Books about Broadway...

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 7:15pm

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"

[henryt]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 7:27pm

Not Since Carrie is a great book. While it's a little dry, it still is fascinating to know about all the aspects of these flops. Note: the author describes a flop as a show that ran less than 250 performances.

A book that I didn't like as much is Stop the Show. It is about accidents in the theatre. A few examples are interesting, but most are quite boring. You're better off reading the thread below if your interested and saving money.

EDIT: Also, soon to be released is How Does the Show Go On? by Thomas Schumacher.

The author asking for examples Updated On: 11/24/07 at 07:27 PM

[commasplice]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 7:35pm

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.

[henryt]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 7:42pm

I just found this. I'm not sure how comprehensive it is, but it seems to list a lot of books.
Theatre Books-Musical Theatre

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:29pm

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

[JimmyP2]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:35pm

Here's another vote for "Not Since Carrie". It was the first book on Broadway I bought. I think I got it on 44th street in some theater book store.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:55pm

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!!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:57pm

Well, it depends on what kind of book you want, but if you want to be a musical theatre actor, I found "A Year With The Producers" - It's a great book about one actor's journey through rehearsals to opening night.

Also, there's "Letters From Backstage" about one actor's journey with Les Miz on tour. It's interesting stuff.

[trinaaron]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:09pm

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.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:14pm

Not Since Carrie is a great book, if you're interested in hearing about flops.

The Season, by William Goldman, is an great look at the trials and tribulations of a whole Broadway season.

Everything Was Possible is an incredible look at the making of a musical.

[jv92]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 11:57pm

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

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 12:32am

Agreed. Everything Was Possible is insanely wonderful.

[BeingAliveNYC2]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 2:40am

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.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 9:08am

Another one is "Before The Parade Passes By" about Gower Champion. One of the best theater books. Another (out of print) is "The Abomnible Showman" by David Merrick. Also out of print but worth the effort in hunting it down is "The Season" by William Goldman.

[jv92]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 10:30am

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

[Etcy]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 10:57am

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*

[Etcy]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 10:57am

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*

[henryt]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 11:38am

Has anyone read Musicals:Facts, Figures, and Fun? It sounds like a quick but interesting read.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 12:28pm

Bump. Anyone else care to share?

[henryt]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:43pm

bump

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:48pm

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.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 8:22am

Another vote here for Not Since Carrie

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 9:20am

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.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 10:16am

THE FERVENT YEARS by Harold Clurman...no musicals, tho.

[J.J.]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 11:12am

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