Favorite books about Broadway- Page 2
Favorite books about Broadway
#25re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/5/08 at 8:04amI LOVE LOVE the Playbill Yearbooks! They have every show from the last two years plus fun little interviews with a member of the cast.
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#26re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/5/08 at 9:17amSeconding Ghostlight by Frank Rich. I'm halfway through it now, and it is great. It's a memoir.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#27re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/5/08 at 10:07amUnderfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff (author of 84 Charing Cross Road)
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
puppet
Stand-by Joined: 1/11/08
#28re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/5/08 at 12:09pm
Not Since Carrie
A Year with the Producers
Sing Out Louise
Making of No No Nanette
The Season
Making a Living On Broadway
What They Did For Love
My Heart Belongs - by Mary Martin
puppet
Stand-by Joined: 1/11/08
#29re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/5/08 at 12:09pm
Sorry for double post don't know how that happened.
#30re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/13/08 at 1:45am
I've read all but one of the books in this thread, and love 90% of them. I second all of the recommendations.
The one I haven't read is Underfoot in Show Business, and I've just ordered it. More recommendations please!! Does anyone have any theatre books to recommend that are awesome but out of print? I've recently read or re-read Darling You Were Wonderful, Season In Season Out, and Letting Down My Hair. I would love any more recommendations of theatre books from the '60s or '70s that may not be popular or still in print.
[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.
twoladies
Chorus Member Joined: 12/4/07
#31re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/13/08 at 9:45am
I just finished Broadway Nights by Seth Rudetsky.
I highly recommend it! It's absolutely hilarious and heartfelt. 
Friendofethelm
Chorus Member Joined: 7/19/08
#32re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/13/08 at 10:15pmInfinite Theatre Frenzy, there are three books you may like that come to mind: THE SEESAW CHRONICLES, William Gibson's diary of writing/mounting Two for the Seesaw, THE MAKING OF FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, which is probably out of print, and NO PICKLE, NO PERFORMANCE, an hysterical memoir of summer stock theatre by an author whose name escapes me at the moment.
temms
Broadway Star Joined: 7/21/04
#33re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 8/14/08 at 8:27am
"Making It Big" by Barbara Isenberg - chronicles the day-to-day making of Maltby & Shire's "Big", from writing and pre-production through to daily rehearsals, previews, changes, and everything. Even if you don't care for the show, it's a very detailed account of how a big musical evolves out of town and in previews.
"The Whorehouse Papers" by Larry L. King - similar, by the author of "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" about the development of that show, which started off-off-Broadway at the Actors Studio, and then transferred to off- and then on-Broadway. He's a very entertaining writer, and again, regardless of whether you like the show, it's a fun book.
And I want to add to the chorus on "The Season". I just re-read it recently and had forgotten how vivid and funny it is in addition to being absolutely spot-on. Makes me want to go track down scripts for things like "The Freaking Out Of Stephanie Blake" and "Leda Had A Little Swan".
#34re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:35am
I wanted to bring back this thread to see if anyone has any book suggestions.
Also, Friendofethelm, a belated thank you for yours!
[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#35re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:46am
-Wicked: the Grimmerie
-Avenue Q: the Book
-Chicago (movie musical) [Screenplay]
-Making It On Broadway
#36re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:55am
Making it on Broadway
Playbill Broadway Yearbooks
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#37re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 9:41amI would recommend "Broadway's Beautiful Losers" by Marilyn Stasio. It gives the texts of five Broadway shows of the '60s which the author felt had undeservedly flopped. I share her opinion on that score. In addition to the texts, there are very interesting analyses of why they flopped, filled with insights about the Broadway theatre of that period.
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#38re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 11:58am
Act One is a terrific book, but only half of it is about Broadway. If you really want great books on Broadway, especially in the earlier days, read the biographies of George S. Kaufman, Richard Rogers, Alan Jay Lerner, etc.
The Season by William Goldman is indeed a classic. I'm not sure how much is valid anymore, but it's a terrific read, nonetheless.
Don't forget Rewrites by Neil Simon.
sally1112
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/13/04
#39re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:24pm
Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops by Ken Mandelbaum
I am about 150 pages into this book and I highly recommend it. I can't believe that I have waited so long to read it. So full of fun stories and Broadway tidbits!
willrogers2008
Featured Actor Joined: 12/9/08
#40re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:31pm
Kander & Ebb book just published by Yale Press.Guess which was the first title of CURTAINS ? "WHO KILLED DAVID MERRICK" !!!
The whole book is a treasure,indeed. I t was written by James Leve. Run to a bookstore near you.It is a must !
sally1112
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/13/04
#41re: Favorite books about Broadway
Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:51pmOh, I forgot Meryle Secrest's Stephen Sondheim is a great read for his fans. I found it in a thrift store for a buck and read it in just a few sittings.
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