Bright Lights, Big Changes

by Steven Rivellino

Overview

“Broadway is a commercial institution. It has nothing whatsoever to do with pretentious artistic notions. It’s there for one purpose, and one purpose alone— to make money.” So begins the comments by the successful Broadway and television producer Alexander Cohen made just before his recent death—his thoughts on the state of Broadway today. “The theatre is too much in transition [these days]. It’s static; treading water, so to speak. I’m only interested in keeping my current shows open as long as I can.” The words of Sir Cameron Mackintosh—his personal views on the current state of the art. Executive Producer Steven Rivellino has taken a long hard look at the business of theatre—Broadway and the West End—at the turn of this new century, and Bright Lights, Big Changes is his own candid personal analysis. Rivellino, author of the successful Mysterious Places, Mysterious Dreams, has cleverly zeroed in on what makes the industry tick. He easily articulates how the industry has changed; how we arrived where we are today; and openly discusses some of the current and future trends in theatrical production we will be seeing in the coming years. Bright Lights, Big Changes is a cogent and succinct analysis of the business of theatre today, on both sides of the Atlantic—a must read for anyone working within the industry, students of theatre; and for those passionate theatre lovers worldwide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781465330338
Publisher:	Xlibris Corporation
Publication date:	06/08/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	687 KB

What People are Saying About This

Stephen Flaherty

In Bright Lights, Big Changes, author Steven Rivellino's up-to-the-minute behind-the-scenes assessment of the current New York and London theater scenes, the big questions are asked and illuminated with Rivellino providing some interesting insights. Worth the read, especially if you love the theater.
—Composer: Seussical, Ragtime, Once On This Island

Richard Greenberg

"...compact, informed, and bold... [a] highly personal look at the state of the commercial theatre."
—Author: Take Me Out, The Violet Hour

Mark Waldrop

Rivellino clearly has a grasp of the issues that are changing the face of trans-Atlantic theatre—and the breadth of knowledge to illuminate those issues from a number of revealing angles.
—Director: Bea Arthur on Broadway, Pete 'N' Keely Author: Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly, Whoop-Dee-Doo!

Russell Reich

Filled with Broadway history, rare and amusing anecdotes, and a veteran producer's wisdom, opinions and insights, this book raises the curtain on the offstage drama of putting on a show. It will be enormously valuable and appealing to theatregoers and absolutely required reading for aspiring professionals who need to know the basics (and beyond) of the 'biz'.
—Notes on Directing