Producing & the theatre business : working in the theatre /

Since 1947, American Theatre Wing (ATW) has served Broadway theater by sponsoring the annual Tony awards. Another ATW activity is a series of seminars, "Working in the Theatre," and those panel discussions are the basis for this volume. In chapters titled, for example, "What Is a Producer?: In Depth: The Producers," "What about the Money?: In Depth: Mamma Mia!," and "Marketing: In Depth: Hairspray," the book discusses general topics in conjunction with specific shows. In doing so it reflects the primacy of expensive musicals on Broadway: a typical budget is $10 million with ticket prices of $100 or more. The Commercial Theater Institute Guide to Producing Plays and Musicals, ed. by Frederic Vogel and Ben Hodges (CH, Oct'07, 45-0783), draws on some of the same producers and explores similar materials; its greater length permits fuller discussions and inclusion of the not-for-profit theater. The two books complement each other and both will be useful to those interested in the complexities of contemporary theater production. The present volume includes short biographies and a brief history of ATW. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers; all levels. R. Sugarman emeritus, Southern Vermont College