Broadway, the Golden Years: Jerome Robbins and the Great Choreographer-Directors, 1940 to the Present

Broadway, the Golden Years is a wonderfully readable group portrait, or series of biographies as well as historical overview, of the great Broadway choreographers, from the World War II era to our own Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille, Gower Champion, Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Tommy Tune, Graciela Daniele, Susan Stroman, and others. The hits generated by two generations of choreographer-directors define the Broadway stage-and popular culture-of our Oklahoma!; Brigadoon; On the Town; Damn Yankees; West Side Story; Gypsy; How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Hello, Dolly!; Fiddler on the Roof; A Chorus Line; Dancin'; Dream Girls; My One and Only; The Pirates of Penzance; The Producers, and many others. This book is thoroughly researched. Robert Emmet Long conducted dozens of interviews with his subjects themselves as well as those who worked with them (especially true of the late Jerome Robbins, who personally arranged a number of interviews with colleagues). Long secured the cooperation of artists who do not typically give interviews. He attended rehearsals and full-dress performances. In short, as much as history, this book is also a colorful behind-the-scenes show-business story. Broadway, the Golden Years includes 15 pictures, both portraits and shots of productions and the choreographer-directors at work. It will appeal to the millions among us who can't get a Broadway-dance tune out of our heads, or who want to know more about a favorite production.