From Publishers Weekly
Largely culled from the Dramatists Guild Quarterly, here are reflections about Broadway by many of its most successful professionals. The entries, most in the form of dialogues or panel discussions, are in three sections: analyses of specific shows (Death of a Salesman, Gypsy, Torch Song Trilogy, etc.) by those who created and performed in them; conversations with individual dramatists about their own careers; and group discussions of more general theater topics, such as criticism, librettos and author/director relationships. With the focus clearly on Broadway, the contributors offer observations on the pitfalls and agonies of writing for the commercial theater. With comments from Edward Albee, Hal Prince, Marsha Norman, Stephen Sondheim, Lanford Wilson, Elia Kazan and many others, this is compelling reading for those interested in the commercial theater. U.K. rights: Laurence Pollinger; translation rights: Dodd, Mead. JanuarySTRETCHING THE LIMITS Lee Torrey. Dodd, Mead, $17.95 Science writer Torrey, whose work has appeared in Science Digest and the New York Times, has produced a com prehensive, up-to-date and readable survey of measures being taken by phy sicians, physiologists, psychologists, nutritionists and others to improve sports performances. Their aim is to in duce adaptive body changes gradually. Some athletes and their coaches, how ever, are impatient, according to Tor rey, and abuse the discoveries and in novations of sports science, as with blood doping and overdoses of hor mones. The major portion of the book is an analysis of the changes brought about by sports science in every sport, from football to golf and soccer. Young athletes will find this material most in structive. Illustrations not seen by PW. Foreign rights: Nat Sobel. January
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Once in a long while a book comes along that can be recommended without qualification to anyone connected with or interested in the theater. This is such a book. Guernsey, editor of the Best Plays series, has done a remarkable job of selecting a balanced collection of articles from the Dramatists Guild Quarterly on the many aspects of writing for the theater. Most are transcripts of colloquia with Broadway's most creative talents and address specific hit productions as well as general topics (criticism, authors and directors, the libretto, etc.). The quality and readability of the material remain extraordinarily high throughout, resulting in a thorough and enjoyable look at the mechanics of the Broadway show. Essential for most libraries and required reading for theater buffs. Eric W. Johnson, Univ. of Bridgeport Lib., Ct.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
