Customer Reviews

Lights on Broadway: A Theatrical Tour from A to Z, with CD

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Using an alphabetic approach, "Lights On Broadway: A Theatrical Tour From A To Z" by children's author Harriet Ziefert and Tony Award winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, provides young readers with an informed and informative introduction and overview of what goes on 'behind the scenes' of a theatre production. From 'A' is for audition to 'Z' is for zing, "Lights On Broadway" is colorfully illustrated by the energetic artwork of Elliot Kreloff. Enhanced with the accompany CD of 'I Was here' by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (and performed by Brian Stokes Mitchell), "Lights On Broadway" is as fun and entertaining as it is educational, making it enthusiastically recommended for family, school, and community library collections.

Lights of Broadway is a book that shines as brightly as Times Square on New Year's Eve. It is a beautiful book for children 8 to 80 who love the theatre. Even the cover of the book shines as light reflects off its face and the reader can find much to read and remember about people and shows that make our lives richer and more exciting. There is even a CD enclosed in the back of the book with a song that was written by the author, Brian Stokes Mitchell. This book would be a great read for students of theatre arts and a wonderful gift for the teachers of drama and musical comedy. This is a delightful book for any one who loves the Lights of Broadway and wants a tour behind the scenes and in front of the camera.

I GAVE THIS BOOK TO TWO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE THIS SEASON. THE FIRST ONE WAS MY DAUGHTER WHO SPENT HER LIFE ON THE STAGE AS A NYC ROCKETTE AND IN BROADWAY SHOWS. SHE HAS SINCE MARRIED, HAS HER FIRST CHILD AND THE BOOK WAS FOR HIM. I WANTED MY GRANDCHILD TO LOVE AND UNDERTAND THE THEATER AS WE DO. MY DAUGHTER KNOWS MICHAEL AND WAS THRILLED TO RECEIVE THIS WONDERFUL BOOK.

THE SECOND BOOK WENT TO A LIFELONG FRIEND WHO WAS A PROFESSIONAL BALLERINA AND SHE ALSO IS MARRIED WITH THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. SHE WAS SO EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE BOOK THAT ALL SHE COULD DO WAS CRY. LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT. YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THAT'S WHERE YOUR HEART STAYS. THANK YOU MICHAEL FOR WRITING SUCH A DETAILED BOOK ABOUT THE STAGE AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS INVOLVED WITH IT.

WILL GIVE THE BOOK TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS I CAN THAT ALSO LOVE THE THEATER.

What a great way to introduce a young audience to Broadway! Even though this is in ABC format, older children new to the experience will appreciate the facts and trivia in this informative collection. As brilliant and exciting as Broadway itself, Lights on Broadway plunges the reader into an experience that dazzles. Prepare your child (or class) with this book for an upcoming visit to Broadway. Set the tone and spark the imagination of your children/class with this book and then create your own Broadway show.

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway.
Things are pretty bright on paper too.
And that's because of "Lights on Broadway: A Theatrical Tour From A to Z, a new book in which the bright lights of Broadway, as well as many other theatrical wonders, vividly come to life. The words are by Harriet Ziefert, but the real "stars" here are Elliot Kreloff's colorful and energetic illustrations and the quotes from Broadway luminaries such as Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Kline, Nathan Lane, Billy Crudup, Harvey Fierstein and Stephen Sondheim.
Entries for each letter of the alphabet introduce readers to behind-the-scenes Broadway: A for audition, actor, audience and applause; M for marquee and matinee; S for stage, scenery, script and set. And so the stage is set for a world involving the Tony Award, the many people it takes to bring a performance to life, the information printed on a ticket and other essential backstage babble.
Another performer front and center (or it is that front and end?) is Brian Stokes Mitchell, the award-winning thespian and the present president of The Actors Fund. At the book's beginning, he gushes: "Welcome to my house, my home, my Broadway! As you take this very special tour, perhaps you too will be ignited by the incredible collaborative magic that gives life and light to the theater."
At the finish, he coos: "Unlike a movie or television program that is the same no matter where you sit or when you see it, live theater is custom-built for each audience. Every performance is different and every individual in that audience has a unique experience that won't be repeated ever again. It's what gives the theater and life. ZING!"
By the way, the book comes with a CD featuring the single "I Was Here," written (in ragtime?) by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and performed by BSM. Better yet: A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to The Actors Fund. Even better: Mitchell with star in a "semi-staged production" of Annie Get Your Gun at Chicago's Ravinia Festival opposite Patti LuPone, August 13-15, 2010. The musical revival will be directed by Lonny Price. Paul Gemignani will conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Annie Oakley's birth.

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The Broadway stage is one of the most exciting, mesmerizing places anyone could choose to be. There are a lot of things going on before you buy that ticket to get into the theater and this amazing ABCs of the lights on Broadway will guide you though the process from the actors to the sets to the Tony Awards and beyond. Each Broadway letter will give you a lot more than just one descriptive word. For example when we see the letter "O," for orchestra there is a two-page vibrant spread showing everyone hard at work. We learn about the sections of the orchestra, the definition of the word, we learn about the overture, the conductor, the composer, the lyricist and we hear little vignettes from Carol Channing, Sid Ramin, and Lowell Jay Hershey. This is one marvelous way to learn all about the workings of the theater!

This amazing book shows just how bright the lights are on Broadway. When I first picked up the book, I didn't notice for a few pages that it was actually an ABC book of the theater. This book is very vibrant and, after I started playing the CD track "I Was Here," the whole atmosphere of the theater itself came alive as I read. This would be an excellent book for everyone, not just a young person to learn about what goes on in the theater. I loved the busy, busy, busy pages and the numerous quotations from actors and others such as stage designers that added immeasurably to the exciting aura this book creates. Want to learn about what goes on in the theater? This would make a perfect choice!

This book is amazing! The ABC's of Broadway with comments by people who have appeared/worked on Broadway. It is a great way to teach children about Broadway plays. What's more, it comes with a CD that has Brian Stokes Mitchell singing and a portion of the proceeds benefits The Actor's Fund (a charity that supports people in the industry). If you have children at home, I highly recommend this book. If you don't, I still recommend this book (especially if you like Broadway).