3,761 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 13, 2022 14:30:41 GMT
As great as I'm sure it is I think I'd rather a copy of Sondheim's Finishing The Hat
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Post by Jan on Jun 13, 2022 19:55:12 GMT
It’s a movie book not a theatre book and it’s acknowledged as a classic but I’ve just read William Goldman’s “Adventures in the Screen Trade” and it’s really good, especially if you’re old enough to remember films like “Butch Cassidy”. Informative, smart, cynical and (of course) very well-written.
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1,510 posts
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Post by anita on Aug 30, 2023 9:27:01 GMT
I'm currently reading [& enjoying] Robert Sellers book "When the British Musical Ruled the World".
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196 posts
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Post by Peter on Sept 2, 2023 10:31:11 GMT
I'm currently reading [& enjoying] Robert Sellers book "When the British Musical Ruled the World". Me too! Though I’ve only dipped in so far, just reading the chapter on Time and Metropolis. I had no idea that the creation and run of the latter was so dysfunctional…
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1,510 posts
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Post by anita on Oct 31, 2023 10:07:01 GMT
Now reading "Murder at the Adelphi" by Peter Gale which is a rehearsal diary of the original production of "Sunset Boulevard" in 1993.
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Post by creakingstool on Nov 28, 2023 16:39:19 GMT
I've had a search but couldn't see any threads on this.
Just wondered if anyone had book recommendations about UK Musical Theatre, the West End, Musical theatre in general.
I'm no big theatre critic but would love to read about Musical Theatre, love a bit of history so linking that in,doesn't necessarily have to be long ago history but history of some of the classics of our age too.
Thinking for some Christmas gifts ideas.
Thanks.
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2,812 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 28, 2023 16:52:59 GMT
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Post by creakingstool on Nov 28, 2023 17:40:25 GMT
Thankyou. I did search 'books' and look through 3 pages of results! Will have a read through that thread
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 28, 2023 17:42:48 GMT
Thankyou. I did search 'books' and look through 3 pages of results! Will have a read through that thread Oh it's not you, it's just impossible to find anything with the search option. I just google theatreboard + what I'm looking for, otherwise you won't find anything
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18,808 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 28, 2023 18:13:17 GMT
Merged
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18,808 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 28, 2023 18:20:59 GMT
Thankyou. I did search 'books' and look through 3 pages of results! Will have a read through that thread Oh it's not you, it's just impossible to find anything with the search option. I just google theatreboard + what I'm looking for, otherwise you won't find anything Very wise advice! The forum search is a bit rubbish but it’s better if you use this option: And not this option: But if that fails yes, go to Google.
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18,808 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 28, 2023 18:24:05 GMT
I’m listening to Barbra Streisand’s new autobiography at the moment. 48 hours of it. It’s ALL about Barbra. She just covered Hello Dolly without even mentioning Michael Crawford.
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2,529 posts
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Post by n1david on Nov 28, 2023 18:33:37 GMT
I’m listening to Barbra Streisand’s new autobiography at the moment. 48 hours of it. It’s ALL about Barbra. She just covered Hello Dolly without even mentioning Michael Crawford. Isn’t that kinda the point of an autobiography?
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18,808 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 28, 2023 18:45:34 GMT
I’m listening to Barbra Streisand’s new autobiography at the moment. 48 hours of it. It’s ALL about Barbra. She just covered Hello Dolly without even mentioning Michael Crawford. Isn’t that kinda the point of an autobiography? I don’t think it is, no. Not a good one anyway.
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Post by justfran on Nov 28, 2023 19:06:32 GMT
I've recently read the autobiography of Don Black - The Sanest Guy in the Room: A Life in Lyrics. A very interesting book, not so much a "start at the beginning" autobiography but lots of shorter chapters relating to the many, many songs and projects he's been involved with. Highly recommend
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1,510 posts
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Post by anita on Nov 29, 2023 10:42:40 GMT
I've recently read the autobiography of Don Black - The Sanest Guy in the Room: A Life in Lyrics. A very interesting book, not so much a "start at the beginning" autobiography but lots of shorter chapters relating to the many, many songs and projects he's been involved with. Highly recommend I've read that & his previous one.
