5,582 posts
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Post by lynette on Mar 21, 2018 17:28:15 GMT
Have I mentioned the book about the film Casablanca by Noah Isenberg? Fascinating. They can actually see where certain lines came from, which writer or actor..
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2,706 posts
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Mar 21, 2018 18:02:58 GMT
I've only just begun and as I manage about ten minutes' reading time in bed before falling asleep, it'll be slow going! I haven't moved beyond him being 13 yrs or something, but I'm liking it so far. I tend to pick up on little things, like a casual mention that the South Pacific cast recording was on top of the charts for a year and thinking how musicals used to be such a mainstream thing and are so niche today. Will report back whenever I manage to finish it. I believe it was the South Pacific film soundtrack that was on the charts for that extended period of time, soundtracks have a bigger reach than cast recordings, usually. On popularity of musicals, however, The Greatest Showman album has topped the album charts in many countries, including the UK, where it spent ten weeks at number one. Musicals can still be mainstream if they actually get made.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Sept 15, 2018 13:21:57 GMT
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Sept 19, 2018 21:50:41 GMT
A new book about the National Theatre, Dramatic Exchanges by Daniel Rosenthal is due to be published on 1st November by Profile Books, priced £25. Subtitled The Lives and Letters of the National Theatre it is “A rich collection of correspondence like no other, this book offers a fascinating and celebratory look at the world of theatre and beyond. This book brings together for the first time eight hundred of the most inspiring, dramatic and amusing letters from the life of Britain’s most beloved theatre, from fantastical good luck missives to long conspiratorial letters. Together they reveal the stories behind some of the most lavish, triumphant, daring and disastrous productions in the theatre’s history.”
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5,582 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 23, 2018 22:27:19 GMT
A new book about the National Theatre, Dramatic Exchanges by Daniel Rosenthal is due to be published on 1st November by Profile Books, priced £25. Subtitled The Lives and Letters of the National Theatre it is “A rich collection of correspondence like no other, this book offers a fascinating and celebratory look at the world of theatre and beyond. This book brings together for the first time eight hundred of the most inspiring, dramatic and amusing letters from the life of Britain’s most beloved theatre, from fantastical good luck missives to long conspiratorial letters. Together they reveal the stories behind some of the most lavish, triumphant, daring and disastrous productions in the theatre’s history.” His history of the NT was a page turner and very revealing. So I hope this is more of the same. I'll browse when next at NT.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2018 14:16:11 GMT
Has anyone read the Dear Evan Hansen book already? It's on Amazon and I might buy it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2018 20:12:04 GMT
Finally got round to reading the (big white) Dear Evan Hansen book released last year. I really like that they’ve included the full libretto with analysis and notes throughout but in terms of detail of the shows history and development it was quite a hard read. It’s very entheustic, fatiguingly so. Obviously the writer/editor were keen to show their love for the show but it’s confidence and positivety was a bit too much for me. It felt a little likely a promotional sales pitch rather than book of detail and production scope. Some interesting bits though.
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1,177 posts
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Post by joem on Oct 28, 2018 22:36:09 GMT
I have owned Thomas Middleton's Complete Works in a single volume since last Xmas (present) and am seriously wondering how I am ever going to read it. I like reading in bed or in the bath but this weighs in at over seven pounds. You would need the wrists of the world heavyweight boxing champion to be able to hold that for any length of time. Myself, I have small wrists.
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294 posts
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Post by dani on Oct 28, 2018 22:58:58 GMT
I have owned Thomas Middleton's Complete Works in a single volume since last Xmas (present) and am seriously wondering how I am ever going to read it. I like reading in bed or in the bath but this weighs in at over seven pounds. You would need the wrists of the world heavyweight boxing champion to be able to hold that for any length of time. Myself, I have small wrists. I saw this on sale recently. 2,000 pages in one volume = eek. You can buy a complete works of Shakespeare with fewer pages than that! Although the one I have is about 3,500 and weighs six pounds. I can only look at it when I am sitting at a table.
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5,582 posts
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Post by lynette on Oct 29, 2018 17:40:04 GMT
Daniel Rosenthal's next thriller read coming out beginning November, the letters generated by the NT, to directors and so on.
