“Fun and gossipy.” —
The Wall Street Journal
* “A masterful history.” —
Publishers Weekly
(starred review) * “Engaging.” —
Newsweek
A “brisk, insightful, and deliciously detailed take” (
Kirkus Reviews
) on a transformative decade on Broadway, featuring behind-the-scenes accounts of shows such as
Rent
,
Angels in America
Chicago
The Lion King
, and
The Producers—
shows that changed the history of the American theater.
The 1990s was a decade of profound change on Broadway. At the dawn of the nineties, the British invasion of Broadway was in full swing, as musical spectacles like
Les Miserables
Cats
The Phantom of the Opera
dominated the box office. But Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
Sunset Boulevard
soon spelled the end of this era and ushered in a new wave of American musicals, beginning with the ascendance of an unlikely show by a struggling writer who reimagined Puccini’s opera
La Bohème
as the smash Broadway show
. American musical comedy made its grand return, culminating in
The Producers
, while plays, always an endangered species on Broadway, staged a powerful comeback with Tony Kushner’s
. A different breed of producers rose up to challenge the grip theater owners had long held on Broadway, and corporations began to see how much money could be made from live theater.
And just as Broadway had clawed its way back into the mainstream of American popular culture, the September 11 attacks struck fear into the heart of Americans who thought Times Square might be the next target. But Broadway was back in business just two days later, buoyed by talented theater people intent on bringing New Yorkers together and supporting the economics of an injured city.
“Told with all the wit and style readers could wish for” (
Booklist
) Michael Riedel presents the drama behind every mega-hit or shocking flop. From the bitter feuds to the surprising collaborations, all the intrigue of a revolutionary era in the Theater District is packed into
Singular Sensation
. Broadway has triumphs and disasters, but the show always goes on.