Showstopper (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition]

Abigail Pogrebin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2011

Showstopper is journalist and book author Abigail Pogrebin's account of being cast, at the young age of 16 (along with a then 21-year old Jason Alexander), in Stephen Sondheim's muscial "Merrily We Roll Along," the only flop in Sondheim's storied career. It's a still a mystery, and a much debated topic, among theater enthusiasts as to why "Merrily We Roll Along" flopped, especially since Sondheim's other productions, which include "Into the Woods," "Follies," "Sweeney Todd," and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," have been so endearing and extraordinarily successful. In this Kindle Single, Pogrebin muses on why the show didn't get off the ground at the same time that she takes the reader on passionate, introspective journey, examining the importance of this very special moment in her life.

Abigail Pogrebin is the author of Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish (Broadway Books 2007), and One And The Same: My Life as an Identical Twin and What I've Learned About Everyone's Struggle to Be Singular (Doubleday 2009). Pogrebin has written for many national publications, and has produced for Mike Wallace at "60 Minutes." She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"The good news is, you're all in the show." These words, uttered by famed theatrical director Hal Prince, changed Abigail Pogrebin's life. At the tender age of 16, along with a then 21-year old Jason Alexander, she was cast in the Stephen Sondheim production, Merrily We Roll Along--notable as the only flop in the legendary composer’s otherwise beloved repertoire, which includes the award-winning musicals Into the Woods, Follies, Sweeney Todd, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The theories as to why this particular project didn't roll merrily along are addressed in Pogrebin’s introspective Kindle Single, but more than that, it examines the complex relationship between the practical and the passionate self, the realist and the dreamer, and the importance of those moments in life that make you feel "airborne." Forgive me for the pun, but this Single is a true 'Showstopper.' --Erin Kodicek

Product Details

• File Size: 212 KB
• Print Length: 30 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0053TD1CM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,860 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #44 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Arts & Entertainment > Theater > Acting & Auditioning

More About the Author

Abigail Pogrebin, is the author of Stars of David (Broadway 2005) and One and the Same (Doubleday 2009). She was a producer for Fred Friendly, Charlie Rose, and Bill Moyers at PBS, then for Ed Bradley and Mike Wallace at 60 Minutes. She has written for many publications, including New York Magazine, The Daily Beast, Harper's Bazaar, Salon, Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, Parents, Radar, Brill's Content, and Talk Magazine. She is the moderator of an interview series at The JCC in Manhattan called "What Everyone's Talking About."