Cabaret: The Illustrated Book and Lyrics [Hardcover]

Joe Masteroff (Author), John Kander (Author), Fred Ebb (Author), Joan Marcus (Author), Rivka Katvan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 1999

The four 1998 Tony Awards given to the Roundabout Theatre's production of Cabaret add to the eight Tonys the musical won in 1966 and the eight Oscars the film version garnered in 1972. Surely one of the most acclaimed and beloved plays of all time, this modern classic is honored for the first time in a lavishly illustrated book. Here is the complete musical book by Joe Masteroff and all the words of the songs written by John Kander and Fred Ebb. It is illustrated with more than 100 photographs and drawings (including 74 in full color) of the original cast of the Roundabout 's smash Broadway production by Joan Marcus, never-before- published backstage photographs by Rivka Katvan, and archival photos of past productions. The accompanying text explores the evolution of the play in all its incarnations, from the 1930 stories of Christopher Isherwood to two films and three stage adaptations. Here are all the fantastic artists who have brought this play to life: Julie Harris (the original Sally Bowles), Joel Grey, Liza Minnelli, Natasha Richardson, Alan Cumming, Ron Rifkin, and directors Hal Prince, Bob Fosse, Sam Mendes, and Rob Marshall. Also featured are original drawings by costume designer William Ivey Long and set designer Robert Brill. For theatre lovers and film fans, for those who've seen the play and those who haven't, this book is an exclusive insider's glimpse into a stage and film phenomenon, one of the most astonishing artistic achievements of our time.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For those who just can't get enough of the Broadway revival of Cabaret, this lavishly illustrated book may be a dream come true. Cabaret: The Illustrated Book and Lyrics is a guide to the complete lyrics of the Broadway show, filled with plenty of photos from the production and scattered with notes and reviews from cast and critics alike. Alan Cumming gets the lion's share of attention here, both in striking photographs and in the form of a short diary excerpt he wrote during his NYC debut as the emcee. A few vintage photos from the original Cabaret production, the original watercolor costume designs by William Ivey Long, and the interior layout of the Kit Kat Klub fill out this impressively designed package. But the gorgeous shots of Cumming and Natasha Richardson really steal the show, making us remember why Cabaret is one Broadway revival that actually succeeded. --Jason Verlinde

From Booklist

One of the hottest tickets on Broadway last season was the breathtaking revival of the musical Cabaret, which featured incomparable--and Tony-awarded--performances by Alan Cumming as the master of ceremonies and Natasha Richardson as Sally Bowles. Cabaret is rooted in Christopher Isherwood's wonderful book The Berlin Stories, in which the late British writer immaculately captured Weimar Germany of the 1930s. After several stage and movie permutations, voila!--the current revival that set the New York theater community on its ear. The complete musical book and all the lyrics have been put together in this arresting volume, along with production and backstage photographs and archival material. What we have preserved, then, is a moment in Broadway history that will resonate for years to come. Brad Hooper

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Newmarket Press; 1St Edition edition (June 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557043833
• ISBN-13: 978-1557043832
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life is a Cabaret!, February 18, 2000

By 

saria - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabaret: The Illustrated Book and Lyrics (Hardcover)

This is the next best thing to seeing Cabaret in studio 54! Pictures of the Roundabout theater production light up this book and tells the story of the revived new musical. This book does not tell the story of the Liza Minelli version, or any of the other Cabaret versions, but of that of the revival. I have seen the new production in person, and can only say that this is the next best thing...and the book even has the whole libretto in it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cabaret, December 27, 1999

By 

Denise M. Haggerty - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabaret: The Illustrated Book and Lyrics (Hardcover)

I've seen the movie, the revival, and I remember the original production with Joel Grey from my childhood....but nothing ever beats the book! A complete script, with stage directions and brilliantly captured moments of the play; a thick and hearty slice of life backstage at one of Broadway's most fun and intriguing shows-- get it now!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cabaret leaves me breathless, May 27, 2000

By 

Marie L (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabaret: The Illustrated Book and Lyrics (Hardcover)

This book is absolutely delicious. It is filled with gorgeous, glossy photos of the entire beautiful cast, with lots of attention paid to my favorite, Alan Cumming. This book is a must have for any Cabaret fanatic. Even my roommate, who isn't really a fan, couldn't help but read it cover to cover! This book is breathtaking.