Broadway's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Dynamic Divas, Surefire Showstoppers, and Box-Office Busts – by Tom Shea
It’s not just a street anymore—it’s a genre of its own, and it’s celebrated in Tom Shea’s Broadway’s Most Wanted™: The Top 10 Book of Dynamic Divas, Surefire Showstoppers, and Box-Office Busts. Part of Potomac's popular Most Wanted™ series, Broadway’s Most Wanted™ sings the praises of musical theater with a dash of whimsy thrown in. Shea honors those who have made musical theater what it is today—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Oh, the ugly! When a show hits gold, the world’s a wonderful place, but a bomb is just as precious and enjoyable in its own perverse way. With more than forty top-ten lists packed full of fun and facts, Shea shows you the best—and worst—that Broadway, off-Broadway, and the rest of the musical theater has to offer.
So while you learn about the amazing people behind the hit Bye Bye Birdie, including the incomparable Chita Rivera, you’ll also read about the ill-fated and laughable Bring Back Birdie, which quickly indicated why Broadway doesn’t do sequels (especially twenty years after the original). While chuckling over how Jimmy Durante and Ethel Merman bickered over top billing for 1936’s Red, Hot, and Blue—with the comical result of their names being written diagonally, crossing in an X—you’ll also find praise for Paul Ford, Stephen Sondheim’s rehearsal pianist, who helps the legendary composer bring his music to life. Musicals run the gamut of topics, and Shea waxes melodic on political, western, rock and roll, and comic-book musicals, plus so much more. They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway; Tom Shea shines just as brightly with Broadway’s Most Wanted™: The Top 10 Book of Dynamic Divas, Surefire Showstoppers, and Box-Office Busts.
Harper Celebrate and the Radio City Rockettes announced a new holiday book, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes: Recipes and Crafts to Bring Home the Magic, featuring festive recipes, DIY crafts, and behind-the-scenes stories from the legendary production.
Harper Celebrate and the Radio City Rockettes are collaborating on a new book – Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes: Recipes and Crafts to Bring Home the Magic.
Songs from Monte Cristo: A New Musical – based on Alexandre Dumas’ beloved novel and the 19th century play by Charles Fechter – will be released in digital and streaming formats.
Multi-Grammy-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth, and singer-songwriter/composer Gabriel Kahane have released “Put it in My Valise (Room 1832) [Radio Edit]” featuring Jodie Landau, from their collaborative LP Elevator Songs.
The full soundtrack is here for Disney's live-action Moana, featuring original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi and Mark Mancina, including the all-new song, “Along The Way.
Ghostlight Records has released the special 15th anniversary edition of the Grammy Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording for The Book of Mormon in stores and online.
Theatre Communications Group published The Michaels, the concluding double volume of Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Nelson's Rhinebeck Panorama, closing a twelve-year theatrical journey documenting American family life.
World Circuit Records will release the 30th Anniversary Edition of the Grammy-winning album ' Buena Vista Social Club,' which will be reissued on 'pearl sunrise' color double-LP.
The Original Cast Recording of THE JACK OF HEARTS CLUB, the acclaimed new musical by Jon Richardson that became one of the most successful productions in the history of Provincetown Theater, will be released on Friday, July 17, 2026, on all major digital and streaming platforms.
West End and Broadway star Ruthie Henshall will release her new memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince, detailed her secret relationship with Prince Edward in the 1980s.
Tony Award-winning performer Lea Salonga releases “The Last Night of the World (The Pride Remix),” a new dance version of the beloved Miss Saigon ballad that was first introduced to audiences decades ago.
An EP recording of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, the musical by John and Elena Tafone, is now available on all streaming platforms, featuring Nik Walker, Mary Kate Morrissey, and a 25-piece orchestra.
GRAMMY-nominated composer Devonté Hynes, also known professionally as Blood Orange, has scored the soundtrack for Olivia Wilde's new film, The Invite, from A24.
Nathan Abrams, a professor of film at Bangor University, has written a comprehensive biography of playwright David Mamet, examining how his Jewishness and Judaism shaped works like Glengarry Glen Ross and American Buffalo.
Costume designer, artist, and scholar Kaiqi Zhang will present the book launch of The Art of Kaiqi Zhang in Los Angeles, showcasing a comprehensive overview of her artistic practice in recent years.
Reunions, a new musical with book and lyrics by Jeffrey Scharf and music by Jimmy Calire, which had a run last year at New York City Center Stage II, has released an original cast recording of the musical.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) released an 'American Express' Club Remix, produced and composed by Tony-Nominated Orchestrator Lux Pyramid.
Composer/lyricist Maury Yeston – who recently celebrated his landmark 80th birthday – will join author Joshua Rosenblum and theater journalist Peter Filichia at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space.
Creative Goods is launching a brand new piece of merchandise to celebrate the Schmigadoon’s Best Musical Tony Award! Take the Schmigadoon picnic home with you with a realistic corn puddin candle.
Las Vegas-based ventriloquist and author April Brucker released '250 Years of American Ventriloquism,' tracing the art form's influence on comedy, broadcasting, and pop culture from the colonial era to the digital age.
Paper Pianos, the Pulitzer Prize finalist work co-created by Mary Kouyoumdjian and Nigel Maister, will receive its world premiere recording on Friday, August 7, 2026.
Good Guy With a Gun!, a satirical musical concept album featuring Chris Sullivan, Kimiko Glenn, Anthony Rapp, Jason Alexander, and Yvette Nicole Brown, has released its' first single, 'Liberal Love,' now available.