The Acknowledgments go on for 5 pages. It's usually the least interesting part of a book, but to the people on the board, these first few paragraphs might be of interest:
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Acknowledgments
As with so much in life, timing—especially for a book like this—is everything. I was lucky enough to stumble on a story that could be put together from interviews with people who lived it. They had vivid, often hilarious, memories of Broadway and its personalities in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. But enough time had gone by so that they could also be candid and reflective about some of the more painful parts of the story I have tried to tell. This book could not have been written without their help.
The first person I interviewed was Albert Poland. I spent several hours with him at his house in Dutchess County as he regaled me with tales of Gerald Schoenfeld, Bernard Jacobs, and the world of the Shubert Organization. Albert loved Bernie and Jerry, and they loved him. He understood what I was trying to accomplish with this book, and encouraged me throughout the reporting and writing. He read every chapter, providing thoughtful comments and correcting grievous errors. A writer could not have a better source or friend.
I have nearly twenty hours of interviews with Philip J. Smith, the chairman of the Shubert Organization. He was a participant in, or had a ringside seat at, almost every event that takes place in Razzle Dazzle. As Scott Rudin likes to say, “Phil Smith is the Tom Hagen of the Shuberts.” Phil remembers everything and tells it with flair. He is also a wise and generous friend. I hope this book gives him the credit he deserves for his part in saving the Shuberts and Broadway in the 1970s.
I had many fun lunches with James M. Nederlander, who like Phil Smith has an astonishing memory. He can tell you how much he paid, to the dime, for every theater he owns. I would also like to thank James L. Nederlander (Jimmy Jr.) and his wife, Margo, for their friendship and support.
Three other friends were great sources. Elizabeth I. McCann, also possessed of a sharp memory, poked fun at all the characters in this story, but never minimized their accomplishments. Emanuel Azenberg understood better than anyone the complex and often ridiculous rivalry between the Shuberts and the Nederlanders. And John Breglio, over the course of three long interviews, helped me grasp the brilliance, charisma, and tragedy of Michael Bennett.
I would also like to thank the following people for their time and their memories: John Barlow, Clive Barnes, Sidney Baumgarten, Joseph Berger, Ira Bernstein, Arthur Birsh, Don Black, Mark Bramble, Betty Buckley, Barry Burnett, David Clurman, Lawrence Cohen, Robert Cole, Nancy Coyne, Judy Craymer, Alan Eisenberg, Rick Elice, Josh Ellis, Dasha Epstein, Robert Fox, Merle Frimark, Jeremy Gerard, Bernard Gersten, Roberta Gratz, John Heilpern, Shirley Herz, William Ivey Long, Judy Jacksina, Betty Jacobs, Geoffrey Johnson, Robert Kamlot, Ed Koch, Herbert Kretzmer, Henry Krieger, Lionel Larner, Susan Lee, Francine LeFrak, Jerry Leichtling, William Liberman, Paul Libin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh, Richard Maltby Jr., Robert McDonald, Thomas Meehan, Alan Menken, Trevor Nunn, Elaine Paige, Harold Prince, Kathleen Raitt, Lee Roy Reams, Tim Rice, Arthur Rubin, Harvey Sabinson, Nick Scandalios, Peter Schneider, Richard Seff, Peter Shaffer, Michael Sovern, Herbert
Sturz, Joseph Traina, Tommy Tune, Norman Twain, Edward Foley, Vaughan, George Wachtel, Robin Wagner, Carl Weisbrod, Franklin Weissberg, Barry Weissler, Jon Wilner, and Bobby Zarem.
Updated On: 10/9/15 at 03:42 PM
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