Ted Chapin is president & executive director of Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, New York. His early theatre career included production assistant and directorial assistant positions on the Broadway productions of The Sunshine Boys, The Rothschilds, The Unknown Soldier and His Wife, and of course, Follies.
"One of the top-10 must read theater books of all time." - Theatermania.com
"One of the top-10 must read theater books of all time." - Theatermania.com
Yes, the Michael Bennett-Stephen Sondheim-Hal Prince collaboration that produced Follies was a major event. And yes, this show has gone on to become something of a cult musical owing to its unusually downbeat nature. But a whole book about Follies? As a college junior, Chapin was able to turn his spring semester into an independent study course: studying the rehearsal process of a Big American Musical. Through his parents' connections, he signed on as an unpaid production assistant, which gave him an interesting vantage point from which to observe the day-to-day processes involved in mounting a major musical. It opened to mixed reviews, but Chapin was clearly a fan. He has since gone on to make a career for himself in the production side of theater. Chapin here shares his detailed journal about his experiences, but it is this detail that may not appeal to all readers of this genre. However, his account is an important piece of theatrical history as it chronicles the last days of the lavish musical "where everything was possible." For large public and academic libraries.-Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Libs., Salinas, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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