Backing into the Spotlight: A Memoir - by Michael Whitehall
Standing in front of a full-length mirror in my dressing room at ITV studios, waiting to go on to the set of Backchat, I had a brief conversation with my reflection. 'Michael, what the f*** do you think you're doing?' Theatrical agent Michael Whitehall spent a career pushing others into the spotlight. He had been involved behind the scenes with the careers of many prominent actors, including Colin Firth, Richard Griffiths, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tom Courtenay, Ian Ogilvy, Judi Dench, Edward Fox, Michael Fassbender, Angela Thorne and Nigel Havers. But then, much to his surprise, his son Jack becomes a successful comedian and actor and decides that his new comedy partner should be his father. Whitehall Snr. finds himself reluctantly appearing on stage and then television, cast as the archetypal grumpy old man and thrust, in his early seventies, into a whole new career in front of the camera. Minor fame comes at a sedate pace: one of the highlights being a record 300,000 win for charity with Jack on Channel 4's The Million Pound Drop. In this enchanting memoir Whitehall looks back on his life, from growing up in suburban London in the 1940s and '50s with his saintly father and social climbing-mother, who coined the phrase ' la carte' to describe people who were posher than she was and whose company she craved, to falling into a career as a successful theatrical agent and producer. As he says, 'Actors can be egotistical, greedy and vain, but they're not half as bad as agents and producers.' Charming, gossipy and above all very funny, Backing Into The Spotlight is no ordinary show business memoir.
Dramatists Play Service has announced the addition of McNeal, the bold and thought-provoking new play by Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar, to its distinguished catalog. The play is now available for licensing worldwide.
Earlier this week, HarperCollins released Wicked: The Graphic Novel Part 1, a new way to experience the novel that inspired the hit Broadway musical and two-part film adaptation.
The Criterion Collection has revealed the June 2025 lineup of Blu-ray titles, which includes the 1978 musical film adaptation of The Wiz, starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne.
The Original Broadway Cast Recording for the new Broadway musical, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING is available now via Ghostlight Records on streaming and digital platforms worldwide with a physical release to follow. Listen here!
Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ little known 1974 concert album, Saturnight: Live From Tokyo, will be released in the U.S. in multiple formats for the first time ever, more than 50 years after it was originally released only in Japan.
A new album featuring some of the best Miscast performances from years' past will be released this month! MCC Theater's Miscast: The Studio Sessions will be released on March 28.
Ray LaMontagne will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of his seminal debut album, Trouble, with a special remastered vinyl edition. Additionally, LaMontagne will embark on the Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour, performing the album in its entirety for the first time since its release.
Legendary musician, artist, record label executive, and philanthropist Herb Alpert will release a special 60th Anniversary Edition of his seminal album Whipped Cream & Other Delights on April 25th, 2025.
David Rothenberg, a theatre producer, playwright, and Broadway press agent, will release Manhattan Mayhem, a collection of short fiction, inspired by his nine decades in the entertainment industry. Manhattan Mayhem will be officially released April 2.
Music Theatre International (MTI) and Broadway Education Alliance Inc. has announced that the American Camp Association NY/NJ Conference, that MTI will begin offering The Camp Broadway Collection, an all-new, customizable, experiential learning program designed to teach children the fundamentals of musical theatre.
International conductor Dr. Elizabeth Askren has released the first volume of her new opera comic book series Volume One: The Magic Flute, available on Amazon.
KIM DAVID SMITH has released the new single from his upcoming album Mostly Marlene. “Illusions” – a studio duet with Tony-nominated playwright and performer Charles Busch. Listen now!
Thirty Saints Productions has announced the worldwide licensing release of The Holiday Songbook, the first installment of the company's highly acclaimed Songbook Series.
Clarinetist Sam Sadigursky and accordionist/multi-instrumentalist Nathan Koci have set the release of the next two volumes of The Solomon Diaries for April 11th.
On April 18, 2025, Mercury Studios will release a 3LP package of the South Park 25th Anniversary Concert. The album features performances of fan favorites from the South Park TV series and films created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Varèse Sarabande and Craft Recordings have announced the long-awaited vinyl debut of Lost: Season Two (Original Television Soundtrack), featuring Michael Giacchino’s score in its entirety.
Craft Recordings celebrates the enduring, 75-year legacy of PEANUTS, with an expanded reissue of Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown. Arriving April 4th, the collection features 11 never-before-heard outtakes plus the original album.
International Literary Properties, the global company that invests in, acquires, and manages literary estates, has acquired Ellen Raskin’s literary estate. Learn more!
The physical CD and two vinyl editions of the Swept Away album, titled “Rough Seas” and a limited edition “Devil’s In My Head” Blood Moon red pressing, will be released this spring. Learn more!
Pianist and composer Danny Wright has released his latest album, 'Stage To Screen,' featuring piano renditions of beloved movie and Broadway songs. Learn more about Wright and the album!
University Press of Kentucky plans to release a revised, third edition of 'Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins' by the late historian Robert K. Murray and renowned cave explorer Roger W. Brucker, on April 15.
Stage and screen star Josh Gad has put pen to paper to tell his story. His new memoir, In Gad We Trust, is a heartfelt and hilarious collection of essays about his career highlights and all of the inbetweens. Watch in this video!
South Street Seaport Museum's monthly book club will continue in February. Seaport Museum staff and special guests will stir up lively discussions informed by our shared love of literature, history, and preservation.
Red Lyric Productions will release the original Off-Broadway/NY Fringe Cast Album of Urban Momfare. The musical had a run at the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival, where it received a Best Musical Award.
Precious Days Records has released the debut recording of Gretchen Cryer and Gracie Hyland’s new musical HOUSE ON FIRE in streaming and digital formats. Learn more about the album and the upcoming concert presentation.
The world premiere recording of Lisa Bielawa’s song cycle Centuries in the Hours will be released on a new album from mezzo-soprano Leandra Ramm titled Watching glass, I hear you.
Gretchen Cryer recently wrote a new musical with her granddaughter, Gracie Hyland, titled House on Fire. We have your exclusive first listen to a song from the show. Listen to “Early Teenage Crisis” here!
Broadway-lovers know that the legendary Palace Theatre has gone through quite a transformation over the last several years. What happened at the Palace before now? Watch in this video as Lane chats with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge about the venue's incredible history
After a sold out run at the 2024 Twin Cities Horror Festival, the script for the camp horror comedy Let's Summon a Demon at Debbie's written by Brandon Monokian has been published by 1319 Press. Learn more!