Customer Reviews

Letters from Backstage: The Adventures of a Touring Stage Actor

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"Letters from Backstage" has been one of the most pleasurable reading experiences I've had in awhile. Michael Kostroff begins with his audition for the first national tour of "The Producers" and then takes us through rehearsals and on the road with him. After a year with that show, he joins the national tour of "Les Miserables".

So often I've been in the audience of shows like these and wondered what it was like to be part of one...what was going on back there that we didn't see...what life was like, performing in city after city. Now I know! "Letters from Backstage" told me all about it.

Michael Kostroff captured my attention and sympathy in the prologue, with his pep talk to himself before the audition. Just that quickly, I was rooting for him, and I was thrilled with him when he made Mel Brooks laugh. And it just got better with each page.

The writing is genuine and skillful and confident and humorous; the tales are fascinating. I just wish it had been twice as long!

While on tour with THE PRODUCERS, I was fortunate to have Michael visit our high school to speak with students about his career. It is a rare sight in any school environment to see a room filled with people of all ages hanging on a speaker's every word, but such was the case with Michael. He has a gift of relating sincerely to people and an ability to convey meaningful messages. His work-ethic, positive attitude, wise advice, kind nature and sense of humor inspired everyone that day.

Turns out, he is as engaging in writing as he is in person. The treasured moments from his school visit have been successfully captured in LETTERS FROM BACKSTAGE. Michael's experiences and insightfulness serve as more than lessons in the theatre world, they are life lessons. If only they all could be delivered in such an entertaining and informative fashion! This is a must read book for people of all ages and interests.

This book is funny, funny, funny-- and has tremendous heart to boot.

Kostroff relates scores of hilarious behind-the-scenes experiences (e.g., having a dresser who actually impedes the dressing process); pet peeves ( e.g., people who desecrate the English language); and vulnerable moments ( e.g., the some time loneliness of life on the road).

What's more, Kostroff is such a fine, observant writer and humorist, that he is able to convey his thoughts with an emotional precision that compels the reader to nod in recognition.

Kostroff's ascerbic wit and self-deprecating humor are matched by his generosity in letting us into his world--this world he spent so much of his life working to enter.

This book is for everyone who wants to laugh, be moved or just reminded that working toward a dream can really pay off-- and sometimes in ways different from what one expects.

Mr. Kostroffs book is a wonderful read for true theatre junkies and anyone else who wants behind the scenes tidbits. I am a true road dog myself and have been on several national tours and Michaels book is an accurate and entertaining account of life on a broadway tour. I strongly encourage you to buy it for yourself and a friend. I devoured it in two nights. Its the type of book you just cant leave alone.

This book is a delight.

The author started writing emails to his friends when he was on the road touring with musical theatre shows.
His friends like the emails so much that he turned them into a book, and it is a great read.
You will learn so much about what goes on backstage of a show!
Fun stories about mishaps and near mishaps, the various eccentricities of the actors, directors etc.
A real education on what actors go through to get a part,all the work that goes in to putting on a show - wow.
The author writes so well that you really feel as if you were there - excellent descriptions and dialogue.

I really enjoyed this book and am recommending it to everyone I know.
Adults and teens , men and women will enjoy reading this.

This book is very entertaining and enlightening. He loves every minute of his showbiz career and is happy to let you go "on tour" with him.

This would be enjoyable for actors and just people who enjoy theatre watching.

LOVED IT!

I don't work in the entertainment business, and don't know much of anything about theatre, so I was a little afraid this wouldn't really hit me. I couldn't have been more wrong! This book is full of well told, highly entertaining stories. Kostroff has a great way of making you feel like you were on the road with him and the rest of the cast and crew. I laughed out loud a number of times, and feel like I got a real insider's view of things. It's practically your own backstage pass! Easy to read, and a lot of fun.

What is it like to be a touring stage actor? Author Michael Kostroff's childhood dream came true when he was cast in national tours of two plays: his story of life on the road comes to life in LETTERS FROM BACKSTAGE: THE ADVENTURES OF A TOURING STAGE ACTOR, which began as a series of emails to friends at home and evolved into a handbook of adventure. From hotels and old theatres to onstage mishaps and lovely old theaters, all the way down to the nuts and bolts of how touring stage actors handle typical challenges, LETTERS FROM BACKSTAGE brings it all to life.

I really enjoyed this anecdotal piece of creative nonfiction. I highly recommend it to David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell fans. Kostroff is witty, self-deprecating and anal about the conventions of English grammar. Love this guy. Whether you work in the theater or not, I think you'll enjoy this cleverly written book.

This was such a fun book to read. I love reading about backstage mishaps, which Michael dedicates an entire chapter. A fun narrative that for the most part kept my interest for the entire read. During the last little bit of the book it seemed like the cities were all running into one another, but I suppose that is what touring in a show must be like. I would read this again in a heartbeat.