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Post by justfran on Nov 29, 2023 21:06:14 GMT
I've recently read the autobiography of Don Black - The Sanest Guy in the Room: A Life in Lyrics. A very interesting book, not so much a "start at the beginning" autobiography but lots of shorter chapters relating to the many, many songs and projects he's been involved with. Highly recommend I've read that & his previous one. Oh I didn’t realise he had done a previous book. Thanks for mentioning- I’ll have to hunt it out.
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1,510 posts
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Post by anita on Dec 2, 2023 10:32:16 GMT
I've read that & his previous one. Oh I didn’t realise he had done a previous book. Thanks for mentioning- I’ll have to hunt it out. "Wrestling with Elephants."
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Post by couldileaveyou on Dec 2, 2023 10:35:32 GMT
I'm currently reading Judi Dench's latest book and it's very cute. Maybe not as insightful as Harriet Watler's Brutus and Other Heroines, but full of fab anecdotes.
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1,510 posts
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Post by anita on Jan 15, 2024 10:13:30 GMT
Just started reading "Jesus Christ Superstar: Behind the scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomenon " by Ellis Nassour.
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Post by tysilio2 on Jan 15, 2024 10:17:47 GMT
Now reading "Murder at the Adelphi" by Peter Gale which is a rehearsal diary of the original production of "Sunset Boulevard" in 1993. Thanks for recommending this. Got it for Christmas and really enjoying it.
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358 posts
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Post by tysilio2 on Jan 15, 2024 10:21:11 GMT
I'm currently reading [& enjoying] Robert Sellers book "When the British Musical Ruled the World". Also got this for Christmas and enjoyed the couple of chapters I've read up to now.
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Post by partytentdown on Jan 15, 2024 15:47:46 GMT
I also have "When the British Musical Ruled the World" on my pile to read.
At the end of last year I read the Fosse biography by Sam Wasson which was a bit of a brick but really good with some hilarious stories.
Still to read: I've got Judi Dench's Shakespeare book (signed copy, dear), "Out for Blood" about the flop Carrie musical, and also "I was Better Last Night" by Harvey Fierstein which I'm looking forward to.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jan 15, 2024 15:48:54 GMT
I also have "When the British Musical Ruled the World" on my pile to read. At the end of last year I read the Fosse biography by Sam Watson which was a bit of a brick but really good with some hilarious stories. Still to read: I've got Judi Dench's Shakespeare book (signed copy, dear), "Out for Blood" about the flop Carrie musical, and also "I was Better Last Night" by Harvey Weinstein which I'm looking forward to. Wrong Harvey!
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Post by partytentdown on Jan 15, 2024 15:53:48 GMT
I also have "When the British Musical Ruled the World" on my pile to read. At the end of last year I read the Fosse biography by Sam Watson which was a bit of a brick but really good with some hilarious stories. Still to read: I've got Judi Dench's Shakespeare book (signed copy, dear), "Out for Blood" about the flop Carrie musical, and also "I was Better Last Night" by Harvey Weinstein which I'm looking forward to. Wrong Harvey! Yikes!! Corrected.
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Post by partytentdown on Apr 23, 2024 7:18:36 GMT
I like the look of the book that someone mentioned in the Sunset Boulevard thread called "Murder at the Adelphi", told from the perspective of a crew member on the original production, so I wondered if anyone had read any other books told "first hand" about the making of well known shows?
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Post by Jan on Apr 23, 2024 7:47:29 GMT
David Weston's "Covering McKellen" is about his year as McKellen's understudy on his (doomed, one could say) first go at King Lear. It is very interesting and several people come out of it badly.
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Post by kit66 on Apr 23, 2024 9:10:23 GMT
Ted Chapin, college student at the time, had a front row seat at the creation of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, now considered one of the most important musicals of modern time. He kept a detailed journal of his experience as the sole production assistant, which he used as the basis for "Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical Follies", originally published in 2003. He was there in the drama-filled rehearsal room, typing the endless rewrites, ferrying new songs around town, pampering the film and television stars in the cast, travelling with the show to its Boston tryout and back to New York for the Broadway opening night. With an enthusiast's focus on detail and a journalist's skill, Chapin takes the reader on the roller-coaster ride of creating a new and original Broadway musical. Musical theater giants, still rising in their careers, were working at top form on what became a Tony Award-winning classic: Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince, and Michael Bennett. Many classic Sondheim songs like "I'm Still Here," "Losing My Mind," and "Broadway Baby" were part of the score, some written in a hotel room in Boston.
The first one that sprang to mind!
I read the Kindle version.
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1,338 posts
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Post by Dave B on Apr 23, 2024 9:29:21 GMT
I just finished Song of Spider-Man: The Inside Story of the Most Controversial Musical in Broadway History by Glen Berger. He was the original book writer and it's his story of everything that happened. It is an interesting but very disjointed read. He goes into extreme detail sometimes and then skirts around so much at other times. He also doesn't come across very well himself which is a bit of a put-off. I found it fascinating but quite flawed. It left me wanting to read more as there must be a book to balance his very singular view and I'd be interested in reading that and then judging between them.
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Apr 23, 2024 14:30:30 GMT
Some more:
A Cats Diary - How the Broadway Production of Cats was born by Stephen Mo Hanan
Stephen Mo Hanan created the role of Gus the Theatre Cat, including the completely new Growltiger sequence that was especially created for his unique talents, in the original New York production of what became the longest-running show in Broadway history, Cats. Hanan kept a diary of every day's work from the first rehearsal through opening. Appearing in print for the first time, this is an unparalleled insider view of how a big Broadway show is put together, written in a lively, articulate, and engaging style. Not only does it offer fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses, it's also a great educational study for actors and directors. Hanan explores the fine nuances of his role, keenly observes Trevor Nunn's directorial methods, and develops strong artistic and emotional bonds with fellow cast members as they journey together to a historic opening night.
A Year with The Producers - Jeffry Denman
"Here, Denman offers a candid one-year diary of his experiences as singer, dancer and understudy in the production. His style is breezy and refreshingly honest, charting each step from audition to opening night. Denman's emotional narrative maintains suspense and sufficiently informs, making this a textbook for anyone seeking a theatrical career and yearning "[t]o change, alter, enhance, deepen, and magnify the hearts of people who sit there watching. Even those lacking in showbiz aspirations will enjoy this book; it has a strong inspirational angle. That, along with the show's blockbuster success, guarantees an instant hit." -Publishers Weekly." "From the closing night of one smash, "Cats," to the opening night of another, "The Producers," Jeffrey Denman takes us on a delightful and insightful backstage tour of the Great White Way. His portraits of Mel Brooks and Susan Stroman are gems and add much to our understanding of how these towering creative talents work. How lucky for us that Mr. Denman is as fine a writer as he is a performer. Michael Riedel, The New York Post."
Making It Big - The Diary of a Broadway Musical by Barbara Isenberg
How does one of Broadway's most anticipated musicals end up folding its tent after just six months and with a potential loss of more than $10 million? In Barbara Isenberg's behind-the-scenes account, readers follow step by step as Big, the musical struggles against nearly insuperable odds. The long-awaited stage adaptation of the popular Tom Hanks film was not to have an easy journey. Led by the highly-regarded Crazy for You duo of director Mike Ockrent and choreographer Susan Stroman, the show's cast and crew had some very bad luck heading for Broadway with one of the most expensive, high-profile musicals in recent history. In this authoritative, insightful and readable journal, we go backstage as the $10.3 million production is cast, rewritten, rehearsed and performed, first in Detroit, then in New York. Doors are opened to high pressure rehearsals, passionate advertising debates, stern budget talks and endless rewrite sessions in out-of-town hotel rooms. Day by day diary entries report the high hopes and deep disappointments of Ockrent, Stroman, producer James Freydberg, playwright John Weidman, composer David Shire and lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr., as they take on blizzards, set glitches, indifferent audiences, even a convention of witches at their Detroit hotel. Maltby and Shire turn out 58 songs, leading lady Crista Moore has to learn 5 different opening ballads and leading man Daniel Jenkins has knee surgery just weeks before opening night. Postponed from fall, 1995, to spring, 1996, Big was pilloried in Detroit, then substantially reworked for Broadway. But by the time it arrived, Broadway had changed even more than it had. From the minimal competition expected at the start ofits odyssey, Big faced and was shunted aside by two of the most innovative and critically successful musicals of recent memory, Rent and Bring in 'de Noise, Bring in 'da Funk. Big became not an instant classic, but in the words of Julie Andrews about her own show, Victor/Victoria, "egregiously overlooked". Making It Big illuminates the harsh realities of musical theater - a much-loved but high-stakes, high-risk art form. It is a book for everyone who cares about Broadway musicals and their survival.
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