents
Chapter 1 - Racial Stereotypes, Major to Minor
Chapter 2 - Beyond the Great White Way: Racial Progress and Black Musical Theater
Chapter 3 - We Could Make Believe: Liberal Limitations and the American Musical
Chapter 4 - Dance Ten, Looks Three: The Chorus Line and the Color Line
Chapter 5 - Who Tells Your Story? Race, Immigration, and the American Dream

Josephine Lee is Professor of English and Asian American Studies at the University of Minnesota, USA, and the editor in chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Asian American Literature and Culture. Her other books include The Japan of Pure Invention: Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado and Performing Asian America: Race and Ethnicity on the Contemporary Stage.

While most discussions of race in American theater emphasize the representation of race mainly in terms of character, plot, and action, Race in American Musical Theater highlights elements of theatrical production and reception that are particular to musical theater. Examining how race functions through the recurrence of particular racial stereotypes and storylines, this introductory volume also looks at casting practices, the history of the chorus line, and the popularity of recent shows such as Hamilton.

Moving from key examples such as Show Boat! and South Pacific through to all-Black musicals such as Dreamgirls, Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, and Jelly's Last Jam, this concise study serves as a critical survey of how race is presented in the American musical theater canon.
Providing readers with historical background, a range of case studies and models of critical analysis, this foundational book prompts questions from how stereotypes persist to "who tells your story?"