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Post by learfan on Oct 29, 2018 18:11:11 GMT
I have owned Thomas Middleton's Complete Works in a single volume since last Xmas (present) and am seriously wondering how I am ever going to read it. I like reading in bed or in the bath but this weighs in at over seven pounds. You would need the wrists of the world heavyweight boxing champion to be able to hold that for any length of time. Myself, I have small wrists. I saw this on sale recently. 2,000 pages in one volume = eek. You can buy a complete works of Shakespeare with fewer pages than that! Although the one I have is about 3,500 and weighs six pounds. I can only look at it when I am sitting at a table. I have the Middleton, its obviously one to dip in and out of. A must have for anyone into English Renaissance Theatre.
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Post by learfan on Oct 29, 2018 18:13:51 GMT
A new book about the National Theatre, Dramatic Exchanges by Daniel Rosenthal is due to be published on 1st November by Profile Books, priced £25. Subtitled The Lives and Letters of the National Theatre it is “A rich collection of correspondence like no other, this book offers a fascinating and celebratory look at the world of theatre and beyond. This book brings together for the first time eight hundred of the most inspiring, dramatic and amusing letters from the life of Britain’s most beloved theatre, from fantastical good luck missives to long conspiratorial letters. Together they reveal the stories behind some of the most lavish, triumphant, daring and disastrous productions in the theatre’s history.” His history of the NT was a page turner and very revealing. So I hope this is more of the same. I'll browse when next at NT. Hmm, only a page turner if you had trouble getting to sleep. I mean i have it but its a v dry read. The new one sounds intriguing but will wait for an Amazon deal first. After having a browse obvs!
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1,315 posts
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Post by tmesis on Oct 29, 2018 21:55:19 GMT
Lots already mentioned I love but here are some more (sorry if already out there) -
Best of all -
David Merrick:The abominable Showman by Howard Kissel. Unputdownable.
Covering McKellan by David Weston Maggie Smith by Michael Coveney The Redgraves by Donald Spotto Ethel Merman by Brian Kellow The Old Vic by Terry Coleman Jerry Herman by Stephen Citron Ned Sherrin the autobiography Julie Andrews Home (autobiography) Oh What a circus by Tim Rice Alec Guinness by Piers Paul Reade Putting it On by Michael Codron and Alan Strachan Sir John Gielgud: A Life in Letters edited by Richard Mangan
I have lots of opera and ballet books too...
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1,315 posts
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Post by tmesis on Oct 30, 2018 12:38:28 GMT
Is anyone else missing the Bookwarehouse shop that used to be opposite The Old Vic. It used to have some great bargains, particularly theatre-related but also some excellent music books, biographies and novels. There were others in the chain - Notting Hill, Holborn, Camden etc. - but the Waterloo one was always best and they've all gone now.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2018 13:01:13 GMT
Is anyone else missing the Bookwarehouse shop that used to be opposite The Old Vic. It used to have some great bargains, particularly theatre-related but also some excellent music books, biographies and novels. There were others in the chain - Notting Hill, Holborn, Camden etc. - but the Waterloo one was always best and they've all gone now. Last I checked, it had just relocated further down Lower Marsh. Well, it downsized as well, but it was still there when I was last in the area.
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1,315 posts
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Post by tmesis on Oct 30, 2018 13:13:33 GMT
Indeed, that's what I thought too. It does seem it isn't getting the stock it used to, either, alas. And it's so small and crowded at times that it isn't the greatest place to shop. Still, at least it is still open. Thanks - I'll check it out. All the others seem to have closed though, although I've not checked the Golders Green one for a year or two.
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1,315 posts
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Post by tmesis on Oct 30, 2018 17:07:22 GMT
There was one in Golders Green? Yes indeed; quite a big shop too unlike the Islington and Camden branches.
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1,510 posts
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Post by anita on Apr 13, 2019 9:36:16 GMT
Just seen on Amazon "The Phantom of the Opera : Behind the scenes at the Palace Garnier". A book of 192 pages by Applause. Out 1/11/2019 at £24.95. I was wondering if this is the same book that was in the box set a while back. Does anyone know?
