Michael Riedel Talks New Book RAZZLE DAZZLE and More at The Old Globe Tonight
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 22, 2015
The Old Globe will present a free, one-night-only event, Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Michael Riedel, tonight, October 22 at 6:00 p.m.
Broadway wouldn't be Broadway without Michael Riedel, whose years as the New York Post's theatre columnist and THEATER TALK co-host have shown him to have unparalleled wit, powers of observation, and even influence. This sure-to-be-intriguing chat between Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Riedel will explore the current state of Broadway and the American theatre, and a few inside stories from Riedel's new book, RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE BATTLE FOR BROADWAY. It takes readers through the fascinating history of a transformative moment in the history of Broadway and New York City, when as much drama happened offstage as on, and the industry's stars, producers, and mega-hits changed the very nature of the American stage. After the presentation, Riedel will also sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase at the event.
Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Michael Riedel will take place in Hattox Hall, part of the Karen and Donald Cohn Education Center in the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. This special presentation is free to the public, though reservations are recommended to guarantee a seat. Reservations can be made by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.
RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE BATTLE FOR BROADWAY (Simon & Schuster; published October 6, 2015) is a vivid biography of Broadway itself, full of larger-than-life characters. It begins with the inimitable story of the three Shubert brothers, theatre moguls who had a presence across the country with the Shubert Organization, and how, through a coup and much backstage drama, Bernard Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld managed to solidify their own power and turned a collapsed theater-owning holding company into one of the most successful entertainment empires in the world. They went on to revitalize Times Square, change the face of New York City, and produce many of Broadway's most iconic productions, including A Chorus Line, Cats, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Mamma Mia! Drawing on extensive interviews and research, Riedel has created a comprehensive insider's look like no other, examining influential figures and Broadway legends such as Michael Bennett, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Hal Prince, Frank Rich, and more while exposing bitter rivalries, unlikely alliances, and-of course-scintillating gossip. This is a great story, told with wit and passion as only the Great White Way's most respected (and feared) commentator could.
"For a theatre geek like me, Michael Riedel's book Razzle Dazzle is just catnip, and I couldn't put it down," said Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. "But the book's real triumph is that it is not just for insiders. It makes the machinations and complexities of backstage life immediately accessible and exciting, and what's more, it celebrates the theatre itself as an institution central to a healthy civilization. It's also a lot of fun to read, with a witty and wry voice that will be familiar to anyone who knows Riedel's punchy style. I look forward to spending time talking with him and to giving our audience a chance to hear his very specific point of view on the stage and its foibles."
Michael Riedel has been a theatre columnist for the New York Post since 1998. He worked at the New York Daily News for five years before returning to the Post, and he has written for The Guardian, Harper's Bazaar, Mirabella, Departures, and Commentary. Riedel is the co-host of THEATER TALK on PBS, is a contributor to the BBC, and has appeared on LARRY KING LIVE, TODAY, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, and many other news programs. He lives in New York City. 'RAZZLE DAZZLE' is his first book.
Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein is a stage director, producer, author, and educator. Widely recognized as one of the leading American authorities on the works of Shakespeare, he has directed nearly half of the Bard's plays. His Globe directing credits include The Winter's Tale; Othello; and the West Coast premiere of novelist Nathan Englander's play The Twenty-seventh Man; and the upcoming world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson's musical Rain. He also directed All's Well That Ends Well as the inaugural production of Globe for All, a new producing platform that tours the works of Shakespeare to diverse communities throughout San Diego County. As Director of the Shakespeare Initiative at The Public Theater (2008-2012), Edelstein oversaw all of the company's Shakespearean productions, as well as its extensive educational, community outreach, and artist-training programs. At The Public, he staged Julius Caesar starring Jeffrey Wright for Shakespeare in the Park and The Merchant of Venice featuring Ron Leibman's Obie Award-winning portrayal of Shylock. He was also Associate Producer of The Public's Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino. From 1998-2003 he was Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company, where he produced and directed some of New York's most memorable classical productions. Edelstein's Shakespearean directorial credits include The Winter's Tale with David Strathairn, Timon of Athens with Richard Thomas, As You Like It with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Richard III with John Turturro. His additional credits include the Lucille Lortel Award-winning revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons; the world premiere of Steve Martin's The Underpants, which he commissioned; Molière's The Misanthrope starring Uma Thurman in her stage debut; and the world premiere of novelist Nathan Englander's play The Twenty-seventh Man. Edelstein has taught Shakespearean acting at The Juilliard School, NYU's Graduate Acting Program, and the University of Southern California. His book Thinking Shakespeare (called by New York Magazine "a must-read for actors") was published in 2007 and is now the standard text on American Shakespearean acting. He is also the author of Bardisms: Shakespeare for All Occasions.
The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. The Balboa Park valet is also available during performances ($12), located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org. For directions and up-to-date information, please visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/Directions.
To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, do not use the delivery address above. There is only a 10-minute zone at that physical address. For GPS users, click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.
The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for 80 years. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 14 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre's education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Catered Affair, and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE BATTLE FOR BROADWAY
Published by Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Price: $27.00
ISBN: 9781451672169
E-book: 9781451672183
Visit Simon & Schuster on the web at www.simonandschuster.com.
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