Coffee Table Books

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 9:57am

The number of coffee table 'musical companion' books is growing, at the moment i can think of-
Rent
Avenue Q
Mamma Mia!
Mary Poppins
Jersey Boys
The Color Purple
...could anyone kindly reply if there are any more available i haven't mentioned. They are the ones that are in the range of $30 -$60 in stores! (and almost half that price on Amazon!)
Many thanks!

Updated On: 4/28/08 at 09:57 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:02am

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
SUNSET BLVD
MISS SAIGON
TARZAN
THE LION KING
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
HAIRSPRAY
XANADU
WICKED

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:08am

Cheers BF. Are all those you mention hardback books? I didn't realize that these books were done as far back as 'Sunset'? I was recently told that the 'Rent' book started the trend.
Thanks again.
I'm going to buy them for a friends 40th birthday, yes, all of them!

[abstract19]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:12am

There is also on on Titanic

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:51am

The Fourth Wall

I just got it - an incredible book of recent productions and the actors off the sets, on the streets, in costume.

[BkCollector]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:53am

Those books are great eye candy, but little else, unfortunately.

[Weez]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:54am

Um, that's surely the point of a coffee table book. To be great-looking if lacking in content. :P

And for great-looking, I second the recommend for 'The Fourth Wall'! Unpacked it at the bookshop I work in, and the poor thing never made it to the shopfloor. It's MINE I tells ya!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:54am

I know thats why im gonna get them off Amazon- the store price is ridiculous!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:58am

Yup. Every single one of those is hardback. Also, most are already out-of-print, so keep that in mind when you spot one in the 'used' section on Amazon.

Also, including the aforementioned TITANIC, ASPECTS OF LOVE also had a hardcover book:




The hardcover book on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was issued in 1988, almost a decade before the RENT book. Also, ANNIE had one as well (and THAT was in 1977!). It was released in both hardback and then soft-cover.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:59am

Well he ain't getting ALL of these! lol
Thanks again!

[once a month]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:01am

To me, the definitive Broadway related coffee table books are Broadway Musicals (Chorus Line on cover)and its sequal (Starlight Express on cover), as well as the Tony Award Book. I also had to get the Cirque du Soilel leather edition since it was so beautiful and I'd seen their performances five times.

The earliest ones I have were paperback...The Making of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby and then, Cats. Since then I've managed to get every one except the recent Disney Mary Poppins and Tarzan, I mean, how many do I really need?

Edit: When I see a show they're not available commercially yet, so I go to Amazon' reputable sellers. $15 for the Grimmerie and $20+ for Jersey Boys.
Updated On: 4/28/08 at 11:01 AM

[mauriposa]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:02am

[BkCollector]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:05am

I do have the Aspects Book by Kurt Ganzl, that does have some great pictures in it.

Aspects will always be in my top five.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:05am

The 'Mary Poppins' one is impressive in its presentation- but $60! Hello!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:06am

....also, how big can ones coffee table be?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:10am

Oops -- can't forget the one for The Who's TOMMY, which included a CD-single of Pete Townsend singing "I Believe My Own Eyes":



Or THE PRODUCERS:




Or LES MISERABLES:




They are a TON out there... as you can see how we keep remembering more and more...

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:11am

havent read the whole thread so sorry if this is a repeat but the grimerie

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:15am

I have the 'Tommy' book myself, it was sold at The Shaftesbury Theatre when the London production opened. It was sold for a limited time at £40 ($70)- and that was 10 years ago!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:23am

Before this thread dies away,
thanks everyone.

[bohemianqueen]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:39am

There is also one on CATS!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:51am

The original poster was asking about large hardcover books. The CATS book is a small soft-cover book.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:59am

I have the Cats book and it really isn't in a good state after nearly 25 years.
Im surprised they didn't reprint it in hardback later in the shows long life.
It was just the hardbacks i was interested tho the others mentioned are of interest to me also.

[The White Half-Mask]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:59am

Cabaret: The Illustrated Book & Lyrics

http://www.amazon.com/Cabaret-Illustrated-Lyrics-Joe-Masteroff/dp/1557043833/ref=pd_bbs_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209398375&sr=8-8

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 12:01pm

http://www.tinyurl.com

Learn it, love it, use it.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 12:03pm

Also this list put together by a user on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Books-of-Musicals/lm/KEN645ASWM0O/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrsrs0