Customer Reviews

The Q Guide to Broadway

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Seth Rusetsky, the ultimate Broadway insider, is the perfect gay guide to Broadway. He's a serious and hughly gifted musician and simultanoeusly a manic, chatty, wildly driven writer and entertainer. He knows what he's talking but this is no dry "how to" guide. It is the first real guide on how to become a New York Theatre insider: what CDs to buy, what restaurants, cabarets and theatres to attend, what charities to support, what websites to go to for theatre news and gossip, how to get cheap tickets, and how to speak the language of Broadway.

For better and worse it is a highly subjective guide, reflecting Seth's likes and dislikes, passions and prejudices, on every page. For example, some important theatre websites are overlooked and some musical stars are mentioned a few too many times.

In his defense I am grateful that Seth uses stars' first and last names throughout his book. We hear about "Chita Rvera," not that endlessly tiresome fake Broadway insiders lingo of "Chita."

It's a hilarious book, un-put-downable and addictive. Seth reminds us over and over what it is to remain a giddy fan of Broadway when many insiders lose that aspect after being exposed to the challenging day-to-day workings of a theatre professional.

Seth Rudetsky is fiercely talented, an encyclopedia of Broadway facts and lore, and (most importantly) hysterically funny. He also knows everyone in the business and is the King (Queen?) of Broadway benefits and concerts.

This great little guide gives you all the basics you need to feel like a Broadway insider.

Just getting started as a fan? This guide will give you the basics plus some great tips for getting Broadway info and gossip, scoring cheap tickets and how to get wired to Broadway on the Internet.

Already hooked on Broadway? You'll still enjoy this quick little read. It was fun seeing whether or not I agreed with Seth's choices of 'essential' cast recordings, and I still picked up a few backstage stories I hadn't heard before.

Seth is a-MAH-zing (as he would say) and so is this little Q Guide.

Now we just need Seth to write a comic novel that takes place in the backstage Broadway world that he knows and loves so much!

Seth Rudetsky, a very taleneted Broadway conductor, sub, fundraiser imprasario, radio host, and all-around insider is obsessed with all things Broadway. Seth's writing style is easy, coversational, and informative with lots of spice.

The Q-Guide tells the ordinary Broadway fan how to find cheap tickets, what the lingo is all about, some whys and wherefores about the industry, lots of great recommendations to build the "must have" Broadway Cast CD Library, and oodles of stories about the personalities. The book is not a history of Broadway, it's here and now. For fun, there are five quizzes about Broadway lore and facts to test your pre-existing knowledge and send you googling to learn more.

Written with a gay sensibility, Seth's new 174-page book is a one sitting cover-to-cover must read for the Broadway fan and the insider as well.

This book was a BLAST from start to finish!!!
Mr. Rudetsky, clearly a Broadway expert EXTRAORDINAIRE, has written an extremely informative book that is also very, very FUNNY! I definitely wasn't expecting that!
I was most shocked at how up-to-the-moment this book is. With inside dirt on shows that have just opened, it made me feel like a bona-fide Broadway INSIDER!
I especially enjoyed the list of top ten CD's. I own several of them already, and I really appreciated his in-depth descriptions of what went into the making of particular songs, the artistic process, and the performance details. How does he know about all this stuff?!?! It makes me look forward to listening to these classics again, but through Mr. Rudetsky's expert and appreciative eyes.
This guide gave me a new appreciation for Broadway (and the dangers facing it). So here's to Seth, keep up the good fight and keep Broadway alive in all it's colorful GLORY!

WIth Seth Rudetsky guiding your way thru the murky underbelly of Broadway, even those completely unschooled in in the Great White Way can't help but come away with a huge appreciation and tickled funny bone. Buy this book for everybody you know who wants to know more about the ins and outs of the New York Theater scene----they will be naming chilren after you, they'll be so grateful!!!

This book gives you every inside tip (okay, ALMOST every tip) you need to know about theater in New York. It also happens to be a very entertaining read. Rudetsky's wit shines through as he gives you a history of "essential" Broadway. If you're a fan of theater, this is a must read!!

If you're addicted to Seth's Big Fat Broadway on Sirius (channel 77--Broadway's Best) you MUST have this book. Seth is FIERCE! Worth the price for the website information alone.

Love you, Seth! You're my favorite bee-atch. (And I know you'll read this...)

(One criticism--the book could have used a copy editor. Pygmallian? Hello? I'd be your copy editor any day, darling.)

I listen to Seth all the time on Sirius and love all his Broadway insider info and gossip... I love Broadway..so this is a no brainer, I love this book. You can hear Seth's voice and humor throught the book. I wish we had more behind the scenes on the shows. Look forward to the next one.

p.s. Amaaaaahzing

You don't have to be gay to appreciate the information packed into this little treasure. I can't wait for my next trip to NYC to use the information on scoring tickets to great shows. While I have learned a bit by trial and error, this book gave me a full chapter of great tips that are hard to find anywhere else. The gossip is fun but Seth's insider opinions are even better.

If you are a fan of Seth's show on Sirius satellite radio then you are familiar with his breezy, bitchy style and how humour is always included. The writing style of Seth's book made me feel he was speaking just to me.

Brava!

Well, I won't say this is the least biased book ever, but whenever Seth has an opinion, you know it, AND you know why! Seth works on Broadway as a conductor and pianist, he seems to know everyone and the interviews he does with Broadway performers are great - interesting and informative. He brings all of this to this funny book that added to my knowledge of what goes on on Broadway. This month (January 2007) he's been accompanying Jennifer Hudson when she performs on Good Morning America and The David Letterman Show. It's fun to watch this guy! You can tell that he knows what he's doing. So, take the information in this book as from someone who's been there and is currently doing it all!