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2,805 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 21, 2021 14:27:45 GMT
For those of you who have read and loved Eddie Shapiro's "Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater" its companion piece " A Wonderful Guy: Conversations with the Great Men of Musical Theater" will come out in a few months. It includes interviews with Joel Grey, John Cullum, Len Cariou, Ben Vereen, Michael Rupert, Terrence Mann, Howard McGillin, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marc Kudish, Michael Cerveris, Norm Lewis, Will Chase, Christipher Sieber, Norbert Leo Buta, Christian Borle, Raúl Esparza, Gavin Creel and Jonathan Groff.
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Post by cartoonman on May 11, 2021 8:56:27 GMT
I really enjoyed The National Theatre Story by DANIEL ROSENTHAL. Its a huge book, about 900 pages, and finishes in 2011 but gives attendances for the shows. Plays I really liked were often not that well attended. The NT always need to have a sell out show in one of the big theatres to bring in the money. At one stage a National Opera House was planned next door. A shame that it never happened. I remember getting it cheap on the internet but can't remember where from. Its well written and very interesting reading.
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5,582 posts
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Post by lynette on May 11, 2021 20:13:33 GMT
I really enjoyed The National Theatre Story by DANIEL ROSENTHAL. Its a huge book, about 900 pages, and finishes in 2011 but gives attendances for the shows. Plays I really liked were often not that well attended. The NT always need to have a sell out show in one of the big theatres to bring in the money. At one stage a National Opera House was planned next door. A shame that it never happened. I remember getting it cheap on the internet but can't remember where from. Its well written and very interesting reading. Yes, a super book.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on May 11, 2021 20:56:17 GMT
Yes I liked this too, took me a while to get through all the back history pre NT but full of really interesting stuff and filled in loads of gaps in my knowledge.
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4,549 posts
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Post by Mark on Dec 22, 2021 12:11:43 GMT
A few more recent ones I have read
Giles Terera - Hamilton and Me - Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. It's amazing to read the consideration he put into this role. Miriam Margolyes - This much is true. Absolutely brilliant autobiography Don Black - The Sanest guy in the room. A really interesting look at his work and life experiences.
Currently working my way through the libraries theatre books. I've got the National Theatre story currently so that will take me a while.
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577 posts
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Post by lou105 on Dec 26, 2021 1:25:51 GMT
Miriam Margolyes - This much is true. Absolutely brilliant autobiography If anyone didn't get this for Christmas it's 99p on Kindle today (26th)
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Post by peggysue on Dec 26, 2021 13:42:34 GMT
I’ve also read the book by Don Black - The Sanest Guy in the Room. I had completely forgotten that he had written the lyrics for Billy The Musical which is one of my favourite shows. One of the best and most interesting books I have read this year. Highly recommended.
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518 posts
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Post by ruby on Dec 26, 2021 14:29:47 GMT
I’ve also read the book by Don Black - The Sanest Guy in the Room. I had completely forgotten that he had written the lyrics for Billy The Musical which is one of my favourite shows. One of the best and most interesting books I have read this year. Highly recommended. If anyone gets the chance to see him live, I would highly recommend it. Warm, interesting and very funny, an absolute delight to listen to him.
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1,115 posts
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Post by Stephen on Dec 26, 2021 16:55:00 GMT
I really like 'London Theatres by Michael Coveney' - a beautiful book with lovely pictures. I have the original version. I believe that the updated one has more theatres in it!
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Post by craig on Dec 26, 2021 17:22:58 GMT
I really like 'London Theatres by Michael Coveney' - a beautiful book with lovely pictures. I have the original version. I believe that the updated one has more theatres in it! One of my most treasured books!
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4,950 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 13, 2022 13:14:09 GMT
And the prize for theatre book of the year goes to...a book about the world-famous Crucible Theatre. Available, for the price of the average theatre ticket, from all good book shops.
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18,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 13, 2022 14:19:44 GMT
And the prize for theatre book of the year goes to...a book about the world-famous Crucible Theatre. Available, for the price of the average theatre ticket, from all good book shops. The ordinary person on the street thought the idea was ridiculous too (according to what my nan nan told me as I lay sucking a dummy in my cot 🙂)
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