Hello everyone.
Well, here it is - the year end "holiday roundup" of books, which, by the way, make for a perfect gift...and an affordable one, that will last much longer than flowers, cookies or fruitcake (that no one wants anyway).
As an added incentive, we are putting, in this edition, "clicks" to Amazon.com, which seems to be offering the best pricing in comparison to "book publisher's list prices." This should make it very easy for you to find the perfect gift for the perfect person.
There's something here for everyone, in all price ranges, and at all age levels and level of theatre-loving...from young...to amateur...to professional.
Anyone would be happy to receive a book from you this holiday season. Also, click here to see other book reviews from this year that would make for more great gifts.
Wishing you the best holiday ever -- see you 2009!
How Does the Show Go On? - Introduction to the Theater
Updated Edition
Disney Books
by Thomas Schumacher and Jeff Kurty
five stars (out of 5)
If you remember, I went crazy with excitement when the first edition of this book came out. It is now in its Second Edition / First Printing and is still one of the best books that you can spend your hard earned dollar on...this time including the latest interesting information from Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway and Disney High School Musical, on tour. When I wrote the first review, which was also 5 out of 5 stars, I said "Schumacher's passion and association with the Disney organization and its resources combined to give us this extraordinarily generous cornucopia of a book. To open its front flaps is to open the doors to the magical world of the theatre and, in this case, the Disney musicals."
This book continues to be an exciting, interactive guide that's irrestible to young and old alike. I honestly cannot think of a better gift for a young person in introducing them to the world of theatre and to understanding everything about a show, from the minute you buy the ticket and enter the front door of a Broadway theater. Tom Schumacher and Jeff Kurty are to be commended on yet another beautiful edition. Click Here to Purchase from Amazon.com!
Elaine Paige
Memories
Celebrating 40 Years in the Theatre
Foreward by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Oberon Books
3 and a half stars (out of 5)
This book explains that Elaine Paige "is the undisputed first lady of musical theatre." I would also like to add, "in London's West End." This is a career that could have only happened across the pond, and this book was obivoulsy released to tie in with her celebrating 40 years in the theatre, along with the CD that I reviewed earlier this month. Don't get me wrong, I love Elaine Paige, but she just hasn't translated to America, sort of like Robbie Williams. We love him, but because TAKE THAT, the pop group, which he came out of, was not part of our consciousness, he never broke here big, as a solo artist. But, I love Robbie Williams, too. In America, we have Justin Timberlake who broke out of a similar group, which was in our concsciousness, N'Sync.
That said, Paige hasn't stopped working since she first made a splash in HAIR in the West End. Since then, she's become an institution and a multiple award winner, playing such great roles as Eva Peron, Grizabella, Florence in Chess, Edith Piaf, etc. She tours regularly and had many radio hits and now has a popular BBC Radio 2 Show, Elaine Paige on Sunday, which gets heard by approximately 2 million listeners per week.
For as big as the career is, the book is a little skimpy, but loaded with photographs. If you're an Elaine Paige fan, it's not available here in the United States yet (April 1, 2009), but it can be imported immediately from Amazon.co.uk. Click Here to Purchase from Amazon.com!
