October 2, 2026
1 min read
Dr. Jessica Hillman-McCord
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A Fredonia professor has just published a book exploring the topic of musical theatre fandom.
Dr. Jessica Hillman-McCord, professor of acting and musical theatre in the Theatre and Dance Department at the State University of New York at Fredonia, published her latest book, “Fandom in Musical Theatre,” with Bloomsbury Press, Methuen Drama Imprint in August.
Hillman-McCord’s book offers insight into the world of musical theatre fandom, investigating its dynamic communities. It traces the historical context of fandom and then examines what it currently means to be a musical theatre fan, as fan culture shifts towards the digital.
The book includes case studies on the “diva worship” of Barbra Streisand, as well as those of “Rent” and “Hamilton,” which the publisher said presents “a multifaceted view of a passionate subculture often overlooked in academic discourse.”
“Fandom in Musical Theatre” is being used as a textbook in a seminar at Princeton University during the fall 2026 semester.
