More Opening Nights on Broadway: A Critical Quote Book of the Musical Theatre, 1965-1981 [Hardcover]

Steven Suskin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1997

Theatre / Broadway Broadways most famous critics on some of Broadways best- (and least-) loved shows. This new collection offers excerpted first night reviews of 210 of the most popular Broadway productions in recent memory - reviews that also served to chronicle many of the careers that were made and broken during this period of the Broadway theatre. The book follows on the successful heels of Suskins previous Opening Nights on Broadway, which Variety referred to as and endlessly entertaining read and a revealing reference book.Steven Suskin has managed and produced plays on Broadway, off-Broadway, and on the road for over 20 years.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This follow-up to Steven Suskin's 1990 volume (which covered 1943-64) is packed with juicy quotes from the reviews of every Broadway musical that opened between 1965 and 1981. That said, forget the reviews. The real reason to get this book is for the dirt Suskin has dug up on every show including the flops--especially the flops. Accompanying the statistical data on creative personnel, number of performances and profitability status, he dutifully and delightedly records the backstage fits, fights, feuds, and egos that often were more dramatic than the show itself. All served forth in 206 tasty, bite-sized (one or two pages) helpings.

From Library Journal

This sequel to Opening Nights on Broadway 1943-1964 (Schirmer, 1990) excerpts first-night reviews for 210 Broadway productions, illustrated with more than 100 poster reproductions. Whether addressing bombs or megahits, each entry features at least three reviews by such notables as Walter Kerr and Richard Watts. Increasing the reference value of entries is a scorecard summarizing overall critical opinion, production cast lists, chronologies, and overviews of notable careers. The information on minor shows alone is worth the purchase price. Anyone with the least interest in musical theater will find this extremely readable, fascinating, and informative book essential.?Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A. & M. Univ. Lib., Tex.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 850 pages
• Publisher: Schirmer Trade Books (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028645715
• ISBN-13: 978-0028645711
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,422,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who knows musicals better?, July 25, 2000

By 

Matthew Murray (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: More Opening Nights on Broadway: A Critical Quote Book of the Musical Theatre, 1965-1981 (Hardcover)

There are few better ways of understanding a show than by reading the words of the critics who review it. Hits or flops, big names or no names, this is an extremely comprehensive book of a dizzying number of shows, with excerpts from the critics' opening night reviews. Steven Suskin makes some cuts here and there, and offers his own thoughts about the shows, but the critics are the stars of this book, and shine they do. There are some wonderful reviews of hits and flops alike, and the totality of reviews help paint a unique and irresistible picture of the shows and Broadway itself.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Calling all musical lovers!, March 25, 1998

By 

Rebekah Moryanti ([e-mail]) (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: More Opening Nights on Broadway: A Critical Quote Book of the Musical Theatre, 1965-1981 (Hardcover)

You're in a restaurant. The wine is good, the food is better and the laughter is loud. All of the sudden, someone stops and yells "ONE LINE! A song, played on a solo saxaphone . . ." and you shout out "That's from "Miss Saigon!'"

If the above situation seems familiar, then "More Opening Nights on Broadway : A Critical Quotebook ofthe Musical Theatre from 1965 Through 1981" is for you! A book for those of us who love theatre with a passion, especially the mistakes! You can not have a library of musicals/theater literature without this book.

So your cat won't play with you and the only things on TV are "The Psychic Friends Hotline" and "Alligators: the way they love today?" Curl up in a big overstuffed chair and read about your favorite musical. Guaranteed to lift your spirits. You'll relish every fact, every mistake, every juicy tidbit. Then you'll call up your best friend and say "Hey, did you know what happened on the set of "My Fair Lady?'"

Don't think! Impulse buy! You won't regret it.