Favorite books about Broadway- Page 2

[biggest CHENO fan]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 8:04am

I LOVE LOVE the Playbill Yearbooks! They have every show from the last two years plus fun little interviews with a member of the cast.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 9:17am

Seconding Ghostlight by Frank Rich. I'm halfway through it now, and it is great. It's a memoir.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 10:07am

Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff (author of 84 Charing Cross Road)

[puppet]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 12:09pm

Not Since Carrie
A Year with the Producers
Sing Out Louise
Making of No No Nanette
The Season
Making a Living On Broadway
What They Did For Love
My Heart Belongs - by Mary Martin

Updated On: 8/6/08 at 12:09 PM

[puppet]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 12:09pm

Sorry for double post don't know how that happened.

Updated On: 8/5/08 at 12:09 PM

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 1:45am

I've read all but one of the books in this thread, and love 90% of them. I second all of the recommendations.

The one I haven't read is Underfoot in Show Business, and I've just ordered it. More recommendations please!! Does anyone have any theatre books to recommend that are awesome but out of print? I've recently read or re-read Darling You Were Wonderful, Season In Season Out, and Letting Down My Hair. I would love any more recommendations of theatre books from the '60s or '70s that may not be popular or still in print.

[twoladies]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 9:45am

I just finished Broadway Nights by Seth Rudetsky.
I highly recommend it! It's absolutely hilarious and heartfelt.

[Friendofethelm]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 10:15pm

Infinite Theatre Frenzy, there are three books you may like that come to mind: THE SEESAW CHRONICLES, William Gibson's diary of writing/mounting Two for the Seesaw, THE MAKING OF FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, which is probably out of print, and NO PICKLE, NO PERFORMANCE, an hysterical memoir of summer stock theatre by an author whose name escapes me at the moment.

[temms]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 8:27am

"Making It Big" by Barbara Isenberg - chronicles the day-to-day making of Maltby & Shire's "Big", from writing and pre-production through to daily rehearsals, previews, changes, and everything. Even if you don't care for the show, it's a very detailed account of how a big musical evolves out of town and in previews.

"The Whorehouse Papers" by Larry L. King - similar, by the author of "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" about the development of that show, which started off-off-Broadway at the Actors Studio, and then transferred to off- and then on-Broadway. He's a very entertaining writer, and again, regardless of whether you like the show, it's a fun book.

And I want to add to the chorus on "The Season". I just re-read it recently and had forgotten how vivid and funny it is in addition to being absolutely spot-on. Makes me want to go track down scripts for things like "The Freaking Out Of Stephanie Blake" and "Leda Had A Little Swan".

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:35am

I wanted to bring back this thread to see if anyone has any book suggestions.

Also, Friendofethelm, a belated thank you for yours!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:46am

-Wicked: the Grimmerie
-Avenue Q: the Book
-Chicago (movie musical) [Screenplay]
-Making It On Broadway

[broadwayfreak2]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:55am

Making it on Broadway
Playbill Broadway Yearbooks

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 9:41am

I would recommend "Broadway's Beautiful Losers" by Marilyn Stasio. It gives the texts of five Broadway shows of the '60s which the author felt had undeservedly flopped. I share her opinion on that score. In addition to the texts, there are very interesting analyses of why they flopped, filled with insights about the Broadway theatre of that period.

[AlgonquinProd2]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 11:58am

Act One is a terrific book, but only half of it is about Broadway. If you really want great books on Broadway, especially in the earlier days, read the biographies of George S. Kaufman, Richard Rogers, Alan Jay Lerner, etc.

The Season by William Goldman is indeed a classic. I'm not sure how much is valid anymore, but it's a terrific read, nonetheless.

Don't forget Rewrites by Neil Simon.

[sally1112]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:24pm

Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops by Ken Mandelbaum

I am about 150 pages into this book and I highly recommend it. I can't believe that I have waited so long to read it. So full of fun stories and Broadway tidbits!

[willrogers2008]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:31pm

Kander & Ebb book just published by Yale Press.Guess which was the first title of CURTAINS ? "WHO KILLED DAVID MERRICK" !!!
The whole book is a treasure,indeed. I t was written by James Leve. Run to a bookstore near you.It is a must !

[sally1112]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 1:51pm

Oh, I forgot Meryle Secrest's Stephen Sondheim is a great read for his fans. I found it in a thrift store for a buck and read it in just a few sittings.