BroadwayWorld.com BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOK REPORT Part III

Miss either one of Naomi Plume's last two "Back to School" Book Reports? Click here for Part I and here for Part II.

I have been overwhelmed by your responses and personal e-mails re:  BroadwayWorld.com's "BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOK REPORT" and my take on the books we covered.  As a result, it appears we will be reporting on books more often than originally thought.  It has also been wonderful to hear from so many of the publishers.  A welcome surprise.  Here's PART III  … and with so many new books coming out … I'll be back soon … with more to say.  I'm also hoping to make gift suggestions, guiding you through  new books that come out before the Holidays.  Now … "hit those books!"

ON THE LINE - The Creation of A CHORUS LINE
By Robert Viagas, Baayork Lee and Thommie Walsh with the entire original cast
Limelight Editions
four stars (out of 5)

Much attention will be turned to the current first-class Broadway revival of A CHORUS LINE.  And why shouldn't it be?  This musical broke the rules and began as (now) one of the most famous "workshops" in history. 

With history, comes legend, rumor, gossip, bitterness, competition, jealousy and everything that theatre folk are legendary for … including talent and that occasionally yields that beguiling phenomenon … a SMASH HIT! 

Many of the people heading the team of A CHORUS LINE are no longer with us … but this second edition of ON THE LINE is.  It focuses on the original 19 cast members and is definitely worth picking up.  It is, quite honestly, real musical theatre history. 

The original 1990 edition of this book was in hardcover and published by William Morrow and Company, Inc.  This edition is softbound, and although the photo reproductions are not great in quality, the APPENDIX – Their Lives To Date, is a great sort of "Where Are They Now?" update and a welcome read. 

The greatest thing about that entire original cast was how many musicals they had been in, collectively, and how many directors and choreographers they had each worked with and learned from – before landing "on the line" with Mr. Bennett. 

Add this to your collection.

MOSS HART: A PRINCE OF THE THEATRE
By Jared Brown
BACK STAGE BOOKS
three stars (out of 5)

Moss Hart was synonymous with Broadway and his contributions, in all aspects of his work, helped mold the landscape of theatre and musicals. One of my favorite books is his own ACT ONE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. It's just a fantastic read and I can highly recommend it.

This book by Jared Brown claims to be the only "authorized" book with the full cooperation of his widow Kitty Carlisle Hart, the children, etc. … and although that makes for some great new photos … something seems "veiled" about this book and its approach to its subject.

It's a great career – writer, director, Pulitzer Prize winning legend, with a life that was full of drama (of course) that included famed depression and rumored bisexuality.

Kitty participated in this?

A great cast of characters and Broadway legendary greats … and interviews with many of the stars he worked with.

There was a book that came out in 2001 by Steven Bach, called DAZZLER: The Life and Times of Moss Hart. That book was NOT authorized or happily participated with by the family, but I liked it much better.

A FINE ROMANCE HOLLYWOOD/BROADWAY
The Magic. The Mayhem. The Musicals.
By Darcie Denkert
Watson-Guptill Publications
five stars (out of 5)

Don't let this big, beautiful, photo-licious book make you think that it's just another "coffee table" number. It's a lot more than that. The funny thing is that it would have been fine if it were just that. But all the writing was totally unexpected.

This book is very interesting because it lets you know right away that the book's contents are about the "love-hate-love" relationship between Hollywood and Broadway. And we all know what that history has been like.

BroadwayWorld.com gave copies away to the audience attending STANDING OVATIONS IV last year and everyone loved it (kindness of Ms. Denkert and Watson-Guptill)

You will too! Another plus for your collection.

WARNING: It's BIG & HEAVY!

SECOND ACT TROUBLE
Behind the Scenes at Broadway's Big Musical Bombs
Steven Suskin
Applause Theatre & Cinema Books
five stars (out of 5)

Steven Suskin is invaluable to anyone who loves theatre because it's obvious he loves it. He has written and/or compiled many "must-have" books that sit on my shelf and this one is no exception.

SECOND ACT TROUBLE is a handsome, well put together collection of stories about the horrors of putting on musicals – which are not easy to get on under the best of circumstances!

It's a bloodbath of a book … No, CARRIE is not in it!

SEESAW, MACK & MABEL, GOLDEN BOY, THE ACT, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, THE RED SHOES … and that's just some of them. Need I say more?

You have to love a book that has in its opening contents a "guide" to the CAST OF CHARACTERS (AND LIST OF VICTIMS).

This is a great book.

THE LONGEST LINE
Broadway's Most Singular Sensation: A CHORUS LINE
By Gary Stevens and Alan George
Applause Books
four stars (out of 5)

This edition of THE LONGEST LINE is a re-issue of the original 1995 book, with a more popular price tag. My original copy still has a price tag on it of $45.00. Now you can have it for $19.95. No new material has been culled or added for this re-release, but it's still a great book to add to your collection.

The authors could be called the biggest fans of the original show's run and have put together a fun, full of information, sort of ultimate scrapbook of A CHORUS LINE. Lots of great pictures, both color and black & white and the book has an interesting oblong shape.

You can spend hours reading facts and figures, casts, understudies and all sorts of A CHORUS LINE info. No comprehensive writing and there are a lot of laughs – intentional (and unintentional). Every aspect of the production and personnel are covered in one respect or another.

You won't be sorry. Pick it up.