23 results for "Literature"

Theater kid: a Broadway memoir

Seller, Jeffrey
"Before he was producing the musical hits of our generation, Jeffrey was just a kid coming to terms with his adoption, trying to understand his sexuality, and determined to escape his dysfunctional household in a poor neighborhood just outside Detroit. We see him find his voice through musical theater and move to New York, where he is determined to shed his past and make a name for himself on Broadway. But moving to the big city is never easy--especially not at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis--and Jeffrey learns to survive and thrive in the colorful and cutthroat world of commercial theatre. From his early days as an office assistant, to meeting Jonathan Larson and experiencing the triumph and tragedy of Rent, to working with Lin-Manuel Miranda on In the Heights and Hamilton, Jeffrey completely pulls back the curtain on the joyous and gut-wrenching process of makingnew musicals, finding new audiences, and winning a Tony Award--all the while finding himself"--
Simon & Schuster 2025-05-06 368 pages

Show Boat

Kern, Jerome,Hammerstein, Oscar 2nd,Ferber, Edna
"Show Boat" stands as one of the most significant and influential works in the history of American musical theater. Born from the collaboration between legendary composer Jerome Kern, lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, and novelist Edna Ferber, this masterpiece revolutionized the stage by integrating a serious, complex narrative with a sophisticated musical score. Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Mississippi River from the 1880s through the 1920s, the story follows the lives of the performers, stagehands, and dockworkers aboard the 'Cotton Blossom' floating palace. This powerful drama explores enduring themes of racial prejudice, tragic romance, and the evolving landscape of American society. Through iconic compositions such as "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," and "Make Believe," "Show Boat" captures the soul of a nation in transition. The work broke new ground by addressing social injustice and systemic inequality with a depth previously unseen in musical comedy, forever changing the trajectory of the Broadway stage. As a cornerstone of the American canon, "Show Boat" remains a poignant and musically rich exploration of love and hardship along the Great River. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Tradd Street Press 2026-02-14 102 pages

The Way I Was

Marvin Hamlisch,Gerald Gardner
The EGOT-winning composer of The Way We Were and A Chorus Line recounts his remarkable life from childhood to Broadway and Hollywood. The son of Jewish Viennese immigrants, six-year-old Marvin Hamlisch's early musical talent and discipline led him to Julliard, where he studied for more than a decade. From there, Hamlisch got his start as a rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand. He went on to co-create the classic American musical A Chorus Line and wrote the Oscar Award-winning musical score for The Way We Were . Hamlisch is one of only a handful of people to achieve EGOT status--winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. In this autobiography, Hamlisch tells the tale of his life and career, revealing personal stories of his childhood, his marriage, and his friendships with stars including Liza Minnelli, Groucho Marx, and others. It offers an intimate view of his life and a compelling portrait of Broadway and Hollywood through the second half of the twentieth century.
Open Road Integrated Media, Incorporated 2024-11-05 254 pages

The Man Who Came To Dinner

George Simon Kaufman,Moss Hart
""The Man Who Came To Dinner"" is a classic American comedy play written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The story revolves around the character of Sheridan Whiteside, a famous radio personality who is invited to dine at the home of the Stanley family in a small town in Ohio. However, Whiteside slips on the icy steps of the house and injures himself, forcing him to stay with the family until he recovers. As time passes, Whiteside begins to take over the household, bossing around the Stanleys and their staff, and causing chaos in their lives. He invites a host of eccentric characters to stay with them, including a famous actress, a convicted murderer, and a penguin. The play is a hilarious satire on the excesses of celebrity culture and the power dynamics of the entertainment industry.First performed in 1939, ""The Man Who Came To Dinner"" has become a beloved classic of American theatre, known for its witty dialogue, fast-paced action, and memorable characters. It has been adapted into several films and television productions over the years, cementing its place in the canon of American comedy.A Comedy In Three Acts.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
Literary Licensing, LLC 2012-06 204 pages

Nō ; and, Bunraku: two forms of Japanese theatre

Keene, Donald
Donald Keene combines informative works on two forms of classical Japanese theater into a single volume. The No text looks at all aspects of this traditional theater form including its history, its stage and props, the use of music and dance in its performances, the plays as literature, and the aesthetics of No. Also discussed are Kyogen, the comic farces that are typically interspersed with the solemn No dramas.
Columbia University Press 1990-04-15 199 pages

Jumpers

Stoppard, Tom
Murder, marriage, and metaphysics link the bizarre series of events in this high-spirited comedy, winner of the Evening Standard's Best Play Award. George Moore is an aging professor of moral philosophy whose quest to compose a lecture on "Man--Good, Bad, or Indifferent?" is put on hold while he ponders the existence of his sock. He is joined by his youthful wife, Dotty, a former musical star on a downward spiral whose charm may explain the corpse in the next room; George's specially trained hare, Thumper; and a chorus of poorly trained gymnasts whose exploits set the stage for this topsy-turvy world. --from Amazon
Grove Press 2023 95 pages

