Conversations with Neil Simon (Literary Conversations Series) - by Jackson R. Bryer
Neil Simon (1927–2018) began as a writer for some of the leading comedians of the day—including Jackie Gleason, Red Buttons, Phil Silvers, and Jerry Lewis—and he wrote for fabled television programs alongside a group of writers that included Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Larry Gelbart, Michael Stewart, and Sid Caesar. After television, Simon embarked on a playwriting career. In the next four decades he saw twenty-eight of his plays and five musicals produced on Broadway. Thirteen of those plays and three of the musicals ran for more than five hundred performances. He was even more widely known for his screenplays—some twenty-five in all.
Yet, despite this success, it was not until his BB Trilogy—Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and Broadway Bound—that critics and scholars began to take Simon seriously as a literary figure. This change in perspective culminated in 1991 when his play Lost in Yonkers won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
In the twenty-two interviews included in Conversations with Neil Simon, Simon talks candidly about what it was like to write commercially successful plays that were dismissed by critics and scholars. He also speaks at length about the differences between writing for television, for the stage, and for film. He speaks openly and often revealingly about his relationships with, among many others, Mike Nichols, Walter Matthau, Sid Caesar, and Jack Lemmon. Above all, these interviews reveal Neil Simon as a writer who thought long and intelligently about creating for stage, film, and television, and about dealing with serious subjects in a comic mode. In so doing, Conversations with Neil Simon compels us to recognize Neil Simon’s genius.
International Literary Properties, the global company that invests in, acquires, and manages literary estates, has acquired Ellen Raskin’s literary estate. Learn more!
The physical CD and two vinyl editions of the Swept Away album, titled “Rough Seas” and a limited edition “Devil’s In My Head” Blood Moon red pressing, will be released this spring. Learn more!
Pianist and composer Danny Wright has released his latest album, 'Stage To Screen,' featuring piano renditions of beloved movie and Broadway songs. Learn more about Wright and the album!
University Press of Kentucky plans to release a revised, third edition of 'Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins' by the late historian Robert K. Murray and renowned cave explorer Roger W. Brucker, on April 15.
Stage and screen star Josh Gad has put pen to paper to tell his story. His new memoir, In Gad We Trust, is a heartfelt and hilarious collection of essays about his career highlights and all of the inbetweens. Watch in this video!
South Street Seaport Museum's monthly book club will continue in February. Seaport Museum staff and special guests will stir up lively discussions informed by our shared love of literature, history, and preservation.
Red Lyric Productions will release the original Off-Broadway/NY Fringe Cast Album of Urban Momfare. The musical had a run at the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival, where it received a Best Musical Award.
Precious Days Records has released the debut recording of Gretchen Cryer and Gracie Hyland’s new musical HOUSE ON FIRE in streaming and digital formats. Learn more about the album and the upcoming concert presentation.
The world premiere recording of Lisa Bielawa’s song cycle Centuries in the Hours will be released on a new album from mezzo-soprano Leandra Ramm titled Watching glass, I hear you.
Gretchen Cryer recently wrote a new musical with her granddaughter, Gracie Hyland, titled House on Fire. We have your exclusive first listen to a song from the show. Listen to “Early Teenage Crisis” here!
Broadway-lovers know that the legendary Palace Theatre has gone through quite a transformation over the last several years. What happened at the Palace before now? Watch in this video as Lane chats with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge about the venue's incredible history
After a sold out run at the 2024 Twin Cities Horror Festival, the script for the camp horror comedy Let's Summon a Demon at Debbie's written by Brandon Monokian has been published by 1319 Press. Learn more!
The new album Reefer Madness: New Los Angeles Cast Recording, featuring the full cast from its critically acclaimed 25th Anniversary Los Angeles revival, is available on CD today. Learn more.
Rachel Potter, known for her roles on Broadway as well as her appearance on The X Factor, has revealed the full list of featured artists for her upcoming album, Stages.
An event featuring OVER THE SHOULDER: A Freelancer's Guide to Telling Stories and Editing Films by Mark Solomon, will be presented at The Drama Bookshop. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
The Drama Book Shop in association with Jay Michaels Global Communications will present 'How To Sing Without Thinking' with Gabriel Weiner, a talkback, signing, and live podcast recording. Learn more!
Ari Axelrod's A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway – is available on CD and digital formats now. Learn more about the album and about Axelrod's upcoming performances.
The Drama Book Shop will present, in association with Jay Michaels Global Communications, 'JJ's Audition Adventure' - A talkback, signing, and live podcast recording with Javier Vazquez Jr and Denise Santos. Learn how to attend.
Valev Laube, the celebrated Estonian-American musician, composer, and multimedia producer, has finally released his highly anticipated debut album, Liminal. Now available across all major streaming platforms.
Schmigadoon! creator Cinco Paul has announced that he has co-written a new alphabet book based on the musical series. Written alongside Ray Kampf (who also created the illustrations), the book is described as 'a sophisticated whimsical and colorful alphabet book.'
Grammy Award winning Broadway, West End and opera artist Zachary James is set to drop a live album, recorded at the legendary Crazy Coqs in London, on New Year’s Eve 2024. Learn more!
Fans can prepare for the official Wicked digital and Blu-ray release with the extensive special feature listing which includes documentaries, deleted scenes, commentaries, and more. Take a look at the full list below!
Hadestown: Live from London – the original London cast album for Tony and Grammy Award-winning “Best Musical” Hadestown – has been released as a limited-edition deluxe gatefold “pop-up” vinyl. Learn more!
A delightful, rhythmic adventure is tapping its way into the hearts of little readers everywhere with the release of Tippy Toes and Tappy Heels by Amanda Pietsch. Learn more about the book!
BroadwayWorld is excited to debut the exclusive track 'Mama Ma' from the world premiere recording of the National Theatre production of Phaedra. Listen to it now.
A Kickstarter campaign has launched to raise money for the upcoming star-studded concept album of the new musical, The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul. Learn more about the album and see how to contribute!
Lending her voice to the audiobook is none other than Stephanie J. Block, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Cher in The Cher Show. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book- Chapter 2, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Listen here!
On Friday, February 28, 2025, New York-based German composer Reiko Füting will release his fifth portrait album, distantViolinSound, on New Focus Recordings.