Attack of the Theater People

( 11 )

All Available Formats + Editions

——

$9.99

NOOK Book

——

$9.99

Attack of the Theater People (eBook) Pub. Date: 4/22/2008 Publisher: Broadway Books
$0.01

$12.54

Paperback

$0.01

$12.54

Attack of the Theater People Pub. Date: 4/22/2008 Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
$74.98

——

Audiobook

$74.98

——

Attack of the Theater People (CD) Pub. Date: 4/28/2009 Publisher: Recorded Books, LLC

Customers Who Bought This Also Bought

Advertising

Overview

In praising “the witty high school romp” How I Paid for College, the New York Times Book Review said, it “makes you hope there’s a lot more where this came from.” There is. In this hilarious sequel Attack of the Theater People, Edward Zanni and his merry crew of high school musical-comedy miscreants move to the magical wonderland that is Manhattan.

It is 1986, and aspiring actor Edward Zanni has been kicked out of drama school for being “too jazz hands for Juilliard.” Mortified, Edward heads out into the urban jungle of eighties New York City and finally lands a job as a “party motivator” who gets thirteen-year-olds to dance at bar mitzvahs and charms businesspeople as a “stealth guest” at corporate events. When he accidentally gets caught up in insider trading with a handsome stockbroker named Chad, only the help of his crew from How I Paid for College can rescue him from a stretch in Club Fed.

Laced with the inspired zaniness of classic American musical comedy, Attack of the Theater People matches the big hair of the eighties with an even bigger heart.

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

It's not getting into acting school that's hard, apparently, it's figuring out what to do when you're kicked out. In All Things Considered contributor Acito's first novel (How I Paid for College, 2004), fresh-out-of-Jersey drama kid Edward Zanni was on his way to Juilliard, stars in his eyes. When this follow-up novel opens in 1986, Edward is getting booted from paradise for being too " ‘jazz hands' for Juilliard." With his confidence in his acting abilities at a historic low, Edward makes ends meet the best he can-his schemes include entertaining at "bash mitzvahs" and finagling a not-quite-legal rent-controlled apartment-all the while trying not to kill himself with jealousy as his acquaintances become more successful than he. Things go from desperate to worse pretty quickly, and Edward's confused bisexuality isn't helping him out in the dating department, either (his semi-straight crush isn't interested, and the only guy coming onto him is not his type). Acito again surrounds Edward with his tight-knit and eccentric (though fortunately not too-sitcom-zany) band of high-school friends, which makes the various money-making hijinks speed by. The mid-'80s struggling-Manhattan-actor-setting is organically relayed, with the Reagan presidency and the specter of AIDS present in the background. While Acito maintains his zippy smarts throughout, he occasionally resorts to YA-fiction narration ("I will not play a minor role in my own life") as the novel roller-skates to the busy conclusion, pom-poms flying. Exuberant, but less impressive than Acito's debut. Agent: Gloria Loomis/Watkins Loomis

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780767927734
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Publication date: 4/22/2008
Pages: 240
Sales rank: 621,993
Product dimensions: 5.22 (w) x 8.00 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

MARC ACITO’s debut novel, How I Paid for College, won the Ken Kesey Award for the Novel and was also selected as an Editors’ Choice by the New York Times. Acito is a popular contributor to the New York Times and National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reading Group Guide

1. Edward gets a lot of advice from everyone around him, much of it bad. With which advice do you agree? If you were his friend, what would you tell him?

2. Edward pretends to be a lot of people. How does that relate thematically to the book?

3. How I Paid for College is a love letter to friends. What is Attack of the Theater People a love letter to?

4. How do the two books differ?

5. Edward is told he’s “too jazz hands for Juilliard.” How does that relate to his feelings about his sexuality and his relationship with Hung?

6. Edward continues to be infatuated with Doug. Is Doug gay, straight or bisexual?

7. Which of this crew of friends are you and your friends the most like?

8. This is a book about finding your place in the world. What do you think Edward will do next? What about the rest of his friends?

9. How does the 1980s atmosphere affect the story? How would it be different or the same today?

10. Shakespearean references abound throughout. What do they say about the characters and situations?

11. Both Natie and Chad have no ethical problem with sharing inside information for financial gain. How do you feel about it?

12. Many of these characters have almost religious feelings about the theater. Why do you suppose so few people go to the theater?

13. Edward comes of age during the second-worst season on Broadway (the first being the season before). Why do you suppose that happened? How did Broadway come back? How has it changed?

14. What’s the thematic significance of Edward and Paula fixing the gridlock on Broadway?

15. If you were to create a piece of Guerilla Theater, what would it be?

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5

( 11 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(8)

4 Star

(3)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines

Tell the world what you think of this product.

Add Recommendations

Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

- HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
- Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
- Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
- Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
- Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
- Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
- Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

- By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
- Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
- See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.

jjfan1

Posted April 27, 2009

A Good Read

This is a very ambitious sequel with a lot to tell. It expands on Edward Zanni's previous tale which is a very exciting coming of age story that deals with growing up with the trials and tribulations of growing up. This time Edward is an adult and has a lot of difficult decisions to make. His friends return and they all try to help him achieve his goals the best way they know how. As we learned in the first book not all things work out for the best. Attack of the Theater People is a nice relaxing read and you will find yourself having to read more. As with most sequels, it is not as good as its predecessor but it delivers a rich and entertaining story. After reading, I find myself wanting more in the series from Marc Acito.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous

Posted July 25, 2008

Inventive Layers of Humor - Quick Humor!

The laughs keep coming - from all directions - in this creative romp set in 80s New York. Acito goes for many different styles of humor and usually succeeds handsomely. An good story carried by great jokes - with a surprise ending.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous

Posted June 25, 2008

A continued blossoming of a literary talent.

The kind of book that makes you late for work¿witty, engaging, hilarious and engrossing. In this sequel, Acito deftly blends old characters you know with new characters you don¿t, in a bawdy, brilliant screwball comedy designed to keep you reading way past your bedtime. In addition, Acito weaves in a darker thread, highlighting the confusion and fear of being gay during a time of plague¿the beginning of the AIDS crisis. A sequel equal to its original, and a continued and wonderful blossoming of a literary talent.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous

Posted May 2, 2008

Even better than How I Paid for College

Attack of the Theater People is laugh out loud funny. I read the whole book in one sitting, rooting for Edward on every page.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous

Posted May 22, 2009

No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous

Posted May 5, 2009

No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous

Posted April 5, 2009

No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous

Posted March 23, 2011

No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous

Posted July 27, 2009

No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous

Posted October 16, 2008

No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous

Posted February 21, 2010

No text was provided for this review.

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble