Broadway Memoirs from undersung professions?

[StardustsChild]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 6:39pm

Hi all! Hope you are all keeping it together in quarantine.

Does anyone have recommendations for memoirs or biographies from Broadway Professionals who weren't actors or bigshot composers and directors? I'm trying to expand my shelf to include people like music directors, stage managers, costume designers, set designers, press agents, and stagehands, but am having trouble tracking any down.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 6:43pm

This doesn't quite fit what you asked for, but the first one I thought of when reading the thread title was "Unnaturally Green" by Felicia Ricci. She was a standby for Elphaba in the San Francisco production of Wicked. It's insightful, and incredibly funny. 

I know you were asking for people who aren't actors, but I think if you're looking for memoirs by theatre professionals who are undersung, I'd think Standby fits the bill. And it's a great memoir. 

[Laurapattifan]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 9:23pm

I know Jen Tepper’s Untold Stories of Broadway series includes some of what you’re looking for. Just short interviews, but there are more than actors and directors.

[jlcnyc]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 1:27pm

Maybe a little off-topic, but perhaps you’ll find my story interesting.

I’ve been a musician on Broadway for decades, performing on numerous shows - including Seussical, Mamma Mia, School of Rock and most recently, Mrs Doubtfire (all 3 previews!)

In fact, when I moved to NYC in 1987, my FIRST job was working concessions on Broadway. (My coworkers included struggling artists Aaron Sorkin and Camryn Manheim!)

8 months into my NYC gambit, in the span of 2 mind-blowing weeks, I went from selling candy at the Gershwin Theater (Starlight Express) to performing with Sting on “Saturday Night Live.” I then went on to tour the world as member of Sting’s band for the next year. (181 concerts in 25 countries on 6 continents)

“DO STAND SO CLOSE: my improbable adventure as Sting’s guitarist” (Deeds Publishing) chronicles my amazing story of getting thrown into the deep end of showbiz and faking my way around the globe with a huge rock star . . . before making a humbling crash landing in pre-Disney, crack-infested Hell’s Kitchen.

Written in a breezy journal format, the behind-the-scenes book is filled with humorous anecdotes and poignant revelations.

“totally fresh take on the musical tell-all. I couldn’t put it down”  ★★★★★

paperback/e-book/audiobook available at Amazon/iTunes.

Updated On: 6/1/20 at 01:27 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 6:32pm

Lehman Engel was a famous musical director during the musical's "golden age". He wrote a number of books on musicals and founded a workshop that bore his name for many years.

Here is a link to his autobiography. I haven't read it, but it's available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/This-Bright-Autobiography-Lehman-Engel/dp/0025361104

 

 

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 1:50pm

JBroadway said: "This doesn't quite fit what you asked for, but the first one I thought of when reading the thread title was "Unnaturally Green" by Felicia Ricci. Shewas a standby for Elphaba in the San Francisco production of Wicked. It's insightful, and incredibly funny.

I know you were asking for people who aren't actors, but I think if you're looking for memoirs by theatre professionals who are undersung, I'd think Standby fits the bill. And it's a great memoir."

I couldn’t recommend UNNATURALLY GREEN enough. It’s an absolutely fantastic book and Ricci is an incredible talented writer. Reading about someone going through something that most people would kill for and not actually enjoying it is fascinating.

I’m going to order it right now. 

[SeanD2]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 4:34pm

Bill Berloni's Broadway Tails about his work training animals for the stage is quite good.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/1/20 at 5:45pm

Not memoirs, but certainly stunning monographs of two of the greatest set designers to ever work on Broadway, check out THE THEATER ART OF BORIS ARONSON by Frank Rich, and MING CHO LEE, A LIFE IN DESIGN, by Aaron Aronson (no relation). Learn about their lives in the context of the most beautiful set designs ever put on a stage, for Broadway or otherwise.