it so enduringly popular? How has it survived, even thrived, alongside the technology of film and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood? Will it continue to evolve and leave its mark on the twenty-first century? Bringing together exclusive and previously unpublished interviews with nineteen leading composers, lyricists, librettists, directors, choreographers, and producers from the mid-1900s to the present, this book details the careers of the individuals who shaped this popular performance art during its most prolific period. The interviewees discuss their roles in productions ranging from On the Town (1944) and Finian's Rainbow(1947) to The Producers (2001) and Bounce (2003). Readers are taken onto the stage, into the rehearsals, and behind the scenes. The nuts and bolts, the alchemy, and the occasional agonies of the collaborative process are all explored. In their discussions, the artists detail their engagements with other creative forces, including such major talents as Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Jule Styne, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, Alan Jay Lerner, Zero Mostel, and Gwen Verdon. They speak candidly about their own work and that of their peers, their successes and failures, the creative process, and how a show progresses from its conception through rehearsals and tryouts to opening night. Taken together, these interviews give fresh insight into whatOscar Hammerstein called a nightly miracle --the creation of the American musical.  (less)

World War II, the federal government, as one of its efforts to employ some of the millions of Americans then without work, supported the arts in unprecedented ways. For 11 years, between 1933 and 1943, federal tax dollars employed artists, musicians, actors, writers, photographers, and dancers. Never before or since has our government so extensively sponsored the arts.  (less)

and billions to broadcast our national pastime.brbrTwo distinguished cultural historians trace the evolution of American play from its English origins through the explosive and controversies of modern sports. From the eariest years, our attitudes about games have been played by major social and cultural forces, religious structures, industrialization, racial and gender discrimination, drug abuse, the growth of the cities, the power of money, and the rise of mass culture.br/divDIVIf history were baseball, Gorn and Goldstein would get credit for a triple play: they have skillfully and imaginatively intergrated sports into the framework of American culture and society, produced a pioneering work which should have enduring influence, and given us a scholarly history which is delightful to read. It's a terrific book in every way.br--Lawrence W. Levine, University of California at Berkeleybr/divDIVElliott J. Gorn, who wroteiThe manly Art: Bare-Knuckle Prize Fighting in America/i, teaches at Miami University of Ohio.brbrWarren Goldstein, author ofiPlaying for Keeps: A History of Early Baseball/i, teaches at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.br/div  (less)

Koenig's lover in his last tortured months. The buyer, the Modern Art Museum of New York - a dynastic institution as secretive as it is incestuous. But as soon as Mirror enters the collection, questions are raised - and the role of Ellen Lindz, the curator responsible, is thrown into doubt. Her job on the line, Ellen begins to ask questions of her own - and heads for Phoenix, Arizona in search of the one person who can tell her the truth: Linda Carey. It's only when she reaches Phoenix that the pieces fall into place - and Ellen discovers the full horror of what has for so long been kept in the freezing dark - a bloody secret that could blow apart the multi-billion dollar art market. A secret that someone will kill to keep . . .  (less)

the number of Americans afflicted has risen from five hundred thousand to five million; over the next fifty years, an estimated eighty to one hundred million more people worldwide will succumb to it. But it is the story behind these numbers that makes The Forgetting such a landmark work. A magnificent synthesis of history, science, politics, psychology ,and profound human drama, the book explores the nature of a disease that attacks not merely memory but the very core of our human identity.Delving into such diverse areas as art history, literature, genetics, and neurobiology, David Shenk shows that Alzheimer’s particular terror, the gradual eradication of memory and of mind is as old as humankind itself. He convincingly posits that such historical figures as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jonathan Swift and Frederick Law Olmstead were caught in the disease’s insidious grip. Moving portraits of contemporary patients, their families, and their caregivers drive home the sad pattern of regression Alzheimer’s exacts, a pathology that eerily mirrors child development in reverse. Yet Shenk offers a well of empathy and understanding for families striving to better understand and come to terms with their loss.With equal mastery Shenk charts the complicated race to find a cure. As scientists pursue a treatment worth billions of dollars, the brutal competition among them poses a serious threat to the traditional ethic of sharing vital research. But there are heartening signs of progress, and for the first time there is excitement among scientists that a cure may indeed be possible.Shenk eloquently calls Alzheimer’s “death by a thousand subtractions.” The Forgetting is at once a powerful examination of what this means and a forthright discussion of the impact this epidemic will have on the life of every reader.  (less)

