Michael Riedel's next book –– "Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway" –– out November 2020

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

I seem to remember him saying that the book goes from Sunset Boulevard to The Producers (with 9/11 and its aftermath being saved for the third book). Say what you will about his column and Theater Talk, but his first book was exceptional. Per Amazon:

 

A definitive and extraordinary account of recent Broadway history—spanning from the debut of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Sunset Boulevard to Disney’s The Lion King—told by Broadway’s most respected (and feared) commentator Michael Riedel. 

Singular Sensation portrays the people, money, and power that created the blockbuster shows and aesthetic spectacle that has dominated not only a couple of acres of real estate in the heart of Manhattan but has also captured the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world.

From the legendary jousting scene in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard to the ascendance of an unlikely musical by an unknown savant named Jonathan Larsen, who reimagined La Bohème as Rent and from standing room only crowds who stormed to see The Producers to The Lion King, Michael Riedel tracks it all so you can experience your favorite show from a whole new angle. Told with verve and passion and drawing upon more than 150 insider interviews, Riedel walks us through the Broadway we know and love today: an industry awash in big hits and bigger money, while also being an industry split between its adherence to old artforms and the allure of popular culture.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501166638/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8

[bwayphreak234]

Ohhh this sounds fascinating! 

[CATSNYrevival]

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "A definitive and extraordinary account of recent Broadway history—spanning from the debut of Andrew Lloyd Weber’sSunset Boulevardto Disney’sThe Lion King—told by Broadway’s most respected (and feared) commentator Michael Riedel."

Respected by whom?

[suzycat]

Better yet, order it from Bookshop & keep money out of Bezos’ pocket.

https://bookshop.org/books/singular-sensation-the-triumph-of-broadway/9781501166631

[yankeefan7]

" ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "A definitive and extraordinary account of recent Broadway history—spanning from the debut of Andrew Lloyd Weber’sSunset Boulevardto Disney’sThe Lion King—told by Broadway’s most respected (and feared) commentator Michael Riedel."

They got to be kidding me. Whether you like him or not, Brantley is the most respected and feared commentator/critic.

[castlestreet]

Are you kidding me?
Brantley is feared?
Tell that to Wicked...

In the age of the internet and social media, legitimate critics are no where near as powerful as they were in the age of the true Butcher of Broadway, Frank Rich....

[Mr. Wormwood]

I'm excited for this. Even though Riedel is sort of a weasel, Razzle Dazzle was a thrilling read and I'm sure this will be too

[blaxx]

castlestreet said: "Are you kidding me?
Brantley is feared?
Tell that to Wicked...

Why? Brantley didn't mind Wicked, he also wrote a love letter to Chenoweth.

 

[Phantom of London]

His last book was a great informative read.

A story I loved from the book was how Gerald Schonefeld and David Nederlander were at best rivals at worst enemies, they didn’t get on. Anyway ar Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Symondham Festival which showcased Sunset Boulevard, David Nederlnder said Lloyd this “nonsense between us needs to stop,” Gerald Schonefeld suggested lunch once back in New York, producers that saw the pair together in the restaurant went white and did a 180 degree turn. Anyway they went on to form one of the strongest friendships on Broadway.

[SouthernCakes]

Count me as excited! Read his last book on a flight and devoured it!

[everythingtaboo]

I am very excited for the book, but the description is so bizarre to me. From Sunset Boulevard to The Lion King...so from 1994 to 1997?

[IronMan]

Respected and feared?  By whom?  He's a hack with only the power to annoy. 

[Jarethan]

I enjoyed Razzle Dazzle, although -- having lived through the period he chronicled -- I found a decent number of factual errors (not opinions, factual errors).  They did not keep from enjoying the book; in some ways, helped me feel more knowledgeable.

He may be a glorified gossip columnist when his articles (less) occasionally appear, and God knows he loves to stir things up, but the book was fun to read and  I look forward to this one also.

[wiggum2]

Jarethan said: "I enjoyed Razzle Dazzle, although -- having lived through the period he chronicled -- I found a decent number of factual errors (not opinions, factual errors). Theydid not keep from enjoying the book; in some ways, helped me feel more knowledgeable.

He may be a glorified gossip columnist when his articles (less) occasionally appear, and God knows he loves to stir things up, but the book was fun to read andI look forward to this one also."

 

I enjoyed the book as well. What were some of the factual errors?

 

[FindingNamo]

If I ever get the urge to read a Michael Riedel book, I'll reread Frank Rich's "Ghost Light."

 

[Jarethan]

Just different.  Reidel's is light, interesting, and ultimately mindless.  Ghost Light is excellent, but requires more serious attention.  Comparing a summer beach read to Tolstoy...well, maybe not Tolstoy, but you know what I mean.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Comparing GHOST LIGHT and RAZZLE DAZZLE is kind of silly. GHOST LIGHT is more like the first half of ACT ONE (and Rich basically acknowledges it). Riedel's is more of a chatty history book, and perhaps its downfall is he tries to cover too much territory in one book.

Riedel's upcoming book might have more of a memoir feel, since Riedel started writing for the Daily News in '93. He'll be going off his own memory and experiences, and more of the key players are still with us.

I miss his 2x week column and his work on Theater Talk from the bygone days of just a few years ago, before he got lost in the pocket of people like Scott Rudin and ALW. He can come across as a real ass sometimes, but more often than not his scoops are right, and sometimes his "hot takes" were things that the industry needed to hear.

[fashionguru_23]

I came to know him only from Theatre Talk (and through quarantine I have been reliving years of Tony Award predictions and season previews of Theatre Talk online), and then once I got more involved with this board did I figure out his place in the theatre world. I thoroughly enjoy him and his work...he can be sharp, and annoying but that is his "character", I feel. Everything that happened with the 2004 production of Fiddler, Seussical, The Addams Family, Spiderman, etc. was unfortunately uncalled for, but it was also juicy, and sinful. It was like reality tv. It will be interesting more now to see what is said in the books, as a lot of the major players from "Razzle Dazzle" are no longer with us,Michael Bennett, Schoenfeld & Jacobs, Nederlander, The Shubert Brothers, etc.) so they can't comment. This second volume is "recent" history, so major players are around to dispute things of fiction.  (Say what you will, but there was a time when he had his finger on the pulse of Broadway. 
 

[RippedMan]

As an actor and musical theater fan, I love that the community has a "gossip columnist." Like go us for being that important. 

[morosco]

It will be interesting more now to see what is said in the books, as a lot of the major players from "Razzle Dazzle" are no longer with us,Michael Bennett, Schoenfeld & Jacobs, Nederlander, The Shubert Brothers, etc.) so they can't comment.

I still come across contradictory information on the supposed DREAMGIRLS vs. NINE rivalry. Some of it probably true but it seems more like the marketing folks were driving that battle.

[Jarethan]

wiggum2 said: "Jarethan said: "I enjoyed Razzle Dazzle, although -- having lived through the period he chronicled -- I found a decent number of factual errors (not opinions, factual errors). Theydid not keep from enjoying the book; in some ways, helped me feel more knowledgeable.

He may be a glorified gossip columnist when his articles (less) occasionally appear, and God knows he loves to stir things up, but the book was fun to read andI look forward to this one also."



I enjoyed the book as well. What were some of the factual errors?

Honestly,  i read it too long ago to remember; however, when I say factual, i am referring to statements that might have said '...was the longest running of the season' or 'received 3 Tony nominations' when it in fact received 6'.  Things that any fact checker could have found.  I remember that there were 5 or 6 of them, and I DO remember being surprised that he would have gotten some of them wrong.

 

[Mr Roxy]

He is Broadways answer to Hedda Hopper..

[jvoom]

The audiobook is now available on iTunes - I'm only two chapters in but so far, it is absolutely fantastic! Highly recommended, although, it's making me even more anxious for Broadway to return!

[uncageg]

I am 5 chapters in and really enjoying it so far.

He jumps right into "Sunset Blvd.". And the move on to "RENT". For those who follow theatre, a lot of things we already know. There are things sprinkled in there that I didn't know and some inside conversations that happened. Got a little more insight into Larson's parents and their support of his work. The Sunset stuff was just fun to read all at one time.

I am 5 chapters in. He is focusing on Jujamcyn at this point and I find it interesting because I don't know their entire history. Gonna get in a few more chapters before the CMA's!

[perfectliar]

Just jumping in to add my praises. I read an advance copy a couple months ago and enjoyed it. I didn't learn nearly as much as I did from Razzle Dazzle since it lived through and saw almost every show he wrote about here, but the backstage gossip is delightful and even the chapters on shows I was very familiar with were fun to read.