Customer Reviews

The Music Went 'Round and Around: The Story of Musicarnival (Cleveland Theatre)

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This book is a very one-sided picture of Musicarnival. There is absolutely NO reference to the technical aspect of running Musicarnival. Many aspects of the tent are not mentioned and many people who were equally involved in the success of the tent and the shows .... that is before the packaged shows ... are completely left out of the book. The author obviously did very little additional research other than John Price's materials. If you want to read a true book about theatre in Cleveland in the 1938 to 1960's I suggest you read "Halcyon Days" by Dina Reese Evans.

This book brought back so many memories for me. I was lucky enough to visit Musicarnival during the Production Years and the Concert Years. The book is easy to read and has many remarks by people who lived the "Musicarnival years". It is an easy book to pick up and read any particular section that piques your interest. I recommend it for any musical theatre fan, especially if you are in the Cleveland area.

John Vacha's The Music Went 'round And Around: The Story Of Musicarnival tells of the Musicarnival located in a Cleveland suburb where one John Price Jr. decided to open a unique summer theater. His venture was one of the last commercially legitimate theaters in Cleveland and had a capacity of 2,500, presenting eight to ten shows each summer. From his successful seasons and resident people to his involvement in packaged productions and his strong following, the story of Musicarnival comes to life in a vivid recollection.

I was a Musicarnival apprentice in the later years and hadn't been able to explain the experience to younger family memebers; now I can. It was exciting to see this book, which though brief, gives a goo accounting of the period. I only wish it had more--more stories, more pictures, etc.