the martyr-suicide Franklin Koenig before his spectacular self-immolation in 1958, MIRROR only recently showed up in New York where it sold for USD23 million: the highest price ever paid for a piece of post-war art. The seller, Linda Carey, was Koenig's lover in his last tortured months. The buyer was the Modern Art Museum. Prompted by the stranger's doubts, Ellen asks questions of her own and discovers a doctored catalogue which puts the painting's authenticity in doubt - and her own reputation on the line. Determined to clear her name, Ellen sets out to uncover the truth about MIRROR. Only one person will have the answers. But, in going after Linda Carey, who disappeared into thin air after the MIRROR sale, Ellen makes a shocking discovery. What is the truth behind the layers of lies? Who is the stranger asking questions? Why did Koenig set fire to himself and most of his work all those years ago? The answers lie in the past, in the cultural cold war of 1950s America - and a secret that could blow apart the multi-billion dollar art market. A secret that someone will kill to keep.  (less)

is the true story of how the billion-dollar illegal ivory trade, responsible for over 90 percent of the elephant deaths, was infiltrated and exposed by a small band of dedicated wildlife investigators. A chance stumbling upon the story of a smuggling ship running poached ivory up the coast of East Africa to the Middle East, led Allan Thornton and Dave Currey, co-directors of the tiny and underfunded Environmental Investigation Agency, to delve into the sinister and dangerous underworld of ivory smuggling syndicates. Appalled by what they found, and by the fact that nobody in the world, not even the large wildlife conservation groups, seemed to be taking effective steps to expose the illegal poaching, they started an investigation which was to last two years and was to take them and a handful of colleagues to four continents and back. A real-life Indiana Jones adventure, complete with sinister Mr Big ivory traders from Hong Kong, ruthless and murderous big game poachers, South African spies, and double-dealing officials, this book tells how the eco-detectives painstakingly pieced together an explosive expose that shocked the world into banning the ivory trade altogether in October 1989. Allan Thornton came to England from Canada to co-found Greenpeace UK and, as its executive director from 1978-81 and again from 1986-8, helped implement the work of the vessel Rainbow Warrior. He has been involved in numerous environmental campaigns, and is co-founder and chairman of the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency. Dave Currey has a BA in Photographic Arts and is executive director of the Environmental Investigation Agency. He was involved with a number of wildlife conservation groups as photographer and conservation?Р (less)

greater success. And for those actors who achieve face-to-product recognition, commercial work can provide handsome residuals for years to come. While many books on the market include some information on commercial work, Acting in the Million Dollar Minute deals exclusively with the art and business of acting in commercials. Here the ''art'' is narrow: script terminology and procedure, commercial dialogue, camera staging, working the product, sample commercial scripts, and detailed analysis of how a commercial is actually shot; while the business side, reflecting the general industry, broadens to include training, photos, the resume, unions, actor-agency contracts, the interview, the screen test, callbacks, pay and working conditions, and a complete list of SAG ...  (less)

a stand-alone work of art. The Million Dollar Hotel is no exception, indeed it ups the ante. The film is based on a story conceived and written in part by U2's Bono, and his influence is all over the score. U2 contribute three stunning songs, most notably a collaboration with Daniel Lanois, "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," a soaring pop ballad with lyrics penned by writer Salman Rushdie (from his novel of the same name) that stands among the best U2 cuts ever recorded. In addition, Bono joins the all-star "Million Dollar Band" (comprising Mr. Fly himself, Daniel Lanois, Bill Frisell, Brian Eno, and others) for a host of great tracks, including the ethereal groove of "Never Let Me Go." And as if that weren't enough, The Million Dollar Hotel also features a duet between Brad Mehldau and Fri...  (less)

area's premier historic dining and events venue. This property was sold for impending redevelopment, but Saffron's passion for renovating and creating unique historic venues was born. Saffron feels that there is no substitute for the subtle energy of an authentic historic building. Maybe it's the 20 coats of paint, the hand crafted details, or the sense of wonder of, ""who's been here"" through the ages. Whatever that feeling is, it is irreplaceable and provides the perfect foundation for a memorable dining experience. Saffron works with the historic ""bones"" of the building then provides tasteful contemporary touches to create a one-of-a kind dining experience."  (less)

dollars at Christie's. Our authentic stretched canvas replica captures the original painting's texture, depth of color, and even its subtle brushstrokes, which are applied by hand. Our imported, darkly antiqued gold-toned, hardwood frame with high bas-relief scrollwork includes a solid brass museum plate etched with the title and the artist's name.  (less)