Cactus Flower

Burrows, Abe
Full Length, Comedy, 7m, 4f, Interiors A philandering dentist keeps his many affairs at bay by claiming to be married with children. When the ruse threatens to catch up with him, he drafts his prickly nurse to pose as his "wife". She blossoms and he finds himself falling in love with the lovely "cactus flower" right under his very nose. "You will find the jokes fast and funny, the situation becoming funnier as the play skips along." - New York Times
Samuel French, Inc. 2009-08-27 128 pages

What we did before our moth days

Shawn, Wallace
Wallace Shawn's first new play in ten years, a dark moral fable. And so yes, well, I'd simply dropped that whole idea of being a good person, I'd dropped it right down into some hole in the street, and down it had gone into the city's sewers, and no one ever saw it again. And that was sad, if you thought it was sad, or I suppose it was sad, or some people probably would say it was sad. A dark moral fable, telling of an acclaimed writer's hedonistic lifestyle and its effects on his wife, son and mistress. Wallace Shawn's first new play in ten years, another viciously witty indictment of the liberal intelligentsia and its hidden depravity, will be staged in rep with a revival of The Fever at an Off-Broadway theatre in January 2026. "Wallace Shawn writes like no one else. His stuff is scary, gripping, and hilarious.", New Yorker
Faber 2026-02-03 96 pages

The life of the theatre: the relation of the artist to the struggle of the people

Beck, Julian
(Limelight). "He did what he wanted to do: with his wife Judith Malina he created the Living Theatre . . . Not an ivory tower, however: a headquarters of revolution, a guerrilla theater, though a pacifist one . . . He didn't get the kind of death he wanted . . . but . . . he had had the life he wanted . . . When such a life has been lived, who dares say theater is just a business? Who dares say it is just an art?" Eric Bentley
Limelight Editions 1986 233 pages

Studies in the Arab theater and cinema

Landau, Jacob M.
The Arab theatre and cinema are among the most neglected subjects in the studies of Oriental literature and research into the history of theatre. This book, written by the acclaimed scholar Jacob M. Landau and first published in 1958, is a survey of the development of the Arab theatre and cinema as cultural and social phenomena and goes a long way in shedding some light on these neglected subjects.
Routledge 2017-08-31 310 pages

The Magic of Light The Craft and Career of Jean Rosenthal, Pioneer in Lighting for the Modern Stage

Jean Rosenthal,Lael Wertenbaker
Learn About the Magic of Light from a Master Step into the captivating world of Jean Rosenthal, a trailblazing figure in the realm of lighting design for modern theater. The Magic of Light, a professional memoir crafted with the assistance of friend and novelist Lael Wertenbaker, unveils the artistry behind Rosenthal's technical mastery. Renowned for transforming stage illumination from a mere necessity to a mesmerizing art form, Rosenthal shares her insights, experiences, and the evolution of her craft. Part one of the memoir delves into Rosenthal's profound thoughts on light, exploring its role in theatrical history, dissecting its impact on plays, musicals, operas, and dance. Part two, "Tools of the Trade," serves as a comprehensive guide, detailing the mechanics of lighting instruments, with diagrams, charts, and photographs illustrating Rosenthal's creative process. Included are light plots, cue sheets, and scene designer's elevations for the famous Broadway productions of Hello, Dolly and Plaza Suite. In a heartfelt preface, Wertenbaker offers a glimpse into the life of Rosenthal, a woman of immense talent, professionalism, and profound humanity. From her early collaborations with Martha Graham to her work with Broadway stage greats, Rosenthal's journey unfolds with anecdotes, humor, and the unwavering dedication that endeared her to colleagues and theater crews alike. The Magic of Light is not only a technical guide; it's a celebration of Rosenthal's legacy and her impact on the theatrical world. With contributions from luminaries like Martha Graham, John Houseman, Oliver Smith, Mary Martin, and Garson Kanin, this memoir is a tribute to a pioneering artist whose work continues to shape the essence of stage illumination. This book is also available from Echo Point Books as a hardcover (ISBN 1648374298).
Echo Point Books & Media, LLC 2024-04-02 270 pages

The Theatre Through Its Stage Door

David Belasco
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Creative Media Partners, LLC 2022-10-27 308 pages

The Memories of Rose Eytinge Being Recollections & Observations of Men, Women, and Events, During

Rose Eytinge
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Creative Media Partners, LLC 2022-10-27 332 pages

Das Theater Der Reichshauptstadt

Siegfried Jacobsohn
This fascinating study of the theater scene in 1920s Berlin offers a glimpse into one of the most vibrant cultural scenes in modern history. Jacobsohn, a leading theater critic and commentator, provides insightful analysis of the leading figures, plays, and trends in the Berlin theater world of his time. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
LEGARE STREET Press 2023-07-18 164 pages