Our musicals ourselves is the first full scale social history of the american musical theater from the imported gilbert and sullivan comic operas of the late nineteenth century to such recent musicals as the producers and urinetown while many aficionados of the broadway musical associate it with wonderful diversionary shows like the music man or my fair lady john bush jones instead selects musicals for their social relevance and the extent to which they engage directly or metaphorically . Shareable link use the link below to share a full text version of this article with your friends and colleagues learn more. Our musicals ourselves is the first full scale social history of the american musical theater from the imported gilbert and sullivan comic operas of the late nineteenth century to such recent musicals as the producers and urinetown. Our musicals ourselves is the first full scale social history of the american musical theater from the imported gilbert and sullivan comic operas of the late nineteenth century to such recent musicals as the producers and urinetown while many aficionados of the broadway musical associate it with wonderful diversionary shows like the music man or my fair lady john bush jones instead selects musicals for their social relevance and the extent to which they engage directly or metaphorically . Our musicals ourselves is the first full scale social history of the american musical theater from the imported gilbert and sullivan comic operas of the late nineteenth century to such recent musicals as the producers and urinetown while many aficionados of the broadway musical associate it with wonderful diversionary shows like the music man or my fair lady john bush jones instead selects musicals for their social relevance and the extent to which they engage directly or