Lehman Engel (1910-1982) played an integral role in the Broadway theater during its golden years, as the conductor of such works as Wonderful Town, Take Me Along, Fanny and L'il Abner. In the 1960s he founded the now legendary BMI Musical Workshop where he imparted his passionate ideas about the musical to a younger generation. Among those who graduated from his tutelage are Ed Kleban, the lyricist for A Chorus Line and Maury Yeston, who wrote the music and lyrics for Nine.

Howard Kissel, the chief theater critic for the New York Daily News, wrote David Merrick: The Abominable Showman, and compiled and edited Stella Adler's The Art of Acting, both published by Applause.