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Abigail Pogrebin
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Showstopper (Kindle Single) Kindle Edition

by Abigail Pogrebin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 69 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    37 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    May 31, 2011
  4. File size
    224 KB
  5. Page Flip
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  6. Word Wise
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  7. Enhanced typesetting
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  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
69 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the memoir entertaining and engaging. They appreciate the author's clear, eloquent writing style with insightful insights. The memoir provides a humorous and poignant look at Sondheim's only flop.

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ReadabilityWriting style
12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the memoir engaging and poignant. They appreciate the author's humorous and nuanced account of her involvement in a theatrical landmark. Overall, readers describe the book as a great read that captures a special time in the author's life.

"...But now I'm a fan of both. Pogrebin gives us a funny, poignant and nuanced look at Sondheim's only flop, which to many of us is one of his biggest..." Read more

"...Her heartfelt memoir, more than anything, succeeds in capturing a special time in her life and a singular moment in musical theater history...." Read more

"...Being in the show was a formative experience, to say the least: thrilling and heartbreaking in equal measure...." Read more

"A vivid, engaging, wise recollection of passionate youthful involvement in a theatrical landmark, seasoned with the perspective of maturity...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it clear, engaging, and vivid. The author provides a humorous, poignant, and nuanced look at Sondheim's only flop.

"...But now I'm a fan of both. Pogrebin gives us a funny, poignant and nuanced look at Sondheim's only flop, which to many of us is one of his biggest..." Read more

"...With clarity, eloquence and tremendous insight, Abby has captured what the "Merrily" adventure was like, and how it's impacted all of us who were..." Read more

"A vivid, engaging, wise recollection of passionate youthful involvement in a theatrical landmark, seasoned with the perspective of maturity...." Read more

"...You'll enjoy the vitality of the writing and the portrait of some of Broadway's ruling talents earlier in their careers...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Rebecca Wallace
    5.0 out of 5 stars 'Hey buddy, wanna write a show?'
    Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I always thought Evelyn needed a backstory.

    "Merrily" was an unknown to me until I was cast as Beth in a community-theater production a few years back. And I didn't know this author until a few weeks ago. But now I'm a fan of both. Pogrebin gives us a funny, poignant and nuanced look at Sondheim's only flop, which to many of us is one of his biggest hits. She's unafraid to detail its flaws even while reminiscing in an often heartbreaking manner about how much it meant to her. When you're a teenage girl cast in a new Broadway show, every moment is indelible.

    I will definitely look up more of the author's bylines. As soon as I test myself on the lyrics to "Franklin Shepard Inc."
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars "Me and you, kid, me and you"
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    "Merrily We Roll Along," the Stephen Sondheim / Harold Prince musical more talked and written about than performed or listened to, opened Nov. 16, 1981 and closed just 15 performances later.

    Abigail Pogrebin was one of the 28 original cast members. Although the past, to Pogrebin, "feels very much like it's passed," the 30th anniversary of the production later this year is reason enough to reminisce and reflect on how Sondheim's show about aiming high and falling hard has informed her life.

    Pogrebin takes us backstage during the musical's genesis, as it progressed from "promising to plagued." There were too many characters to keep straight, the cast had teenagers portraying wizened, world-weary adults. As she says, the "pathos wasn't registering." There were song and cast changes, costume overhauls, the choreographer was let go. More and more, rehearsals became "less jubilant and more sober." After opening night, the critics and particularly Frank Rich in the "New York Times, dealt a mortal blow, Rich calling the cast "dead wood."

    Today the musical has become a cult favorite but is still most often remembered in the mainstream for the standard "Not a Day Goes By." In 1981 Pogrebin was a 16-year-old. Auditioning, getting a part - in the ensemble - rehearsing she became part of a team that became a family of troopers who remained in contact and assembled again in 2002 for a one-night special reunion concert.

    Pogrebin, now in her 40s, went on to become a successful journalist. Her experience with "Merrily" remains one of the defining moments of her life. The show's last song, "Our Time," has the line "Years from now, we'll remember and we'll come back."

    Looking back now, she remembers her part in the show as a moment in her life when she "felt airborne." Her heartfelt memoir, more than anything, succeeds in capturing a special time in her life and a singular moment in musical theater history.
    [4.5 stars]
    18 people found this helpful
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  • David Cady
    5.0 out of 5 stars Keep An Eye On Your Dreams...
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    As an original cast member, I can attest to the fact that everything here is true. Being in the show was a formative experience, to say the least: thrilling and heartbreaking in equal measure. With clarity, eloquence and tremendous insight, Abby has captured what the "Merrily" adventure was like, and how it's impacted all of us who were lucky enough to have been there. For those who were not, this is absolutely, positively the next best thing. Thanks, Abby, it's a great read.
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Robert Gutheil
    5.0 out of 5 stars Merrily Wisdom
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A vivid, engaging, wise recollection of passionate youthful involvement in a theatrical landmark, seasoned with the perspective of maturity. Irresistible if you love theatre, love Stephen Sondheim, and love the score of Merrily.
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  • Sometime Critic
    3.0 out of 5 stars Standard helping of nostalgia
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Pretty much for hard core Merrlly/Sondheim fans. I am not sure why Ms. Pogrebin, who had only a small role in the original show and who left show business thereafter, gets so much attention--not only this book but a lot of screen time in Lonny Price's "Merrily" documentary, "Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened." Still, this is decent theater gossip and nostalgia. And in all this--Pogrebin's memoir, Price's docu, etc.-- there is something touching to be said about youthful disappointment.
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  • Timothy Hallinan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Remembrance
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    At the age of 16 Abigail Pogrebin became a Broadway baby by being cast (due in part to friendship) in Steven Sondheim's ambitious but financially unsuccessful MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. She kept her eyes and ears open and made notes along the way, and decades later she summed up her experiences in this relatively short piece. You'll enjoy the vitality of the writing and the portrait of some of Broadway's ruling talents earlier in their careers. I wish the piece had been longer.
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  • Dramagal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good short about acting
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I liked this short story written from first hand experience about the author's experience being in the original Cast of "Merrily We Roll Along." Engaging writing style, fun to read the insight from someone who grew up around Broadway show makers.
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  • Mike Pemby
    5.0 out of 5 stars Which is cool, just made me wish she had gone into ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    My only complaint was that it was not more detailed. A close friend of mine was in the show with her and so I have heard so much about the whole build up to the most famous of the Sondheim flops. It's just from the authors experience. Which is cool, just made me wish she had gone into others from the cast. I guess I will have to wait for the Documentary that I heard will come out someday. (I think I have heard it being worked on over 6 years now.
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