The Playbill Broadway Yearbook: June 1, 2004 - May 31, 2005 (Hardcover)

by Robert Viagas (Author)
Key Phrases: first preview, hottest costume, associate conductor, New York, Stage Manager, Irving Music (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Playbill publisher Philip Birsh decided he would create "a yearbook, like a high school yearbook," which would include photos of every person working on a Broadway show in a given year. So Viagas, one of the magazine's editors, reprinted the head shots and text from the official Playbills of each production, from Aida to Wonderful Town, and arranged group shots of performers, directors, box-office staff and ushers. In addition, pictures of the staff for producers' offices, press agents, union leaders and even personnel from nationwide Playbill publications are included in a section called "Faculty." Like high school shots, most photos show people standing in a line and smiling awkwardly for the camera. In an attempt to add some spice to the project, a member of each production answered questions, such as the casts' favorite snack food or the most memorable celebrity visits, which appear in the "Scrapbook" section. None of the answers, however, lend insight or helpful information; mostly, they're of the "you had to be there" variety. As with high school yearbooks, this will be a source of nostalgic reminiscence for the participants, but of minimal use for historians or theater buffs. (Oct.)
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Review
"Mark this down as a new essential for anyone who loves, and follows, today's theater scene." -- The Hollywood Reporter, October 4, 2005

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Playbill Books (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557836825
• ISBN-13: 978-1557836823
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #611,068 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broadway Yearbook, September 22, 2005

By	Broadway Diva - See all my reviews

My favorite part of this yearbook is the scrapbook pages from each show with fabulous stories written by cast members about backstage rituals, opening night gifts, favorite lines or moments in the show, celebrity visitors, and exciting photos of the opening night parties, clowning around backstage, actors putting on makeup, etc. Reading the pages makes you feel not just like you've seen the show, but that you've been backstage and been on stage with the cast. On the "42nd Street" page, David Elder, who played Billy Lawlor, wrote his favorite moment in that show is: "Hearing the audience reaction during "We're in the Money" when I would hold the handstand. Also the audience's excited applause when the opening curtain would rise to show what looked like hundreds of tapping feet." From "Wicked:" "Shoshana Bean, the Elphaba with the trucker mouth, walked off the stage and trumpted a curse that would make Joan Rivers blush. As soon as it came out of her mouth, she turned to see (backstage visitor) Garth (Brooks) in his big old cowboy hat and dear Ms. Trish Yearwood with her girls. Elphaba turned a nice shade of green-red and said, gracefully, "Uh...I have to get out of makeup now." And from "Spelling Bee" Jesse Tyler Ferguson's favorite moment: "After I get eliminated from the Bee I give handshakes to each of the actors on stage as I exit. Dan Fogler always says something different to me. On the night of the first preview he said, "Welcome back to Broadway." On a night when the audience was really dead, he said, "You're always the lucky one." Celia always whispers, "I love you." If you love theater like I do, you'll love this yearbook.

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended, November 5, 2007

By	KAR (Shakopee, MN) - See all my reviews

This was a great way to combine all the years performances into one book. I recommend adding the other two additions for a complete library.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Broadway lovers!, October 28, 2005

By	Victor H. Hernandez - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is full of lots of information and great tidbits about last season on Broadway. The yearbook layout is fun and makes it easy to find what you're looking for. Good Times!