Juicy tidbits about Broadway from the perspective of the Shubert Theaters. Sections about Michael Bennett and A Chorus Line were the highlights along with the dirt on Andrew Lloyd Webber. This book is only for broadway musical addicts. ( )

I loved this gossipy, fun history of the modern musical theater. While it mostly focused on the Shubert Organization's theatrical empire, none of the 20th century's major players were left out (or spared).

( )

Engaging look at the powers behind the scenes that saved the Broadway theater from the mid to late 20th century. The focus is on the presidents of the Schubert Organization (the theater owners), the producers, and the directors who ushered in several generations of Broadway after the "Golden era" and New York's financial collapse. Riedel manages to weave the stories of competing creative interests, financial interests, and over-the-top personalities into a coherent narrative of the dig and rise of an iconic industry. ( )

It was fine, but never really grabbed me, despite being on a topic I have an abounding interest in. I managed to read 2/3 of it, set it aside for some time, remembered none of it, re-read it from the start, and now I'm done. It was dry (very dry, considering its author is essentially a gossip columnist). The characters never really came to life--it was like reading an encyclopedia's rendition of events, rather than a diverting historian's.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). ( )