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Known for his takes on Shakespeare, he was Clooney, Damon, and Hanks rolled into one. In the mid 19th century, Edwin Booth was the American actor. That’s a shame, because Zadan’s oral history, though naturally incomplete, is a thorough and entertaining perspective on Sondheim’s career with a strong focus on his relationships with his collaborators. The book he refers to is actually a little hard to come by these days, having fallen out of favor following the wide availibility of Sondheim’s own “Hat Box” books, Finishing the Hat and Look, I Made A Hat. “I remember being a kid/Sitting in the bathroom/Pouring over Sondheim and Co.” sings Robert Lopez ( Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon) in a tribute to the master co-written with his wife Kristin. The devil is in the details, and there’s a lot of history to cover, but Reidel pulls it off. The Game of Thrones houses at play are the Schuberts, their successors, Gerald Schoenfeld and Bernard Jacobs, and their rivals, the Nederlanders. This book focuses on the past sixty years of Broadway history, telling the story of it’s corruption, redemption, and eventual transformation into the corporate enterprise that either saved or doomed New York, depending on who you are.
AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE CHORUS LINE HOW TO
Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway by Michael ReidelĮver wanted to see the history of Broadway through the story of warring, mafia-esque clans? Michael Reidel figured out how to do just that. Lots of people loved Frank Rich’s criticism and lot’s of people thought he was the devil this memoir is good for both. as a theatre-obsessed kid in the 50s and 60s, Ghost Light focuses on his formative theatrical experiences and early mentors, illuminating his critical process and how it formed. Tracing his journey through the suburbs of Washington D.C. Taking its title from the single bulb that illuminates a theater after-hours, this memoir from longtime New York Times critic Frank Rich (the “Butcher of Broadway”) serves as his take on Act One. When the scope of the two men’s lives and careers are fully explored, it packs a punch. The book really finds its heart, however, in Lithgow’s memories of and tributes to his father, Arthur Lithgow, a vital but unsung pioneer in the regional theatre movement. He’s an incredibly generous narrator, guiding us through his early years as a stage actor and recounting the formative backstage experiences that formed his outlook on the craft. Lithgow’s memoir is a light and breezy read, but even if it gets a bit windy, it makes up for it in charm and class. Drama: An Actor’s Education by John Lithgow This is Live From New York for theatre geeks. Turan’s two-decade undertaking in making this book is similarly stunning. From fighting for accessible Shakespeare to producing A Chorus Line, Papp Lorne Michaels-ed his way to the top, and developed a fierce following because of it. Joe Papp was the populist godfather of modern New York theatre, and this book weaves the recollections of 160 key figures including Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols and Kevin Kline in order to tell his story. This oral history of the Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival makes a bold declaration with its title, but still delivers. People are obsessed with this book, and regardless of historical accuracy, it’s still the place to start.įree for All: Joe Papp, the Public, and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told by Kenneth Turan and Joe Papp
AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE CHORUS LINE MOVIE
Kaufman (we forget how huge he was back in his day) is so charming and compelling that it inspired every subsequent backstage narrative ever told, not to mention its own movie and play. How much of the personal history described by Moss Hart in Act One is true? Experts disagree, but ultimately who cares? Hart’s evocation of the childhood that led him to fame and success with his writing partner George S. NOTE: A special thanks to Lawrence Harbison, living theatrical encyclopedia, for his recommendations on deep cuts.
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Collected here are 13 of the best books on the history of the American theatre, to satisfy your itch for stories about the hassle, panic, booze, and inspiration that must occur before the curtain goes up.
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Nowhere is this more true than in theatre, where the added stakes of live performance and a higher-than-usual dosage of ego fuel generations of backstage lore. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that anyone who enjoys any art form to a certain extent loves the behind-the-scenes footage just as much.