The Art of Making Art

I'm a big fan of musical theater–not every musical ever made, of course, but the art form in general. I find it to be a really interesting, often powerful way to present a story or idea. My tastes are fairly snobbish, though, and I find myself repeatedly drawn to the musicals that focus on story and character and ideas, rather than the big spectacles my friend used to call "Tired Businessman" shows–stuff like Phantom of the Opera or The Little Mermaid that exists primarily to show off...