Mandelbaum, who writes about musical theater for several New York publications, here pays tribute to the accomplishments of the young director-choreographer who died of AIDS in 1987. He traces the evolution of Bennett's style from his early works (including Company and Follies ) to the high point of his career, A Chorus Line , and beyond ( Ballroom ; Dreamgirls ). The major part of the book is devoted to the longest-running show in Broadway history. The chapter on the improvisatory workshops in which A Chorus Line had its beginnings is beguiling, as are the accounts of Bennett's novel directing methods. Mandelbaum succeeds in defining the features that make this musical such an innovative work. Quotations from many of Bennett's closest associates give insight into the character of the driven and brilliant director whose energy and ambition seem almost superhuman. (Source: Publishers Weekly)
Ken Mandelbaum
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While ample material on hit Broadway musicals is readily available, detailed critical information on musical flops has been difficult to come by. Mandelbaum's ( "A Chorus Line" and the Musicals of Michael Bennett , LJ 6/15/89) informative and entertaining survey of almost 200 mus…
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Music historian and critic Lawrence Schulman will release new titles including a third GARLAND volume and a photographic biography of Judy Garland, with forewords from Will Friedwald and James Fisher.
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Ghostlight Records has released the CHESS (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) on CD and vinyl, featuring Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher from the Imperial Theatre revival.
Tony Award nominee Kevin Chamberlin, Caroline Bowman, Timothy H.
Broadway Records released the world premiere cast recording of THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, featuring music by Anna Mullarkey from the National Theatre's revival starring Nicola Coughlan.
Broadway director and choreographer Richard J.
Decca Records will release the original cast album of 13 GOING ON 30 – THE MUSICAL, featuring Lucie Jones and David Hunter from the show's Manchester premiere cast.
Jonathan Bailey will take on the title role in Audible's new global adaptation of Dracula, joining Ella Purnell, Aimee Lou Wood, Maggie Gyllenhaal and more in the full-cast audio production.
Composer Ian Ferguson and writer Lauren LeBlanc will release a cast album of their original musical THE PENUMBRA, following its Dallas Children's Theater workshop presentation.
Tori Keenan-Zelt will discuss her play THE JONBENÉT GAME during an evening event at The Drama Book Shop in New York City, exploring themes of true crime, memory, and grief.
Johanna Telander's new concept album reimagines global 'Ladies in White' ghost legends, featuring an all-female cast including Militia Vox, Natalie Toro, Felicia Curry and Melody Munitz.
MEMENTO GOREY: The Last Interviews with Edward Gorey, a new book by Christopher Seufert, collects unpublished interviews and photographs documenting the designer's life and work.
The original stage work BIG MAN: A NEW MUSICAL, currently in development, will release the show's second single “Wander” in streaming and digital formats featuring Kevin Chamberlin.
The New York City Center Gala production of Bat Boy: The Musical (New York City Center Cast Recording) is available in digital and streaming formats.
Evita: The Full Album, the full cast recording of Jamie Lloyd's West End production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita, led by Rachel Zegler, is available now.
You can now get a first listen to two new singles from the upcoming album Beau: The Musical recording.
Theatre Communications Group will publish an anthology of more than thirty plays by women+ playwrights, a civic initiative from the Flynn Center with the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize examining democracy in America.
Audible has a packed slate of new releases and live programming arriving this September, featuring everything from conversations with Barack Obama and a return to the fan-favorite Bobiverse to Colin Kaepernick's deeply personal story and more.
The Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show will record a cast album, featuring Rachel Dratch as “Narrator,” Luke Evans as “Frank-N-Furter,” Amber Gray as “Riff Raff,” Stephanie Hsu as “Janet,” Juliette Lewis as “Magenta,” and more.
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Composer Micah Levy has released a revised, updated version of his orchestral children's album, previously performed by the Dallas, San Diego and Utah Symphonies, for streaming platforms.
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