The Ultimate Guide for Best Books About Broadway

One of the great American memoirs, a glorious memorial to a bygone age filled with all the wonder, drama, and heartbreak that surrounded Broadway in the early twentieth century. Hart's story inspired a generation of theatergoers, dramatists, and readers everywhere as he eloquently chronicled his impoverished childhood and his long, determined struggle to reach the opening night of his first Broadway hit. Act One is the quintessential American success story.

“A best-seller when it was published in 1959 and an inspirational fable for theater buffs ever since, Act One is the Song of Bernadette of Broadway memoirs, the hillside vision of the Virgin Mary replaced by the bathing light of the theater marquee at dusk, the magic hour before showtime.” - Vanity Fair

You Know Him From: My Fair Lady, A Star Is Born, Gentlemen’s Agreement

Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom. This book is the first in a trilogy, and there is a movie adaptation out on Disney+ now.

Great for kids!

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

More than a quarter-century after his death, Bob Fosse’s fingerprints on popular culture remain indelible. The only person ever to win Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award in the same year, Fosse revolutionized nearly every facet of American entertainment, forever marking Broadway and Hollywood with his iconic style — hat tilted, fingers splayed — that would influence generations of performing artists. Yet in spite of Fosse’s innumerable achievements, no accomplishment ever seemed to satisfy him, and offstage his life was shadowed in turmoil and anxiety. Bestselling author Sam Wasson unveils the man behind the swaggering sex appeal, tracing Fosse’s untold reinventions of himself over a career that would spawn The Pajama Game, Cabaret, Pippin, All That Jazz, and Chicago, one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever. 

“Mr. Wasson’s book is required reading for anyone eager to understand his brand of — to use a term that appears here constantly, and can’t be outdone — razzle-dazzle.” - The New York Times

You Know Him From: Chicago, Cabaret, Pippin, The Pajama Game

Hat Box: The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: A Box Set is made up of two books: Finishing the Hat and Look, I Made a Hat. Finishing the Hat covers Stephen Sondheim’s work from 1954 to 1981 and was one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of the Year. It offers readers a rare look into Sondheim’s personal life as well as into his legendary productions like West Side Story, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, and Sweeney Todd. Look, I Made a Hat picks up in 1981 and covers musicals like Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins and Passion. Sondheim dissects his own lyrics, gives advice on songwriting, goes into theater history, and gives behind-the-scenes anecdotes for all of his productions. Over the course of his legendary career, Sondheim won Tony Awards, an Academy Award, Grammys, and a Pulitzer Prize – among others. Perfect for Broadway lovers, budding Broadway writers and composers, or anyone interested in theater history. 

“After reading ‘Finishing the Hat,’ I felt as if I had taken a master class in how to write a musical. A class given by the theater’s finest living songwriter.” – The New York Times

You Know Him From: West Side Story, Company, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins 

This New York Times Bestseller written by activist, icon, and four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein takes us from his childhood in Brooklyn, to downtown New York and Hollywood and explores his relationships, addictions, sex, romance, and his acting roles and written works in TV, film, and theater. Hear behind-the-scenes and never before told stories about Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, Kinky Boots and more. The book also shows his work in the gay rights movement, the AIDS crisis, and his relationships with his family. The New York Times called the book, “raw, funny and fabulous.”

You Know Him From: Hairspray, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, La Cage aux Folles, Kinky Boots, Newsies, Cheers

Lorraine Hansberry, who died at thirty-four, was by all accounts a force of nature. Although best-known for her work A Raisin in the Sun, her short life was full of extraordinary experiences and achievements, and she had an unflinching commitment to social justice, which brought her under FBI surveillance when she was barely in her twenties. While her close friends and contemporaries, like James Baldwin and Nina Simone, have been rightly celebrated, her story has been diminished and relegated to one work—until now. After the success of A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry used her prominence in myriad ways: challenging President Kennedy and his brother to take bolder stances on Civil Rights, supporting African anti-colonial leaders, and confronting the romantic racism of the Beat poets and Village hipsters. Though she married a man, she identified as lesbian and, risking censure and the prospect of being outed, joined one of the nation’s first lesbian organizations. Hansberry associated with many activists, writers, and musicians, including Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Du Bois, among others. Looking for Lorraine is a powerful insight into Hansberry’s extraordinary life—a life that was tragically cut far too short.

“An unusual and exceptional encomium to a brilliant writer and thinker.” – Publishers Weekly

You Know Her From: A Raisin in the Sun, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window

Winner of the 2019 PEN Award for Biography

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

Winner of the Lambda Award for LGBTQ Nonfiction

Mary Rodgers (1931–2014) was the daughter of one composer and the mother of another. And not just any composers. Her father was Richard Rodgers, perhaps the greatest American melodist; her son, Adam Guettel, a worthy successor. What that leaves out is Mary herself, also a composer, whose musical Once Upon a Mattress remains one of the rare revivable Broadway hits written by a woman. Shy is the story of how it all happened: how Mary grew from an angry child, constrained by privilege and a parent’s overwhelming gift, to become not just a theater figure in her own right but also a renowned author of books for young readers (including the classic Freaky Friday) and, in a final grand turn, a doyenne of philanthropy and the chairman of the Juilliard School. But in telling these stories―with copious annotations, contradictions, and interruptions from Jesse Green, the chief theater critic of The New York Times―Shy also tells another, about a woman liberating herself from disapproving parents and pervasive sexism to find art and romance on her own terms. Whether writing for Judy Holliday or Rin Tin Tin, dating Hal Prince or falling for Stephen Sondheim over a game of chess at thirteen, Rodgers grabbed every chance possible―and then some. 

“I’m a sucker for books about Broadway… But I’ve never read one more entertaining (and more revealing) than Mary Rodgers’s ‘Shy.’ Her voice careens between intimate, sardonic, confessional, comic. The book is pure pleasure — except when it’s jaw-droppingly shocking.” – The New York Times

You Know Her From: Once Upon a Mattress, Freaky Friday

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews tells the story of Julie Andrews’ life before fame. From the London Blitz in World War II to her parents’ divorce to a childhood spent in radio and music halls, Julie Andrews was the youngest ever solo performer to participate in the Royal Command Performance before the Queen. When she was eighteen, Julie left the UK for the United States to make her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend. The rest is history. In this book, Andrews tells stories about My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison on Broadway and the West End, Camelot with Richard Burton on Broadway, her marriage to set and costume designer Tony Walton, the birth of her daughter, and her time in Hollywood. 

Customer review: “This book is so good you may want two copies - the audio to hear Julie Andrews tell her own captivating story in her own lyrical voice and the hardback to see the photos.”

You Know Her From: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Cinderella, Victor/Victoria, The Princess Diaries

Prefer an audiobook? Julie Andrews narrates Home: A Memoir of My Early Years

Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews with Emma Walton Hamilton is a New York Times bestseller that follows up her memoir Home. From films like Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews describes her time in Hollywood. In addition to her work in iconic films and collaborations with megastars of cinema and television, she also reveals her personal story of adjusting to a new and intimidating world, the demands of fame and success, of motherhood, of marriage, and of family. She also talks of falling in love with Blake Edwards and their work in many films including the Oscar-nominated Victor/Victoria.

“A warm, entertaining memoir…an insightful treat.” – Kirkus Reviews

You Know Her From: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Cinderella, Victor/Victoria, The Princess Diaries

Prefer an audiobook? Julie Andrews narrates Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews with Emma Walton Hamilton

For anyone who loves American comedy, the long wait is over. Here are the never-before-told, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and remembrances from a master storyteller, filmmaker, and creator of all things funny. All About Me! charts Mel Brooks’s meteoric rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Whether serving in the United States Army in World War II, or during his burgeoning career as a teenage comedian in the Catskills, Mel was always mining his experiences for material, always looking for the perfect joke. His iconic career began with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, where he was part of the greatest writers’ room in history, which included Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. After co-creating both the mega-hit 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and the classic television series Get Smart, Brooks’s stellar film career took off. He would go on to write, direct, and star in The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs, as well as produce groundbreaking and eclectic films, including The Elephant Man, The Fly, and My Favorite Year. Brooks then went on to conquer Broadway with his record-breaking, Tony-winning musical, The Producers. All About Me! offers fans insight into the inspiration behind the ideas for his outstanding collection of boundary-breaking work, and offers details about the many close friendships and collaborations Brooks had, including those with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Madeleine Kahn, Alfred Hitchcock, and the great love of his life, Anne Bancroft. Filled with tales of struggle, achievement, and camaraderie (and dozens of photographs), readers will gain a more personal and deeper understanding of the incredible body of work behind one of the most accomplished and beloved entertainers in history.

“Studded with snickering asides and rapid-fire jokes, Brooks’s account of making it in show biz is just as sidesplitting as his movies.” – Publishers Weekly

You Know Him From: 2000 Year Old Man, The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, History of the World Part I, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

In My Life in Pieces Simon Callow retraces his life through the multifarious performers, writers, productions and events which have left their indelible mark on him. The story begins with Peter Pan - his first ever visit to the theatre - before heading to southern Africa and South London, where Callow spent much of his childhood. Later, he charms his way into a job at the National Theatre box office courtesy of his hero, Laurence Olivier - and thus began a lifetime's love affair with theatre. Alongside Olivier, we encounter Paul Scofield, Michael Gambon, Alan Bennett and Richard Eyre, all of whom Callow has worked with, as well as John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson and Alec Guinness, David Hare, Simon Gray and many more.

“A truly outstanding book about the theater.” – Huffington Post

You Know Him From: Four Weddings and a Funeral, A Room with a View, Shakespeare in Love 

Known for her portrayal of the iconic Dolly Levi in the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! and the droll and leggy Lorelei Lee in the Broadway version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Carol Channing’s career spanned over fifty years and has included many Broadway plays, television appearances, and two movies, including Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. This star-studded book will bring you behind the scenes and features an all-star cast of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand, Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Tallulah Bankhead, Gower Champion, Clint Eastwood, Julie Andrews, Marlene Dietrich, David Merrick, Noël Coward, Al Pacino, and Yul Brynner. Carol Channing also reveals her theatrical triumphs, her heritage, and her winning battle with ovarian cancer. From the first page to its triumphant conclusion - and including many never-before-seen photographs - Just Lucky I Guess is perhaps Miss Carol Channing's most engaging performance yet.

“A fascinating life in show biz…Channing conveys [her story] with a warmth, intimacy, and hilarity that make the reader feel as if he's her honored backstage guest.” - Theatermania

You Know Her From: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Hello, Dolly!; Thoroughly Modern Millie

In 1971, Ted Chapin was a college student who found himself front row center as a production assistant at the creation of one of the greatest Broadway musicals Follies. He kept a journal of everything he saw and heard and thus was able to document in unprecedented detail how a musical is actually created. Now more than thirty years later he has fashioned an extraordinary chronicle. Follies was created by musical theater giants with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman, and directed by Hal Prince and Michael Bennett. Everything Was Possible takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride from the uncertainties of casting to drama-filled rehearsals to the pressures of a Boston tryout and the exhilaration of opening night on Broadway. Foreword by long-time NY critic Frank Rich.

“Engrossing…theater buffs will be riveted.” – Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: Ted Chapin was president of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization for over 30 years.

You might know her as a Tony Award–winning Broadway star who originated the role of Galinda the Good Witch in the smash musical Wicked. Or you may recognize her from her starring roles on TV—The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, and Sesame Street. At four foot eleven, Kristin Chenoweth is an immense talent in a petite but powerful package. Through a combination of talent, hard work, and (she’s quick to add) the grace of God, Kristin took Broadway and Hollywood by storm. But of course, into every storm, the occasional drizzle of disaster must fall, and Kristin reflects on how faith and family have kept her grounded, even in tough times. Filled with wit, wisdom, and backstage insight, A Little Bit Wicked is long on love and short on sleep. It’s essential reading for Kristin’s legions of fans and an uplifting story for anyone seeking motivation to follow his or her dreams—over the rainbow and beyond.

Customer review: “A lively, riveting story of the making of a star - told with honesty & humility. There's humor, wit, and never a dull moment.”

You Know Her From: Wicked; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The West Wing; Pushing Daisies

From television actress, Broadway star, and New York Times bestselling author Kristin Chenoweth comes I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts, an inspiring high-design, colorful book featuring philosophical-ish musings on connection, creativity, loss, love, faith, and closure. Just like Kristin’s grandmother inspired her to trust her heart and develop her own belief system, you'll be inspired to develop your own life philosophies as you journey through some of Kristin's most vulnerable and humorous personal stories in her constant pursuit to make the most out of life. In each chapter, you'll find behind-the-scenes stories from Kristin's personal life, colorful pages of inspirational quotes, and engaging prompts and prayers. I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts is the perfect book to pick up on days when you need an extra shot of encouragement, a little laughter, and a gentle reminder that kindness can take you a long way.

Customer Review: “One of the most inspiring, delightful books I have ever read. I laughed and cried as I explored each chapter and page. Thanks Kristin, I needed your hilarious, honest and wisdom filled thoughts.”

You Know Her From: Wicked; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The West Wing; Pushing Daisies

In his unique and engaging voice, the acclaimed actor of stage and screen shares the emotional story of his complicated relationship with his father and the deeply buried family secrets that shaped his life and career. A beloved star of stage, television, and film, Alan Cumming is an artist whose diversity and fearlessness is unparalleled. His success masks a painful childhood growing up under the heavy rule of an emotionally and physically abusive father—a relationship that tormented him long into adulthood. With ribald humor, wit, and incredible insight, Alan seamlessly moves back and forth in time, integrating stories from his childhood in Scotland and his experiences today as a film, television, and theater star. At times suspenseful, deeply moving, and wickedly funny, Not My Father’s Son will make readers laugh even as it breaks their hearts.

“A raw, revealing memoir from a courageous actor and writer.” – Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: Cabaret, X-Men, The Good Wife

This New York Times Bestseller written by activist, icon, and four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein takes us from his childhood in Brooklyn, to downtown New York and Hollywood and explores his relationships, addictions, sex, romance, and his acting roles and written works in TV, film, and theater. Hear behind-the-scenes and never before told stories about Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, Kinky Boots and more. The book also shows his work in the gay rights movement, the AIDS crisis, and his relationships with his family. The New York Times called the book, “raw, funny and fabulous.”

You Know Him From: Hairspray, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, La Cage aux Folles, Kinky Boots, Newsies, Cheers

Joel Grey, the Tony and Academy Award-winning Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret finally tells his remarkable life story. Born Joel David Katz to a Jewish American family in Cleveland, Ohio in 1932, Joel began his life in the theater at the age of 9, starting in children’s theater and then moving to the main stage. He was hooked, and his seven decades long career charts the evolution of American entertainment - from Vaudeville performances with his father, Mickey Katz to the seedy gangster filled nightclubs of the forties, the bright lights of Broadway and dizzying glamor of Hollywood, to juggernaut musicals like Cabaret, Chicago, and Wicked. Master of Ceremonies is a memoir of a life lived in and out of the limelight, but it is also the story of the man behind the stage makeup. Deftly capturing the joy of performing as well as the pain and secrets of an era we have only just started to leave behind, Joel’s story is one of love, loss, hard-won honesty, redemption, and success.

“An honest, eloquent, memorable autobiography.” – Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: Cabaret, Chicago, Wicked

Charlie Harmon was hired to manage the day-to-day parts of Bernstein's life. There was one additional responsibility: make sure Bernstein met the deadline for an opera commission. But things kept getting in the way: the centenary of Igor Stravinsky, intestinal parasites picked up in Mexico, teaching all summer in Los Angeles, a baker's dozen of young men, plus depression, exhaustion, insomnia, and cut-throat games of anagrams. Did the opera get written? For four years, Charlie saw Bernstein every day, as his social director, gatekeeper, valet, music copyist, and itinerant orchestra librarian. He packed (and unpacked) Bernstein's umpteen pieces of luggage, got the Maestro to his concerts, kept him occupied changing planes in Zurich, Anchorage, Tokyo, or Madrid, and learned how to make small talk with mayors, ambassadors, a chancellor, a queen, and a Hollywood legend or two. How could anyone absorb all those people and places? Because there was music: late-night piano duets, or the Maestro's command to accompany an audition, or, by the way, the greatest orchestras in the world. Charlie did it, and this is what it was like, told for the first time.

“An affectionate portrait of an eminent musician who was driven by demons.” – Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide, West Side Story

One of the great American memoirs, a glorious memorial to a bygone age filled with all the wonder, drama, and heartbreak that surrounded Broadway in the early twentieth century. Hart's story inspired a generation of theatergoers, dramatists, and readers everywhere as he eloquently chronicled his impoverished childhood and his long, determined struggle to reach the opening night of his first Broadway hit. Act One is the quintessential American success story.

“A best-seller when it was published in 1959 and an inspirational fable for theater buffs ever since, Act One is the Song of Bernadette of Broadway memoirs, the hillside vision of the Virgin Mary replaced by the bathing light of the theater marquee at dusk, the magic hour before showtime.” - Vanity Fair

You Know Him From: My Fair Lady, A Star Is Born, Gentlemen’s Agreement

This is a highly personal biography of three great shows: My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Gigi. Warm, witty, loving, often hilarious, and poignant in its affection for a glorious era in the American theater, it is the story of what Mr. Lerner calls, "the sundown of wit, eccentricity, and glamor." The author himself, try as he will to keep himself out of his pages, emerges not merely as a great talent, but as a man of laughter and love. His principals, however, are Moss Hart and Fritz Loewe, with a stupendous supporting cast: Julia Andrews, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Cecil Beaton, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier, Leslie Caron, Vincente Minnelli, Arthur Freed . . . and on an on. They are seen intimately in moments of triumph, disaster, doubt and panic, pettishness and hilarity. Sometimes they were amateurs at private living, but they were always professionals at the creation of theater. And the creation of theater is the matrix of this wonderful book. Here is how a show is conceived, financed, written (and rewritten and rewritten), produced, staged, saved, and finally given to the public.

“What a pleasure it is to encounter in print such an urbane and intelligent writer as Alan Jay Lerner.” - New York Times 

You Know Him From: My Fair Lady, Gigi, Camelot

In Ghetto Klown, celebrated performer John Leguizamo lays bare his early years in blue-collar Queens, his salvation through acting and writing, and his colorful career trajectory. He brings us onto the sets of his films opposite stars such as Al Pacino and Patrick Swayze and with directors such as Baz Luhrmann and Brian De Palma, while also opening up about his offstage life in love and marriage. In this candid graphic novel memoir, Leguizamo offers a strong message of moving beyond self-doubt—and beyond the doubters—to claim some happiness. Originally staged on Broadway in 2011, Ghetto Klown won Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards before being adapted into an HBO special. Now, teaming up with artists Christa Cassano and Shamus Beyale, Leguizamo shares his life story in this vibrant, funny, and moving adaptation. 

Customer Review: “The graphic adaptation simply NAILS IT. The graphic artists truly did wonders, bringing to life Leguizamo’s stories and I laughed out loud like I haven’t done in a long, long time.”

You Know Him From: Latin History for Morons, Freak, Moulin Rouge!, Encanto

The legendary Patti LuPone is one of theatre’s most beloved leading ladies. Now she lays it all bare, sharing the intimate story of her life both onstage and off, with the humor and outspokenness that have become her trademarks. From crisscrossing the country as a founding member of the classical repertory theatre ensemble, The Acting Company, to her early success on Broadway, her four-year stint as Libby Thacher on the television series Life Goes On, her loving marriage to Matt Johnston, and much, much more, Patti chronicles her professional and personal life with inimitable candor and wit. With its insightful retrospective of her career-defining turns, both on Broadway and abroad, in Evita, Les Misérables, Anything Goes, Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd, and Gypsy, Patti LuPone: A Memoir reveals the artist’s deeply felt passion for music and the theatre and is, in the end, the compelling and quintessential tale of an exceptional life well lived.

Customer review: “The extravagantly talented Patti Lupone shows that she is as sparkling a memoirist (with Digby Diehl as collaborator) as she is an actress. If you love theater, acting, or Patti Lupone herself, you need to buy this book.”

You Know Her From: Evita, Les Miserables, Gypsy, Sunset Boulevard, Company

Leslie Odom Jr. burst on the scene in 2015, originating the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical phenomenon Hamilton. Since then, he has performed for sold-out audiences, sung for the Obamas at the White House, and won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. But before he landed the role of a lifetime in one of the biggest musicals of all time, Odom put in years of hard work as a singer and an actor. With personal stories from his life, Odom asks the questions that will help you unlock your true potential and achieve your goals even when they seem impossible. What work did you put in today that will help you improve tomorrow? How do you surround yourself with people who will care about your dreams as much as you do? How do you know when to play it safe and when to risk it all for something bigger and better? These stories will inspire you, motivate you, and empower you for the greatness that lies ahead, whether you’re graduating from college, starting a new job, or just looking to live each day to the fullest.

“A warm and inspiring reflection on his rise to success…Odom offers a multilayered perspective on musical theater, representation, and achieving professional dreams, while urging readers to walk confidently along their own paths to self-discovery.” – Publishers Weekly

You Know Him From: Hamilton, One Night in Miami

Memories is the remarkable story of Elaine Paige’s life, on and off the stage, in words and pictures. She takes us through her extraordinary career from her earliest stage appearances, to her many starring roles in some of the biggest musicals of the modern era, including Hair, Grease, Evita, Cats, Chess, Piaf, Sunset Boulevard and The Drowsy Chaperone. She tells it how it was, sharing moments of joy and regret. Illustrated with an extraordinary collection of images in color and black and white, Memories depicts Elaine Paige in some of her most iconic roles – Evita, Grizabella from Cats, Edith Piaf, and Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard – but also shows Elaine away from the stage, in childhood, with family and friends, and on her travels. Above all we get an insight into the life and career of a true national treasure in this revealing, funny and personal book. 

Customer Review: “Elaine Paige's "Memories" is an addictive read!”

You Know Her From: Cats, Hair, Evita, Sunset Boulevard, Grease

When Andrew Rannells left Nebraska for New York City in 1997, he saw the city as a chance to break free. To start over. To transform the fiercely ambitious but sexually confused teenager he saw in the mirror into the Broadway leading man of his dreams. In Too Much Is Not Enough, Rannells takes us on the journey of a twentysomething hungry to experience everything New York has to offer. As Rannells fumbles his way towards the Great White Way, he also shares the drama of failed auditions and behind-the-curtain romances, the heartbreak of losing his father, and the exhilaration of making his Broadway debut in Hairspray at the age of twenty-six. Along the way, he learns that you never really leave your past—or your family—behind. Honest and hilarious, Too Much Is Not Enough is published by the Crown Publishing Group and is an unforgettable look at love, loss, and the powerful forces that determine who we become. 

“An inspiring and consistently witty entertainment memoir.” - Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, Falsettos, The Boys in the Band

Anthony Rapp had a special feeling about Jonathan Larson's rock musical Rent as early as his first audition, which won him a starring role as the video artist Mark Cohen. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Rent opened to thunderous acclaim off-Broadway—but even as friends and family were celebrating the show's first success, they were also mourning Jonathan Larson's sudden death from an aortic aneurysm. And when Anthony's mom began to lose her battle with cancer, Anthony found himself struggling to balance his life in the theater with his responsibility to his family. In the New York Times bestselling memoir, Without You, Anthony tells of his exhilarating journey with the cast and crew of Rent as well as the intimacies of his personal life behind the curtain. Marked by fledgling love and devastating loss, Without You is an exceptional memoir of the world of theater, the love of a son for his mother, and maturity won far too early. 

“A moving, absorbing journal of life on stage and at home…a hit.” - Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: Rent, If/Then, Star Trek: Discovery

In January of 2010, a wide-eyed English grad went from peddling software in NYC to understudying the lead role in WICKED the musical -- her first professional theater gig (ever). Unnaturally Green is the humorous account of the entire journey, from her pit-stain-filled audition to the bittersweet closing night. Author Felicia Ricci wears her heart on her sleeve as she tackles the role of Elphaba, Wicked’s green-skinned heroine. She leaps countless hurdles, both professional and personal: conquering the "Songs of Death," weathering a trans-continental "Week I Didn't Poop," enduring the artistic limbo of understudying, and - worst of all! - meeting the man of her dreams. And all the while learning, time and again, what it means to be "green." Hop into the mind of an over-sharer as she discovers Broadway's Man Behind the Curtain - and the thrill and terror of personal growth. 

Customer review: “A beautiful and honest autobiography about life, love, and theater, and the constant search to find ourselves.”

You Know Her From: Wicked

There is a superstition that if an emptied theater is ever left completely dark, a ghost will take up residence. To prevent this, a single "ghost light" is left burning at center stage after the audience and all of the actors and musicians have gone home. Frank Rich's eloquent and moving boyhood memoir reveals how theater itself became a ghost light and a beacon of security for a child finding his way in a tumultuous world. With humor and eloquence, Rich tells the triumphant story of how the aspirations of a stagestruck young boy became a lifeline, propelling him toward the itinerant family of theater, whose romantic denizens welcomed him into the colorful fringes of Broadway during its last glamorous era. Every once in a while, a grand spectacle comes along that introduces its audiences to characters and scenes that will resound in their memories long after the curtain has gone down. Ghost Light, Frank Rich's beautifully crafted childhood memoir, is just such an event.

“An evocative memoir…Rich’s story resonates with the pain and triumph of everyday life.” - Publishers Weekly

You Know Him From: the chief theater critic of the New York Times from 1980-1993

The long-awaited and wildly entertaining memoir of the star of stage and screen, the legendary Chita Rivera—three-time Tony Award–winner, Kennedy Centers honoree, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero—until the entertainment world renamed her. But Dolores—the irreverent side of the sensual, dark and ferocious Chita—was always present center stage and was influential in creating some of Broadway’s most iconic and acclaimed roles, including Anita in West Side Story‚ the part that made her a star—Rosie in Bye Bye, Birdie, Velma in Chicago, and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Chita invites us into workrooms and rehearsal studies, on stage and on set as she works with some of the greatest talents of the age, including Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Hal Prince, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr, Gwen Verdon, Shirley MacLaine, and many others. We also learn deeply moving, revelatory details about her upbringing and her heritage, and how they indelibly shaped her work and career. This colorful and entertaining memoir—as vital and captivating as Chita herself—is the unforgettable and engrossing personal story of a performer who blazed her own trail and inspired countless performers to forge their own unique path to success.

“Fans of musical theater and dance are in for a treat.” – Kirkus Reviews

You Know Her From: West Side Story, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Mary Rodgers (1931–2014) was the daughter of one composer and the mother of another. And not just any composers. Her father was Richard Rodgers, perhaps the greatest American melodist; her son, Adam Guettel, a worthy successor. What that leaves out is Mary herself, also a composer, whose musical Once Upon a Mattress remains one of the rare revivable Broadway hits written by a woman. Shy is the story of how it all happened: how Mary grew from an angry child, constrained by privilege and a parent’s overwhelming gift, to become not just a theater figure in her own right but also a renowned author of books for young readers (including the classic Freaky Friday) and, in a final grand turn, a doyenne of philanthropy and the chairman of the Juilliard School. But in telling these stories―with copious annotations, contradictions, and interruptions from Jesse Green, the chief theater critic of The New York Times―Shy also tells another, about a woman liberating herself from disapproving parents and pervasive sexism to find art and romance on her own terms. Whether writing for Judy Holliday or Rin Tin Tin, dating Hal Prince or falling for Stephen Sondheim over a game of chess at thirteen, Rodgers grabbed every chance possible―and then some.  

“I’m a sucker for books about Broadway… But I’ve never read one more entertaining (and more revealing) than Mary Rodgers’s ‘Shy.’ Her voice careens between intimate, sardonic, confessional, comic. The book is pure pleasure — except when it’s jaw-droppingly shocking.” – The New York Times

You Know Her From: Once Upon a Mattress, Freaky Friday

His plays and movies have kept us laughing for four decades, but even more than the humor, it is the humanity of Neil Simon's vision that has made him America's most-loved playwright. Now, the author of such hilarious and heartwarming plays as Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, and The Goodbye Girl gives readers his memoir—a funny, touching biography filled with the details of his writing life and rich with the experiences that underlie his work.

“An intelligent and diverting memoir, artfully constructed.” - Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite

Hat Box: The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: A Box Set is made up of two books: Finishing the Hat and Look, I Made a Hat. Finishing the Hat covers Stephen Sondheim’s work from 1954 to 1981 and was one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of the Year. It offers readers a rare look into Sondheim’s personal life as well as into his legendary productions like West Side Story, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, and Sweeney Todd. Look, I Made a Hat picks up in 1981 and covers musicals like Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins and Passion. Sondheim dissects his own lyrics, gives advice on songwriting, goes into theater history, and gives behind-the-scenes anecdotes for all of his productions. Over the course of his legendary career, Sondheim won Tony Awards, an Academy Award, Grammys, and a Pulitzer Prize – among others. Perfect for Broadway lovers, budding Broadway writers and composers, or anyone interested in theater history. 

“After reading ‘Finishing the Hat,’ I felt as if I had taken a master class in how to write a musical. A class given by the theater’s finest living songwriter.” – The New York Times

You Know Him From: West Side Story, Company, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins

The long-awaited memoir from iconic, beloved actor and living legend Sir Patrick Stewart! From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations with his indelible command of stage and screen. Now, he presents his long-awaited memoir, Making It So, a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself.

You Know Him From: Waiting for Godot, No Man’s Land, Hamlet, Macbeth, X-Men, Star Trek

The long-awaited memoir by the superstar of stage, screen, recordings, and television. Barbra Streisand is by any account a living legend, a woman who in a career spanning six decades has excelled in every area of entertainment. She is among the handful of EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) and has one of the greatest and most recognizable voices in the history of popular music. She has been nominated for a Grammy 46 times, and with Yentl she became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major motion picture. In My Name Is Barbra, she tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl on stage and winning the Oscar for that performance on film. Then came a long string of successes in every medium in the years that followed. The book is, like Barbra herself, frank, funny, opinionated, and charming. She recounts her early struggles to become an actress, eventually turning to singing to earn a living; the recording of some of her acclaimed albums; the years of effort involved in making Yentl; her direction of The Prince of Tides; her friendships with figures ranging from Marlon Brando to Madeleine Albright; her political advocacy; and the fulfillment she’s found in her marriage to James Brolin. No entertainer’s memoir has been more anticipated than Barbra Streisand’s, and this engrossing and delightful book will be eagerly welcomed by her millions of fans.

“Exhuberant and glorious…[a] banquet of a book.” – The New York Times

You Know Her From: Yentl, Funny Girl, The Way We Were, The Prince of Tides, The Mirror Has Two Faces, A Star Is Born, and Hello, Dolly!

A record of several exciting and turbulent decades of British and American musical theatre and the transformation of popular music itself, Unmasked is ultimately a chronicle of artistic creation. Lloyd Webber looks back at the development of some of his most famous works and illuminates his collaborations with luminaries such as Tim Rice, Robert Stigwood, Harold Prince, Cameron Mackintosh, and Trevor Nunn. Taking us behind the scenes of his productions, Lloyd Webber reveals fascinating details about each show, including the rich cast of characters involved with making them, and the creative and logistical challenges and artistic political battles that ensued. Lloyd Webber shares his recollections of the works that have become cultural touchstones for generations of fans: writings songs for a school production that would become his first hit, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; finding the coterie of performers for his classic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar; developing his first megahit, Evita, which would win seven Tonys Awards, including Best Musical; staking his reputation and fortune on the groundbreaking Cats; and making history with the dazzling The Phantom of the Opera. Unmasked at last reveals the true face of the extraordinary man beneath the storied legend.

Customer Review: “Anybody interested in musicals, and the extraordinary creative process in both making and staging them, should read this fascinating book.”

You Know Him From: Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, School of Rock

Innovative film and theater director, radio producer, actor, writer, painter, narrator, and magician, Orson Welles (1915–1985) was the last true Renaissance man of the twentieth century. From such great radio works as "War of the Worlds" to his cinematic masterpieces Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons, Othello, Macbeth, Touch of Evil, and Chimes at Midnight, Welles was a master storyteller, as expansive as he was enigmatic. This Is Orson Welles, a collection of penetrating and witty conversations between Welles and Peter Bogdanovich, includes insights into Welles's radio, theater, film, and television work; Hollywood producers, directors, and stars; and almost everything else, from acting to magic, literature to comic strips, bullfighters to gangsters. Now including Welles's revealing memo to Universal about his artistic intentions for Touch of Evil, (of which the "director's edition" was released in Fall 1998) this book, which Welles ultimately considered his autobiography, is a masterpiece as unique and engaging as the best of his works.

Customer Review: “A true gem and a delight to read.”

You Know Him From: Citizen Kane, Othello, Macbeth, Touch of Evil

Manny Azenberg has produced shows on Broadway since 1966. He produced sixty-five plays and musicals, earned twenty-five Tony Award nominations, and won nine Tony Awards. In 2012, he won the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. In this heartfelt memoir, Manny sits down with his daughter to share his life’s story. It is the story of a Jewish kid growing up in the Bronx, whose life and career adhered to values and principles: work hard, behave well, treat people with dignity and respect, don’t welch, and seek balance. Manny’s stories of his childhood in the Bronx, his service in the Army, his teaching career at Duke University, and his long and illustrious career on Broadway are told with warmth and humor; they are a chronicle of one of the most legendary Broadway careers of our time, as well as a life well lived.

You Know Him From: Producer of Brighton Beach Memoirs, Lost in Yonkers, Ain’t Misbehaivin’, Children of a Lesser God

She lived at full throttle on stage, screen, and in real life, with highs that made history and lows that finally brought down the curtain at age forty-seven. Judy Garland died over thirty years ago, but no biography has so completely captured her spirit -- and demons -- until now.  From her tumultuous early years as a child performer to her tragic last days, Gerald Clarke reveals the authentic Judy in a biography rich in new detail and unprecedented revelations. Based on hundreds of interviews and drawing on her own unfinished -- and unpublished -- autobiography, Get Happy presents the real Judy Garland in all her flawed glory. Here are her early years, during which her parents sowed the seeds of heartbreak and self-destruction that would plague her for decades ... the golden age of Hollywood, brought into sharp focus with cinematic urgency, from the hidden private lives of the movie world's biggest stars to the cold-eyed businessmen who controlled the machine ... and a parade of brilliant and gifted men -- lovers and artists, impresarios and crooks -- who helped her reach so many creative pinnacles yet left her hopeless and alone after each seemingly inevitable fall. Here, then, is Judy Garland in all her magic and despair: the woman, the star, the legend, in a riveting saga of tragedy, resurrection, and genius.

“A detailed, respectful and haunting portrait.” - Publishers Weekly

You Know Her From: The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, A Star is Born, Easter Parade

During the Golden Age of the Broadway musical, few director-choreographers could infuse a new musical with dance and movement in quite the way Gower Champion could. From his earliest Broadway success with Bye Bye Birdie to his triumphant and bittersweet valedictory, 42nd Street, musicals directed by Champion filled the proscenium with life. At their best, they touched the heart and stirred the soul with a skillful blend of elegance and American showmanship. John Gilvey has spoken with many of the people who worked with Champion, and in Before the Parade Passes By he tells the life story of this most American of Broadway musical director-choreographers from his early days dancing with Marge to his final days spent meticulously honing the visual magic of 42nd Street. Before the Parade Passes By is the life story of one man who personified the glory of the Broadway musical right up until the moment of his untimely death. When the curtain fell to thunderous applause on the opening night of 42nd Street, August 25, 1980, legendary impresario David Merrick came forward, silenced the audience, and announced that Champion had died that morning. As eminent theatre critic Ethan Mordden has firmly put it, "the Golden Age was over." Though the Golden Age of the Broadway musical is over, John Gilvey brings it to life again by telling the story of Gower Champion, one of its most passionate and creative legends.

“Gilvey reaches the top shelf of high-kicking Broadway biographies.” - Kirkus Reviews

You Know Him From: Bye Bye Birdie; 42nd Street; Hello, Dolly!; Carnival

Few actresses command such unqualified affection as Angela Lansbury. For more than fifty years she has appeared in classic films (The Manchurian Candidate), in musicals (Gypsy, Sweeney Todd), and, of course, on television for twelve seasons in Murder, She Wrote. She has won five Tonys and has been nominated for three Oscars and twelve Emmys. Balancing Act is Lansbury's triumphant story, in which she has cooperated with noted theater writer and critic Martin Gottfried. Lansbury became established by her late teens in films like The Picture of Dorian Gray. While her career flourished, she was frustrated by continually playing supporting roles, until the musical Mame made her a major star. A string of stage successes followed, and she went on to conquer television in Murder, She Wrote. In Balancing Act Lansbury appears frequently in her own wry voice, sharing thoughts on everything from acting to gardening to her difficulties with raising her children. Here in all its color and drama is the inspiring story of a woman who has truly become a national institution.

Customer review: “This is one of the finest celebrity biographies that I have ever read.”

You Know Her From: Murder, She Wrote; Gypsy; Sweeney Todd; The Manchurian Candidate; Beauty & the Beast

To several generations, actor, playwright, songwriter, and filmmaker, Noël Coward (1899-1973) was the very personification of wit, glamor, and elegance. His biographer, Philip Hoare, given unprecedented access to the private papers and correspondence of Coward family members, compatriots, and numerous lovers, has produced the definitive biography of one of the twentieth century's most celebrated and controversial figures.

“Hoare’s substantial biography of Coward is fastidiously researched and documented.” - Publishers Weekly

You Know Him From: Private Lives, Blithe Spirit, Present Laughter

Irving Berlin (1888–1989) has been called—by George Gershwin, among others—the greatest songwriter of the golden age of the American popular song. “Berlin has no place in American music,” legendary composer Jerome Kern wrote; “he is American music.” In a career that spanned an astonishing nine decades, Berlin wrote some fifteen hundred tunes, including “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “God Bless America,” and “White Christmas.” From ragtime to the rock era, Berlin’s work has endured in the very fiber of American national identity. Exploring the interplay of Berlin’s life with the life of New York City, noted biographer James Kaplan offers a visceral narrative of Berlin as self‑made man and witty, wily, tough Jewish immigrant. This fast‑paced, musically opinionated biography uncovers Berlin’s unique brilliance as a composer of music and lyrics. Masterfully written and psychologically penetrating, Kaplan’s book underscores Berlin’s continued relevance in American popular culture.

“Kaplan’s book is well-documented and written in an enjoyable, conversational style. One senses on every page Kaplan’s enthusiasm for his subject as well as his deep knowledge. This is the best introduction to Berlin’s life and work.” - New York Journal of Books

You Know Him From: White Christmas, Annie Get Your Gun, Ziegfeld Follies, Holiday Inn

Dance with Demons is the first full biography of the celebrated choreographer/director of Broadway, ballet, and Hollywood - a man of towering achievement and extraordinary personal nightmares. For decades, he was one of the most commanding creative forces in America. His work on such shows as On the Town, The King and I, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Gypsy, Peter Pan, and Jerome Robbins' Broadway earned him five Tony Awards and two Academy Awards. His brilliance with American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet established him as one of the century's great choreographers. But when Jerome Robbins died at the age of seventy-nine in 1998, he was a haunted man. All of his life, he had struggled with demons: his bisexuality, his ambivalence about his Judaism, his often bitter relationship with his parents, his betrayals of others during the McCarthy hearings, and a fear of failure that drove him to a perfectionism bordering on the sadistic. Dance with Demons is the story that Robbins was unable to tell. Based on years of research and interviews with hundreds of Robbins's family, friends, and colleagues, it gives the full measure of both the artist and the man. Filled with stories and voices, it is a fascinating portrait of light and dark - like its subject, a work rich in complexity.

“Comprehensive and lively.” - Publishers Weekly

You Know Him From: West Side Story, Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, Peter Pan

In 2001, Ian McKellen put on the robe and pointed hat of a wizard named Gandalf and won a place in the hearts of Tolkien fans worldwide. Though his role in the film adaptation of Lord of the Rings introduced him to a new audience, McKellen had a thriving career a lifetime before his visit to Middle Earth. He made his West End acting debut in 1964 in James Saunders’s A Scent of Flowers, but it was in 1980 that he took Broadway by storm when he played Antonio Salieri in Peter Shaffer’s Tony-Award-winning play Amadeus. He has starred in over four hundred plays and films and he is that rare character: a celebrity whose distinguished political and social service has transcended his international fame to reach beyond the stage and screen. The breadth of his career―professional, personal and political―has been truly staggering: Macbeth (opposite Judi Dench), Iago, King Lear, Chekhov’s Sorin in The Seagull and Becket’s tramp Estragon (opposite Patrick Stewart) in Waiting for Godot. Add to all this his tireless political activism in the cause of gay equality and you have a veritable phenomenon. Garry O’Connor’s Ian McKellen: A Biography probes the heart of the actor, recreating his greatest stage roles and exploring his personal life. Ian McKellen will show readers what makes a great actor tick. His life story has been a constantly developing drama and this biography is the next chapter.

“A fascinating biographical study of a stellar acting career – including the secrets that lie behind it” - The Guardian

You Know Him From: Lord of the Rings, X-Men, Richard III, Amadeus, Royal Shakespeare Company

Lorraine Hansberry, who died at thirty-four, was by all accounts a force of nature. Although best-known for her work A Raisin in the Sun, her short life was full of extraordinary experiences and achievements, and she had an unflinching commitment to social justice, which brought her under FBI surveillance when she was barely in her twenties. While her close friends and contemporaries, like James Baldwin and Nina Simone, have been rightly celebrated, her story has been diminished and relegated to one work—until now. After the success of A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry used her prominence in myriad ways: challenging President Kennedy and his brother to take bolder stances on Civil Rights, supporting African anti-colonial leaders, and confronting the romantic racism of the Beat poets and Village hipsters. Though she married a man, she identified as lesbian and, risking censure and the prospect of being outed, joined one of the nation’s first lesbian organizations. Hansberry associated with many activists, writers, and musicians, including Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Du Bois, among others. Looking for Lorraine is a powerful insight into Hansberry’s extraordinary life—a life that was tragically cut far too short.

“An unusual and exceptional encomium to a brilliant writer and thinker.” – Publishers Weekly

You Know Her From: A Raisin in the Sun

Winner of the 2019 PEN Award for Biography

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

Winner of the Lambda Award for LGBTQ Nonfiction

Cole Porter: A Biography is a delightfully written and meticulously researched book that takes us from the composer's Indiana childhood to his celebrity days, discussing with exceptional honesty his family and friends, his wife and his many lovers, and above all, his music. Charles Schwartz's account of Cole Porter is the most revealing, comprehensive, and objective biography to date of an extraordinarily talented and fascinating man. Cole Porter (1891-1964) set new standards for popular song-writing, and his lyrics and melodies are as bright and sophisticated today as when they first dazzled audiences decades ago. To name just a few songs: Night and Day, You’re the Top, I Get a Kick Out of You, From This Moment On, It's De-Lovely, Just One of Those Things, Love for Sale, and My Heart Belongs to Daddy. 

“The wit, sophistication and often-surprising depth of feeling in the music and lyrics of Cole Porter are at last fully realized in this latest of the songwriter's many biographies.” - Publishers Weekly

You Know Him From:Kiss Me, Kate; Anything Goes

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the first woman playwright to win a Tony Award, Wendy Wasserstein was a Broadway luminary. But with her high-pitched giggle and unkempt curls, she projected an image of warmth and familiarity. Everyone knew Wendy Wasserstein. Or thought they did. In Wendy and the Lost Boys, Salamon delicately pieces together the many fractured narratives of Wendy’s life—the stories (often contradictory) that she shared amongst friends and family, the half truths of her plays and essays, the confessions and camouflage present even in her own journal writing--to reveal Wendy’s most expertly crafted character: herself. At once a moving portrait of an uncommon woman, and a nuanced study of the generation she came to represent, Wendy and The Lost Boys uncovers the magic of Wendy’s work. A daughter of the 1950s, an artist that came of age during the freewheeling 1970s, a power woman in 1980s New York, and a single mother at the turn of the century, Wendy’s very life spoke to the tensions of an era of great change, for women in particular. Salamon brings each distinct moment to vibrant life, always returning to Wendy’s works—The Heidi Chronicles and others—to show her in the free space of the theater. Here Wendy spoke in the most intimate of terms about everything that matters most: family and love, dreams and devastation. And that is the Wendy of Neverland, the Wendy who will never grow old.

“A colorful narrative of failure and fame, disappointment and satisfaction, while hitting all the right marks.” - The New York Times

You Know Her From:The Heidi Chronicles, The Sisters Rosensweig

More than a quarter-century after his death, Bob Fosse’s fingerprints on popular culture remain indelible. The only person ever to win Oscar, Emmy, and Tony awards in the same year, Fosse revolutionized nearly every facet of American entertainment, forever marking Broadway and Hollywood with his iconic style — hat tilted, fingers splayed — that would influence generations of performing artists. Yet in spite of Fosse’s innumerable achievements, no accomplishment ever seemed to satisfy him, and offstage his life was shadowed in turmoil and anxiety.Now, bestselling author Sam Wasson unveils the man behind the swaggering sex appeal, tracing Fosse’s untold reinventions of himself over a career that would spawn The Pajama Game, Cabaret, Pippin, All That Jazz, and Chicago, one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever. 

“Mr. Wasson’s book is required reading for anyone eager to understand his brand of — to use a term that appears here constantly, and can’t be outdone — razzle-dazzle.” - The New York Times

You Know Him From: Chicago, Cabaret, Pippin, The Pajama Game

Step into the spotlight and celebrate a cavalcade of Broadway's legendary ladies. Start with "A" for six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, then sing and dance your way through the alphabet with beloved entertainers like Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Lea Salonga, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O'Hara, and Liza Minnelli! Broadway fans and theater lovers everywhere will give a standing ovation to this one-of-a-kind tribute full of toe-tapping rhymes, with illustrations as bright and beautiful as the shining lights on any marquee.

“Women of the Broadway theater take center stage in this loving homage.” - Kirkus Reviews

In The Complete Book of 1920s Broadway Musicals, Dan Dietz examines in detail every book musical that opened on Broadway during the years 1920-1929. The book discusses the era's major successes as well as its forgotten failures. The hits include A Connecticut Yankee; Hit the Deck!; No, No, Nanette; Rose-Marie; Show Boat; The Student Prince; The Vagabond King; and Whoopee, as well as ambitious failures, including Deep River; Rainbow; and Rodgers' daring Chee-Chee.

“A theater-lover’s dream.” - The Epoch Times

An in-depth look into the rise of the 1921 Broadway hit, Shuffle Along, the first all-Black musical to succeed on Broadway. No one was sure if America was ready for a show featuring nuanced, thoughtful portrayals of Black characters—and the potential fallout was terrifying. But from the first jazzy, syncopated beats of composers Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, New York audiences fell head over heels. Footnotes is the story of how Sissle and Blake, along with comedians Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, overcame poverty, racism, and violence to harness the energy of the Harlem Renaissance and produce a runaway Broadway hit that launched the careers of many of the twentieth century's most beloved Black performers. 

“A spirited, educative contribution to both theater history and Black history.” - Kirkus Reviews

This updated edition of one of the bestselling and comprehensive Broadway reference books, first published in 1985, has been expanded to include many of the most important and memorable productions of American musical theater, including revivals. Arranged chronologically, beginning with musicals from just after the Civil War, each successive edition of the book has added valuable updates about trends in musical theater as well as capsule features on the most significant musicals of the day. Broadway Musicals: Show by Show features a wealth of statistics and inside information, plus critical reception, cast lists, pithy commentary about each show, and numerous detailed indexes that no Broadway fan will want to be without. Since its original publication, Broadway Musicals has proved to be an indispensable addition to any Broadway aficionado's library.

Customer Review: “A Must Have. I have owned every edition.”

From The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music to Mamma Mia and Les Misérables, fall in love all over again with the songs, stories, characters, creators, and legendary stars from every era of musical theatre. Take a journey through the years and immerse yourself in the behind-the-scenes world of musical theatre! From the dance halls and vaudeville to the silver screen and sensational Broadway shows, this go-to musical guide has all the glitter and glamor of the West End. 

Customer review: “Beautiful coffee table book for theater lovers! Makes a great gift!”

In this richly illustrated and information-packed celebration of Broadway set design, Tony Award–winning designer Derek McLane explores the craft while reflecting on some of the greatest stage productions of the past few decades. Discover how designers generate innovative ideas, research period and place, solve staging challenges, and collaborate with directors, projectionists, costume designers, and other artists to capture the essence of a show in powerful scenic design. With co-writer Eila Mell, McLane and contributors discuss Moulin Rouge!, Hamilton, Hadestown, Beautiful, and many more of the most iconic productions of our generation. Among the Broadway luminaries who contribute are John Lee Beatty, Danny Burstein, Cameron Crowe, Ethan Hawke, Moisés Kaufman, Carole King, Kenny Leon, Santo Loquasto, Kathleen Marshall, Lynn Nottage, David Rabe, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Wallace Shawn, John Leguizamo, and Robin Wagner.

Customer Review: “Every single page of this book exceeded my expectations. I've seen the show 4 times and this book still gives me those first time chills. Love it!”

They stand at the apex of the great age of songwriting, the creators of the classic Broadway musicals Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music, whose songs have never lost their popularity or emotional power. Even before they joined forces, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II had written dozens of Broadway shows, but together they pioneered a new art form: the serious musical play. Their songs and dance numbers served to advance the drama and reveal character, a sharp break from the past and the template on which all future musicals would be built.

“Something Wonderful is a book about the art of making art, about how two very different men, bit by bit, link by link, drink by drink, assembled the soundtrack of the 20th century. And it’s truly something wonderful.” - DC Metro Theater Arts

In the mid-1970s Times Square was the seedy symbol of New York’s economic decline. Its once shining star, the renowned Shubert Organization, was losing theaters to make way for parking lots and losing money. Bernard Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld, two ambitious board members, saw the crumbling company was ripe for takeover and staged a coup and staved off corporate intrigue, personal betrayals and criminal investigations. Once Jacobs and Schoenfeld solidified their power, they turned a collapsed theater-owning holding company into one of the most successful entertainment empires in the world, spearheading the revitalization of Broadway and the renewal of Times Square.

“With the prurient appeal of a gossip column and the rapid-fire and detailed chronicle of the fall and rise of cultural powerhouses, Riedel's fascinating tale gives readers a glimpse of how Broadway grew into the glittering spectacle it is today.” -Publishers Weekly

Showtime brings the history of Broadway musicals to life in a narrative as engaging as the subject itself. Beginning with the scandalous Astor Place Opera House riot of 1849, Larry Stempel traces the growth of musicals from minstrel shows and burlesques, through the golden age of Show Boat and Oklahoma!, to such groundbreaking works as Company and Rent. Showtime is the culmination of decades of painstaking research on a genre whose forms have changed over the course of two centuries. In covering the expansive subject before him, Stempel combines original research―including a kaleidoscope of primary sources and archival holdings―with deft and insightful analysis. The result is nothing short of the most comprehensive, authoritative history of the Broadway musical yet published. 

“Theater buffs will be delighted to find that this scholarly, definitive work is also a hugely entertaining read.” - Publishers Weekly

In The Secret Life of the American Musical, Jack Viertel takes musicals apart, puts them back together, sings their praises, marvels at their unflagging inventiveness, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he invites us to fall in love all over again by showing us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate audiences, and how one landmark show leads to the next―by design or by accident, by emulation or by rebellion―from Oklahoma! to Hamilton and onward. The ultimate insider, Viertel has spent three decades on Broadway, working on dozens of shows old and new as a conceiver, producer, dramaturg, and general creative force; he has his own unique way of looking at the process and at the people who collaborate to make musicals a reality. He shows us patterns in the architecture of classic shows and charts the inevitable evolution that has taken place in musical theater as America itself has evolved socially and politically. The Secret Life of the American Musical makes you feel as though you’ve been there in the rehearsal room, in the front row of the theater, and in the working offices of theater owners and producers as they pursue their own love affair with that rare and elusive beast―the Broadway hit.

“Both revelatory and entertaining” – The New York Times

From Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" to Nina in "In the Heights" and Elphaba in "Wicked," female characters in Broadway musicals have belted and crooned their way into the American psyche. In this lively book, Stacy Wolf illuminates the women of American musical theatre - performers, creators, and characters -- from the start of the cold war to the present day, creating a new, feminist history of the genre. Moving from decade to decade, Wolf first highlights the assumptions that circulated about gender and sexuality at the time. She then looks at the leading musicals to stress the key aspects of the plays as they relate to women, and often finds overlooked moments of empowerment for female audience members. The musicals discussed here are among the most beloved in the canon--"West Side Story," "Cabaret," "A Chorus Line," "Phantom of the Opera," and many others--with special emphasis on the blockbuster "Wicked." Along the way, Wolf demonstrates how the musical since the mid-1940s has actually been dominated by women--women onstage, women in the wings, and women offstage as spectators and fans.

Customer Review: “Stacy Wolf combines a theatre critic's eye with a musicologist's ear to create a book that is at once insightful, provocative, and marvelously entertaining.”

In addition to the complete Tony Award Winning book and songs (perfect for those who can't get enough of the lyrics to "It Sucks to Be Me"), Avenue Q is packed with exclusive interviews with the cast and creatures, and features puzzles, connect-the-dots, and other "educational" activities to prepare readers for life after college. With a distinctive cover and chock-full of gorgeous photography and original illustrations, Avenue Q is a jam-packed thrill ride of a book.

Come From Away: Welcome to the Rock is the ultimate companion piece to Irene Sankoff and David Hein's smash-hit musical based on that extraordinary experience. Featuring the complete book and lyrics for the first time in print, a foreword by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and exclusive photos of the company and physical production, it also includes original interviews with passengers, Gander residents, and the actors who portray them. Come From Away: Welcome to the Rock gives an unprecedented look behind the curtain and demonstrates why the story has touched so many so deeply: Because we come from everywhere, we all come from away.

Filled with interviews with the cast and crew, original behind-the-scenes photography, a deeper look into Evan's fictional world and the visual world of the show, unreleased lyrics, and of course the libretto, as well as reflections on the creators own formative memories from their adolescence as it relates to the show's themes, and important examinations of how we present ourselves online and mental health, Dear Evan Hansen is a beautifully produced, thoughtful, and uplifting book.

The Tony-award winning Aladdin is a veritable hit on Broadway and is just beginning national and international performances. In A Whole New World, readers will discover the journey from ancient legend to screen to stage in the words of its creators.

Hairspray: The Roots includes the libretto of the show along with hilarious anecdotes from the authors, to say nothing of dance step diagrams and full-color bouffant wigs to copy and cut out, along with all the creative energy, brilliant color, and full-out emotion that have made this musical a hit.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton, inspired by the biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Hamilton: The Revolution traces the musical’s development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. In addition, Miranda has written more than 200 funny, revealing footnotes for his award-winning libretto, the full text of which is published here.

In 2008, In the Heights, a new musical from up-and-coming young artists, electrified Broadway. It won four Tony Awards and became an international hit, delighting audiences around the world. For the film version, director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) brought the story home, filming its spectacular dance numbers on location in Washington Heights. In the Heights: Finding Home reunites Miranda with Jeremy McCarter, co-author of Hamilton: The Revolution, and Quiara Alegría Hudes, the Pulitzer Prize–winning librettist of the Broadway musical and screenwriter of the film. They do more than trace the making of an unlikely Broadway smash and a major motion picture: They give readers an intimate look at the decades-long creative life of In the Heights.

This officially sanctioned book tells the double story of the band and the play—and it’s told by those who know it best: two of the group’s singer/songwriters and MAMMA MIA! producer Judy Craymer. It’s colorful literally and figuratively, and jam-packed with illustrations from the group’s own archives. Through first-person recollections from ABBA members, intertwined with commentary from the MAMMA MIA! team, How Can I Resist You cuts through the thicket of myths and misconceptions that have grown up around ABBA to reveal what actually happened.

Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen if You Let It details the entire development process of the show’s script, music, choreography, and design, culminating in a glorious opening night on December 15, 2004 in London’s Prince Edward’s Theatre. In the book’s second half, Michael Lassellgives a fascinating backstage account of the show’s transfer to Broadway, including the show’s American casting and important changes to its book, lyrics, and designs, as the creative team strives to “plus” Poppins to perfection.

A glittering backstage pass to Moulin Rouge! The Musical and its journey to Broadway, with contributions from cast and crew, interviews with Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, and a chronicle of its triumphant 2021 return. An iconic Parisian club, a cinema masterpiece, and now a Broadway musical—the Moulin Rouge has been a tantalizing pop-culture phenomenon for over a century. The 2019 Broadway debut of Moulin Rouge! The Musical astounded theater critics. Via a lush photo essay and oral history, the process of crafting Moulin Rouge! The Musical springs to life from early sketches, historical research, technical diagrams, and rehearsal photos. Theater writer David Cote gathers the cast and crew’s firsthand accounts of the excitement and challenges of creating a show that referenced as much as it reinvented the Broadway musical.

Here is the official, fascinating, behind-the scenes journey of the new musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, from its inception, to Off-Off Broadway, to Off-Broadway, to its premiere at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. Profusely illustrated, the book also includes an annotated script and a special CD with three songs from the Off-Broadway production and two all-new recordings for the Broadway production featuring Josh Groban with a 25-piece orchestra.

Spring Awakening: In the Flesh is more than just a companion book -- it's a new opportunity to experience the show. Designed to resemble a vandalized book, this beautiful volume offers more than one hundred photographs, handwritten drafts of hit songs, original sketches of costumes and sets, an annotated, unabridged libretto, and unprecedented access to the hit show, making Spring Awakening: In the Flesh a must-have for fans of all ages.

In celebration of the making of The Book of Mormon, the authors, production team, and entire original cast recount their experiences as they grew their show from the initial idea to opening night on Broadway. With the complete book and lyrics annotated by the full creative team and cast, along with more than 700 photographs and illustrations, they share the journey that began one night in a Manhattan bar and culminated seven years later in the achievement that is The Book of Mormon.

In this lavishly illustrated 75th anniversary volume, created with the participation of the Gershwin estate, opera producer and author Robin Thompson recounts the history of Porgy and Bess as he looks at the various interpretations of the work and the many layers of meaning to be found in the story of the crippled Porgy, the conflicted and vulnerable Bess, the dope peddler Sportin' Life, and the other residents of Catfish Row. Packed with unique, rarely seen archival photographs and documents associated with the production, Porgy and Bess commemorates this uniquely American blending of musical, ethnic, and creative styles and the people, the performers, and the times that produced it.

Wicked is not just a musical, it is a phenomenon. Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has15,000 people pack into New York's Gershwin Theatre each week to see the show. Wicked: The Grimmerie offers fans a behind-the-curtains peek at the musical, profiles of the cast and creative team, and inside stories, with full-color photographs throughout. Some of the irresistible special features include an "Ozian" glossary, spells, an illustrated family tree, and a step-by-step look at how Elphaba gets green before each show--everything fans need to relive the Broadway experience day after day.

In a park in New York City lives a lonely little dog. He remembers when he used to get taken for walks, fed dinner every night, and told he was a good dog. Now, he's all alone and must fend for himself. But everything changes one day when he sees a lady reading in the park and decides to follow her—all the way to a place where he might become a star! With a story by actress Bernadette Peters and mixed-media collage illustrations by Liz Murphy, Broadway Barks is a warm and appealing story of loss, reunion, and nurturing, complete with a happy ending.

“[The book is] humorous, artfully complemented by Murphy’s delightful mixed-media illustrations….Author royalties from this wholly goodhearted offering go to Broadway Barks.” - Kirkus Reviews

Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom. This book is the first in a trilogy, and there is a movie adaptation out on Disney+ now!

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

Better Nate than Ever meets Love Sugar Magic in this spooky middle grade novel from Hamilton and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez about a group of young thespians who must face the ghost haunting their theater. Twelve-year-old Monica Garcia has arrived in NYC with her grandmother and a few suitcases to live her dream on Broadway. She’s been chosen as understudy to the star of Our Time, the famed Ethel Merman Theater’s last chance to produce a hit before it shutters its doors for good. Along with her fellow castmates—a.k.a. “the squad”—Monica has a big and very personal reason to want this show to succeed. But rumors of a long-running curse plague the theater. And when strange and terrible things start to threaten their hopes for a successful opening night, Monica and the rest of the squad must figure out how to reverse the curse before their big Broadway debuts. With the help of her new friends, her family, and a little magic, can Monica help save the show—and save their dreams? From Broadway and television star Mandy Gonzalez comes a story about what it means to dream, be yourself, and be fearless.

“Will hit all the high notes for theater and mystery fans alike.” – Kirkus Reviews

The side-splittingly funny Newbery Honor Book is about a rebellious boy who is sent to a home-schooling program run by one family—the creative, kooky, loud, and loving Applewhites! Jake Semple is notorious. Rumor has it he managed to get kicked out of every school in Rhode Island, and actually burned the last one down to the ground. Only one place will take him now, and that's a home school run by the Applewhites, a chaotic and hilarious family of artists: poet Lucille, theater director Randolph, dancer Cordelia, and dreamy Destiny. The only one who doesn't fit the Applewhite mold is E.D.—a smart, sensible girl who immediately clashes with the defiant Jake. Jake thinks surviving this new school will be a breeze . . . but is he really as tough or as bad as he seems?

Customer Review: “Great story about living to the beat of your own drum, acceptance, and finding that special place to fit in. Wonderful, colorful characters! I wanted more!”

When orphans Sorrel, Mark, and Holly are sent to live with their grandmother, a famous English actress, she enrolls them in the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. It's the chance of a lifetime, but the Academy won't give the children the "proper" education their parents would have wanted. However, the children learn to love the Academy when they find out that Sorrel has dramatic flair, Mark can sing, and Holly charms everyone with her adorable impish ways. Maybe talent does run in the family. This classic children's book is perfect for kids who dream of being on stage--dancing, singing, or acting. Don't miss the other classic Noel Streatfeild books: Ballet Shoes, Skating Shoes, and Dancing Shoes!

Customer Review: “The “Shoe” books by Noel Streatfield were my childhood favorites. I’ve been so happy to share them with my daughters.”

Inspired by a true event, the tale of a duck family waiting in the wings for their moment in the spotlight—from the #1 bestselling mother-daughter team of musical icon Julie Andrews and author Emma Walton Hamilton! Mr. and Mrs. Puddleduck have found the perfect place to nest: a cozy planter by a theater in a sunny seaside village. While Mrs. P is warming the eggs, Mr. P is drawn to the spellbinding songs, fabulous feathered costumes, and dazzling dances he’s secretly watching during rehearsals. He’s even showing off some fancy new footwork to Mrs. P! But it turns out he’s been learning much more than how to put on a show. When the chicks begin hatching right by the roadside, it takes a chorus line of parading performers—and Mr. P’s clever choreography—to come to the rescue!

“Bravo to this sweet, gently humorous tale…adorable, enchanting, and very ducky indeed.” – Kirkus Reviews

A group of children imagines all of the things that they will be able to do once they grow up, and they plan to do anything and everything. They hope to solve problems, play in the sun all day long, be brave, and even eat ice cream all day. The combination of Tim Minchin's Tony Award-winning Matilda the Musical lyrics and Steve Antony's joyful artwork is sure to inspire readers of all ages to explore the endless possibilities that the future could have in store. A great book for the Broadway baby in your life.

Customer Review: “I love the musical and the book! I tend to sing this to my daughters as I read it to them.”