Book Reviews

Book Review: Bob Avian’s Engrossing Inside Look At Broadway “Dancing Man “

The paradigm of theater as a co-creative art is repeatedly depicted in Bob Avian’s autobiography Dancing Man, an engrossing account of the creation of theater seen from the inside in an illuminating tale told with the fair clear-eyed vision of someone who loves the art and the artists but who rejects wearing rose-colored glasses.

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Bill Hirschman
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Maltz’s Brighton Beach Memoirs Makes Strong Memories

Home is the place where they have to take you in, to paraphrase Robert Frost. It’s also the place where every family dynamic plays out — love, resentment, growing pains, conflict, chaos, worry and secrets — as shown in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s superb production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, smoothly directed with a first-class cast, the Maltz production hits all the high notes

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Bill Hirschman
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Bookshelf: Hirschfeld, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Michael Caine

If you’re a theater aficionado and received a nice check from your mother for the holidays or maybe from a busy relative gave you a gift card to Barnes & Noble, what should you spend it on? Here’s our review of a few books related to the arts.

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Bill Hirschman
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Our Holiday Gift List For The Theater Buff In The House

Theater buffs are the easiest people to shop for on your holiday list, as our Brad Hathaway proves in his annual roundup.

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Bill Hirschman
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Theater Shelf: Gift Guide To CDs & Books For Your Theater Junkie

Puzzled what to give that theater fan for the holidays. Check out Brad Hathaway’s suggestions. And of course, a season subscription is always welcome.

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Bill Hirschman
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Theater Shelf: Great Moments in Theater, Marilyn Miller, A Visit To Oz, And Betty Blue Eyes

Theater Shelf, a recurring feature, reviews recently-released books, CDs and DVDs of interest to theater lovers. Some are popular titles like a new Original Cast Recording, others are works you’ll be intrigued by, but didn’t even know about.

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Bill Hirschman
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Theater Shelf: Godspell, Death Takes A Holiday, The King(s) and I (Actually Several I’s)

Theater Shelf, a recurring feature, reviews recently-released books, CDs and DVDs of interest to theater lovers. Some are popular titles like a new Original Cast Recording, others are works you’ll be intrigued by, but didn’t even know about.

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Bill Hirschman
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Our Theater Lovers’ Gift Guide To CDs, DVDs and Books

Over the past 52 weeks, the Theater Shelf column has evaluated a host of CDs, DVDs and books you might consider as gifts for your theater friends this season – or for yourself, for that matter. You can look over the archive using the hyperlinked index at BradHathaway.Com. As the holiday season approached, however, many more titles became available. Here is a sampling of titles that might please one or more of the people on your holiday gift list.

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Bill Hirschman
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Theater Shelf: Rodgers & Hammerstein Shows You Haven’t Seen, Irving Berlin Reader, Broadway MVPs,

Theater Shelf, a recurring feature, reviews recently-released books, CDs and DVDs of interest to theater lovers. Some are popular titles like a new Original Cast Recording, others are works you’ll be intrigued by, but didn’t even know about. By Brad …

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Bill Hirschman
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Theatre Shelf – Jerry Orbach: Prince of the City

Jerry Orbach, Prince of the City: His Way from The Fantasticks to Law and Order by John Anthony Gilvey. Hal Leonard Corporation. Theater Shelf, a recurring feature, will review recently-released books, CDs and DVDs of interest to theater lovers. Some …

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Bill Hirschman
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