The Alchemy of Theatre - The Divine Science: Essays on Theatre and the Art of Collaboration

by Robert Viagas (Editor)

Overview

(Applause Books). Featuring 28 of the top talents on Broadway! The Alchemy of Theatre lets the top talents in every theatrical field, from producing and writing to publicity and makeup, share their hard-earned wisdom. They speak on how to achieve success in an environment where giant egos are locked up together under mounting financial and emotional pressure, and are expected to deliver greatness. In short, this book is a how-to manual of collaboration by the professionals who do it best. Among those who have packed their lively essays with real-world stories of experience on legendary productions are directors Harold Prince, Susan Stroman, and George C. Wolfe; playwrights Wendy Wasserstein, recently deceased, and Edward Albee; stars Chita Rivera and Brian Stokes Mitchell; set designer Robin Wagner; songwriter Cy Coleman, in one of his last writing efforts before his death; costume designer William Ivey Long; producer Rocco Landesman; theatre operator Gerald Schoenfeld, chairman of The Shubert Organization; playwright and librettist Terrence McNally; lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer; Musical Director Paul Gemignani; and more than a dozen more. This book is nothing but true-life stories of how these precepts work in real life for some of the most talented people alive. "Every narrative gives an inside look at what makes theater magical and allows a performance to come together. For those who love the theater, this book is essential." Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476849485
Publisher:	Applause Theatre & Cinema Books
Publication date:	10/01/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	1 MB

Editorial Reviews

Like a typical Broadway season, this collection of essays on the various crafts of the theater trade is intermittently brilliant, self-serving and tedious. The central conceit of having directors, performers and various backstage wizards discuss the fine art of professional collaboration is a clever one that would seem to promise a generous helping of diva sagas and in-house backbiting. Instead, too many contributors take the concept as an excuse to name-check a relatively small group of favorite artists to work with, giving the proceedings the air of an extremely long Tony Awards ceremony. Thankfully, this collection is stocked with contributions from so many luminaries that there is still a bounty of excellent material, such as Edward Albee's cranky-sounding statement, "No one collaborates with me on a play." Cy Colman, the legendary late composer, provides one of the longest and most entertaining segments, waxing candidly about his sometimes volatile songwriting partnerships and the often difficult realities of bringing a show to the stage. Despite the book's choppiness, old-timers like Colman lend a poignant consistency with their elegies for a more dynamic, less focus-tested Broadway that they agree, sadly, has probably passed for good. (Nov.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

What all theater people have in common, writes Viagas (The Back Stage Guide to Broadway) in this essay collection, is their ability, "despite their colossal talent and sometimes matching egos, to work with other artists." Furthermore, he offers, "the essence of drama may be conflict, but the essence of creating drama turns out to be cooperation." Some of Broadway's most talented actors, directors, and producers; lighting and makeup technicians; costume and set designers; and choreographers-with four Pulitzer Prizes and dozens of Tony Awards to their credit-here reflect on their work, collaboration, and experience on the stage. The opening essay by late playwright Wendy Wasserstein, titled "Generosity," speaks poignantly to her character. Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell writes about being a leading man, while actor Dick Latessa contributes an essay called "The Art of the Second Banana." Every narrative gives an inside look at what makes theater magical and allows a performance to come together. For those who love the theater, this book is essential. Recommended for all larger public and academic libraries and all libraries with theater collections. (Index and photos not seen.)-Susan L. Peters, Univ. of Texas, Galveston Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal