American Legends: The Life of Barbra Streisand - by Charles River Editors
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
It should come as no surprise that Barbra Streisand allegedly once declared that she never had any idols as a child, because given how unusual her career has been, it’s hard to determine who might have served as her inspiration (Mann). And as the star once put it herself, “I guess if you have an original take on life, or something about you is original, you don't have to study people who came before you. You don't have to mimic anybody. You just have a gut feeling inside, an instinct that tells you what's right for you, and you can't do it in any other way.” To be sure, strong-willed women had populated both cinema and popular culture before Streisand, like Katharine Hepburn and Joan Crawford, but Streisand was unique in her ability to appeal to diverse groups in America. She also arrived at a time when acting roles for women were generally less flexible than they would become by the end of the century, and making her story all the more compelling is that Streisand never met conventional standards of American beauty or acting style, leading biographer William Mann to declare that “Barbra had to believe she was special since no one else did.”
Clearly, there is no denying that if Barbra Streisand possesses considerable talents as a singer and actress, both supported by unshakeable confidence, yet there are also ways in which Streisand has always been insecure, a quality that Stacy Wolf noted when she wrote, “Streisand is gossiped about…as an egomaniacal, control-freak perfectionist on the set (particularly when directing) and as a frail, anxious slip of a girl who solicits opinions from anyone and everyone and still longs for conventional beauty and the approval of a father who died when she was still a small child.” As a result, there is an apparent contradiction between Streisand’s unbounded confidence and her persistent need to receive praise from others. She may be bold enough to resist fashioning her image in ways that emulate her predecessors, but it’s just as necessary to acknowledge that she was prone to the stresses of anxiety. Any complete portrait of the famous star must reconcile the two poles of Streisand, with Streisand the fearless individualist and Streisand the nervous performer forever joined at the hip.
American Legends: The Life of Barbra Streisand explores her life and career, and the way in which her confidence and fragility shaped both. As a star who has succeeded in music and film, Streisand’s singing and film acting are discussed in detail, all with an eye toward explaining the cultural importance of a singer whose voice Glenn Gould referred to as “one of the natural wonders of the age.” Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Barbra Streisand like never before, in no time at all.
CENTER STAGE RECORDS has released the new single “The Pantomime” from the forthcoming live West End cast recording of John Casssavetes’ Opening Night. Listen here!
CENTER STAGE RECORDS will release of Floyd Collins – Original Broadway Cast Recording on streaming and digital platforms in August. Learn more about the album here!
Yusuf / Cat Stevens is set to release On The Road To Findout: Greatest Hits, the first-ever career-spanning collection of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ songs from his nearly 60-year recording career.
The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) has announced the release of 65 for the 65th, a celebratory publication honoring 65 directors and choreographers whose work has transformed the American theatre.
Craft Recordings has announced a pair of deluxe digital edition reissues celebrating the singer, songwriter, and actress Natalie Cole, on what would have been her 75th birthday year.
British arts journalist Charlotte Runcie just released her debut her debut novel, Bring the House Down. The book is about 'a theater critic at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe writes a vicious one-star review of a struggling actress he has a one-night stand with.'
Composer Sam Nasar and Producer Alexander Robertson hosted a release party for Nasar’s album, ‘Sam & Company’ at Disco Sally’s in Sir Henry’s Restaurant in New York. See photos here!
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Wicked has just received its 4X Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. In celebration, Decca Broadway will release its first-ever 2-LP picture disc release of the album.
Allison Charney's forthcoming album, ALIKE - My Mother's Dream, will make a bold and timely contribution to the classical music canon when it's released in August. Learn more here!
FUSONG, a new musical with book and lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson and music by Cecilia Lin, based on Geling Yan's searing novel, 'The Lost Daughter of Happiness', has just released a concept album. Learn more here!
With the original cast recording now streaming, we caught up with Dave Malloy and Lucy Kirkwood to discuss their musical of Roald Dahl's The Witches, which held its world premiere at the National Theatre in 2023.
Oasis have announced details of deluxe formats of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary. The release will hit shelves on October 3.
CENTER STAGE RECORDS will release Out of Myself – Songs of Peter Foley in streaming and digital formats in July. The album will feature Kate Baldwin, Melissa Errrico and more.
Mercury Studios, TH Entertainment, and Nashville PBS are set to release a DVD and Blu-ray release of Brenda Lee: “Rockin’ Around” on September 5, 2025.
The Vienna Symphony Orchestra has recorded Frank Wildhorn’s “Odessa Symphonie,' the full-length symphony by the Tony Award-nominated composer. Listen to it now.
In celebration of Pride 2025, New York Theatre Barn will release a concept album of the original musical Winner featuring Taylor Iman Jones and Jade McLeod. Learn more!
The official Wicked Instagram account has posted a new video, teasing a special edition re-release of the original Broadway cast recording featuring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
YELLOW SOUND LABEL has released the new single from The Billy Joel Project, the debut album from The Broadway Ensemble. Listen to New York State of Mind here!
Tony Award-winning performer Cynthia Erivo has set the release of a new book, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much, on November 18, 2025.
Tomorrow, Broadway Records is set to release the original London cast recording of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Ahead of the release, BroadwayWorld is excited to share an exclusive track from the recording, featuring the company performing the song One Day. Check it out now!
Rock legend Billy Idol is set for the release of new vinyl re-pressings of three classic albums: Charmed Life, Whiplash Smile, and his first-ever solo release, the Don’t Stop EP, are all due August 15.
Concord Theatricals Recordings will release Songs By An Immigrant Vol. 3, the highly anticipated third album by Jaime Lozano & The Familia, on streaming and digital download platforms. Learn more about the album here!
Warner Music Nashville and Rhino Records, along with Randy Travis, have announced the upcoming release of NOW PLAYING – Randy Travis, a new vinyl collection featuring 10 of the country icon’s most beloved songs.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Universal Pictures and Steven Spielberg’s classic 1975 summer blockbuster, Jaws, UMe is releasing a limited-edition “Blood in the Water” splatter vinyl of the film's soundtrack.
GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS will release the CD of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording). Learn more about the musical and see how to listen here!
Following its debut on PBS's Great Performances in May, the official proshot of Broadway's Girl From the North Country will be making its way to physical media in the UK.
Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 24 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's Summer 2025 reading list.
Recording artist Ricky Asc (currently starring on Broadway in Boop! The Musical under the name Ricky Schroeder) has released a song and music video just in time for the NYC Pride dancefloors. Learn more!
The Billy Joel Project, the debut album from The Broadway Ensemble – an 11-member cast with a combined 48 Broadway credits – has been released on streaming and digital formats Friday, July 11, with a CD edition to follow later this summer.
Boston-based vocalist Brian De Lorenzo will mark the release of his new album Toast of the Town, Volume 1 with a concert on Tuesday, June 17 at 7:30 PM at Club Café’s Moonshine Room. The performance will feature the Tom LaMark Orchestra, also featured on the album.