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#1

Coffee Table Books

Coffee Table Books

The number of coffee table 'musical companion' books is growing, at the moment i can think of-
Rent
Avenue Q
Mamma Mia!
Mary Poppins
Jersey Boys
The Color Purple
...could anyone kindly reply if there are any more available i haven't mentioned. They are the ones that are in the range of $30 -$60 in stores! (and almost half that price on Amazon!)
Many thanks!


A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'

Updated On: 4/28/08 at 09:57 AM

#2

re: Coffee Table Books

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
SUNSET BLVD
MISS SAIGON
TARZAN
THE LION KING
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
HAIRSPRAY
XANADU
WICKED
#3

re: Coffee Table Books

Cheers BF. Are all those you mention hardback books? I didn't realize that these books were done as far back as 'Sunset'? I was recently told that the 'Rent' book started the trend.
Thanks again.
I'm going to buy them for a friends 40th birthday, yes, all of them!
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#5

re: Coffee Table Books

The Fourth Wall

I just got it - an incredible book of recent productions and the actors off the sets, on the streets, in costume.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#6

re: Coffee Table Books

Those books are great eye candy, but little else, unfortunately.
#7

re: Coffee Table Books

Um, that's surely the point of a coffee table book. To be great-looking if lacking in content. :P

And for great-looking, I second the recommend for 'The Fourth Wall'! Unpacked it at the bookshop I work in, and the poor thing never made it to the shopfloor. It's MINE I tells ya!

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter
#8

re: Coffee Table Books

I know thats why im gonna get them off Amazon- the store price is ridiculous!
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#9

re: Coffee Table Books

Yup. Every single one of those is hardback. Also, most are already out-of-print, so keep that in mind when you spot one in the 'used' section on Amazon.

Also, including the aforementioned TITANIC, ASPECTS OF LOVE also had a hardcover book:

re: Coffee Table Books


The hardcover book on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was issued in 1988, almost a decade before the RENT book. Also, ANNIE had one as well (and THAT was in 1977!). It was released in both hardback and then soft-cover.

re: Coffee Table Books

#10

re: Coffee Table Books

Well he ain't getting ALL of these! lol
Thanks again!
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#11

re: Coffee Table Books

To me, the definitive Broadway related coffee table books are Broadway Musicals (Chorus Line on cover)and its sequal (Starlight Express on cover), as well as the Tony Award Book. I also had to get the Cirque du Soilel leather edition since it was so beautiful and I'd seen their performances five times.

The earliest ones I have were paperback...The Making of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby and then, Cats. Since then I've managed to get every one except the recent Disney Mary Poppins and Tarzan, I mean, how many do I really need?

Edit: When I see a show they're not available commercially yet, so I go to Amazon' reputable sellers. $15 for the Grimmerie and $20+ for Jersey Boys.

Updated On: 4/28/08 at 11:01 AM

#13

re: Coffee Table Books

I do have the Aspects Book by Kurt Ganzl, that does have some great pictures in it.

Aspects will always be in my top five.
#14

re: Coffee Table Books

The 'Mary Poppins' one is impressive in its presentation- but $60! Hello!

A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#15

re: Coffee Table Books

....also, how big can ones coffee table be?
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#16

re: Coffee Table Books

Oops -- can't forget the one for The Who's TOMMY, which included a CD-single of Pete Townsend singing "I Believe My Own Eyes":

re: Coffee Table Books

Or THE PRODUCERS:

re: Coffee Table Books


Or LES MISERABLES:

re: Coffee Table Books


They are a TON out there... as you can see how we keep remembering more and more...



#17

re: Coffee Table Books

havent read the whole thread so sorry if this is a repeat but the grimerie
<-- Gwen Stewart, SOLoist at the last show of RENT
Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words. (Tick, Tick... BOOM!)
#18

re: Coffee Table Books

I have the 'Tommy' book myself, it was sold at The Shaftesbury Theatre when the London production opened. It was sold for a limited time at £40 ($70)- and that was 10 years ago!
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#19

re: Coffee Table Books

Before this thread dies away,
thanks everyone.
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#20

re: Coffee Table Books

There is also one on CATS!
Nothing really matters, anyone can see, nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me....any way the wind blows
#21

re: Coffee Table Books

The original poster was asking about large hardcover books. The CATS book is a small soft-cover book.

re: Coffee Table Books
#22

re: Coffee Table Books

I have the Cats book and it really isn't in a good state after nearly 25 years.
Im surprised they didn't reprint it in hardback later in the shows long life.
It was just the hardbacks i was interested tho the others mentioned are of interest to me also.
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'

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