Big Broadway Hardback Books!

[clomoe]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 9:53pm

Hi all!

This is the second time I've posted about this topic, the first time being a couple years ago!

I collect the large coffee-table books about the creative process and construction of Broadway musicals. They are absolutely stunning and often include original set and costume sketches, backstage photographs, annotated full librettos, secrets and stories from the cast and crew, and more! Over the years I have found more online than I ever expected to exist - with a lot of help from this forum! I now own:

• Wicked: The Grimmerie
• Les Miserables: Stage to Screen
• Book of Mormon: Testament of a Broadway Musical
• Hamilton: The Revolution
• Dear Evan Hansen: Through The Window
• Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen If You Let It
• Aladdin: A Whole New World
• Spring Awakening: In The Flesh
• RENT: Jonathon Larson

I do not yet own but also know of and want:

• Hairspray: The Roots
• The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway
• The Little Mermaid: From the Deep Blue Sea to the Great White Way
• Beaty and the Beast: A Celebration of the Broadway Musical
• Great Comet: The Journey of a New Musical
• The Art and Making of The Greatest Showman
• Avenue Q: The Book

Do you know of any that I have missed on these lists? Let me know and I can add them in so we have a master list!

Additionally, do you own any of the above books? Which is your favorite?

And lastly, which musicals would you like to see this style of book for? I would love them for Newsies, Falsettos, and Into the Woods!!

Chloe xx

Updated On: 1/25/19 at 09:53 PM

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 10:24pm

Its not a coffee table book but I believe Tom Schumacher, head of Disney Theatrical, wrote a book as well. I won a copy a few years ago at an Aladdin preview event I attended.

[Kitsune]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 10:32pm

I used to have a coffee table book for Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida. Say what you want about its quality as a musical, but the design was gorgeous and the book had some amazing photos. (Unfortunately my copy got bad water damage - I've been meant to find another).

I also have an Avenue Q coffee table book, complete with orange fuzzy cover.

[Alfie6]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 10:42pm

I own a whole bunch- most of these weigh more than I do but the pictures are beautiful and they are great to flip through every so often-

1. Broadway the American Musical, companion book to PBS series, by Michael Kantor and Laurence Maslon

2. The Book of Broadway by Eric Gorde, updated version including Hamilton

3. Broadway Musicals the 101 Greatest Shows of All Time by Ken Bloom and Frank Vlastnik with a forward by Jerry Orbach

4. Broadway Bares Backstage Pass with a forward by Jerry Mitchell

Happy reading! FYI I would check used bookstores since many of these are pretty expensive. 

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 1/24/19 at 11:12pm

I love these coffee table books as well. Strand Bookstore always seems to have a few in their oversized theatre/film section, so if you're ever in NYC I recommend looking there (I bought one on The Producers not too long ago).

I also loved the Playbill Yearbook series -- it was a fun, behind the scenes look at all the shows running every season. I miss them! 

I've said this before, but I really hope a coffee table book is released on the making of Come From Away, especially now with all of the international productions opening up. 

[clomoe]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 1:23am

Kitsune said: "I used to have a coffee table book for Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida. Say what you want about its quality as a musical, but the design was gorgeous and the book had some amazing photos. (Unfortunately my copy got bad water damage - I've been meant to find another).

I also have an Avenue Q coffee table book, complete with orange fuzzy cover."

Ooh I remember hearing about the Aida one, I'll have to start having a look around online for it! Sorry your copy got damaged. And yes I definitely want the Avenue Q book with the fuzzy fluffy cover!! So cool!

[clomoe]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 1:27am

Emmaloucbway said: "I love these coffee table books as well. Strand Bookstore always seems to have a few in their oversized theatre/film section, so if you're ever in NYC I recommend looking there (I bought one on The Producers not too long ago).

I also loved the Playbill Yearbook series -- it was a fun, behind the sceneslook at all the shows running every season. I miss them!

I've said this before, but I really hope a coffee table book is released on the making of Come From Away, especially now with all of the international productions opening up."

I absolutely would love to see one for Come From Away! I've also heard the Playbill Yearbook Series is great, perhaps I will look into it.

Thanks for the heads up about Strand Bookstore! If I find myself in New York anytime soon I will definitely go take a look. I'd love the Producers book, I'll start looking around online for it!

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 3:23am

Dont forget Cabaret. Beautiful photos of Natasha

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 7:49am

There is also Tarzan: The Broadway Adventure, Sunset Boulevard: From Movie to Musical, and The Lion King: Twenty Years on Broadway and Around the World.

My favorite is Pride Rock in Broadway, a fascinating look into the show and the many versions/designs it went through.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 5:45pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=964452#3538427

[lukeworsham]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 7:30pm

I have one for Phantom that I found at a local secondhand book shop. It's set up like a usual coffee table book, although it's a little smaller than my others and paperback. Has the libretto, pics of Crawford and Brightman, all the usual stuff. Really cool HD pic of the Phantom makeup.

There's also one for Les Mis that wasn't on your list that has the libretto and other similar stuff with Colm Wilkinson, Frances Ruffelle, and others.

[rodrigo_ca]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 7:58pm

What's the difference between The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway and 20 Years on Broadway and Around the World?

[goodlead]

Posted: 1/25/19 at 8:32pm

It's not devoted to one show, but Martin Gottfried wrote two BIG books, "Broadway Musicals," which ends around the time of "A Chorus Line," and a second volume that goes into the '90s.  The first is hard to carry, the second less so.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 12:47am

There was one created for the London production of Sunset Boulevard. Many photos of Patti and the rest of the original London cast. It's out of print now, but looks like a number of copies are available on Amazon in varying conditions.

Sunset Boulevard: From Movie to Musical

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/26/19 at 3:39am

There was a book for The Whos Tommy which is a fascinating read and comes with a lot of great pictures from the show of course.

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 1/28/19 at 11:53pm

I have Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and The Great Comet (which was on sale for like $12 at Barnes & Noble after the show closed)

In May we're finally getting one for Come From Away and I may or may not be counting the days...

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 1/28/19 at 11:55pm

stoptheworld38 said: "I have Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and The Great Comet (which was on sale for like $12 at Barnes & Noble after the show closed)

In May we're finally getting one for Come From Away and I may or may not be counting the days..."

Oooooh this is great news!!!! I can't wait!!! Now I'll be counting down the days too! :)