The book is described as both anecdotal and analytical, featuring interviews with many of the composers currently working in the musical theatre, as well as Singer's interpretation of their efforts. The tome promises to assess the musicals of the last 25 years and "how in many cases the storied Broadway tradition went so very wrong."

According to Singer's introduction, the volume grew out of a yearly article he wrote for the New York Times' Arts & Leisure section about the state of the American musical theatre. He began thinking about expanding the articles into a book. When he realized that no one had written generally about the musical theatre of the last quarter century, the scope of the work grew further.

The study begins with A Chorus Line and continues to the present day. Though the '80s are addressed, fully 24 of the 30 chapters deal with the musicals of the '90s, including the work of Adam Guettel, Jonathan Larson, Michael John LaChiusa, Ricky Ian Gordon, Jason Robert Brown, Mark Hollmann, Greg Kotis, David Yazbek, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Singer is the author of "Black and Blue: The Life and Lyrics of Andy Razaf" and "Steppin' Out: A Guide to Live Music in Manhattan."

"Ever After," which runs 279 pages, is priced at $26.95.