Books about Broadway...

Anyone have favorite to share? I Love "Making It on Broadway--Actors Tale of Climbing to the Top"

I saw a book on Amazon called "Not Since Carrie--Broadways Greatest Flops"

Not Since Carrie is one of my favorites.

Also, Everything was Possible: The Birth of the Musical 'Follies' by Ted Chapin is excellent, especially if you're a Sondhheim fan.

I haven't read them, but people have recommended Ethan Mordden's decade-by-decade overview of the musical to me.

My fave theatre- related books are, off the top of my head:

Not Since Carrie: 40 Years of Broadway Musical Flops
Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the Musical Follies
Ghost Light
Making It Big: The Diary of a Broadway Musical
A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett
Second Act Trouble: Behind the Scenes at Broadway's Biggest Bombs
Steven Suskin's Broadway Yearbooks (I think there are 4)
Scott Miller's directing specific musicals books (Rebels With Applause, Deconstructing Harold Hill, From Assassins to West Side Story)
Let the Sun Shine In, by Scott Miller also
The Season!!!
Broadway: The American Musical
Ethan Mordden's series
Hot Seat
Making It On Broadway
The Theatermania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings

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Best EVER about Broadway is The Season. Even though it was written almost 40 years ago, most of what Goldman says still holds. By all means get it and if you have any trouble, I'll be glad to help you. Happy reading!!

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I recently finished reading "The Theater Will Rock: A History of the Rock Musical, From Hair to Hedwig", by Elizabeth L. Wollman. I thought it was quite good, and I was intriqued by a lot of her ideas concerning the rather rocky relationship (if it can be called that) between the worlds of rock and musical theater.

Everything Was Possible is possibly the greatest book written about the American Musical. Ever.

I just recently read "What Would Barbra Do?" by Emma Brockes. It was entertaining, but I thought the author had a rather narrow view of musical theatre (she only likes the classics), and she tends to talk about the film versions more than the stage. It was a fun read though. I'll have to check out some of the ones listed here.

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The Abomnible Showman and The Season are not out of print and can be easily purchased from Amazon.com.

I'm actually reading Makin It On Broadway right now! lol it's an awesome book!

There was also an autobiography by Jeffry Denman called "A Year with the Producers: One Actor's Exhausting (But Worth It) Journey from Cats to Mel Brooks' Mega-Hit" .... it was really enjoyable! His story on how he actually got the part in the Producers was awesome and hysterical!

*Charissa*

Bump. Anyone else care to share?

The Season and Not Since Carrie are both delightful. A Must read for any theater fan-- along with "Act One" which is Moss Hart's autobiography- from birth to his first Broadway show. The only thing I don't like the book is that he died before he could write the other two volumes.

To celebrate what would be the 100th birthday of Ethel Merman in 2008, there are several biographies of the great Merman. Here are two:
"Ethel Merman: A Life" by Brian Kellow
"Brass Diva: The Life and Legends of Ethel Merman" by Caryl Flinn, to be published on November 30.

I have asked for these 2 books for Christmas. If I don't receive them, I will buy them myself. I can never have too much Merman, lol.

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Lost Broadway Theatres.
I know it's out of print, but
would one recommend buying the paperback or hardcover edition?

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