A must for all who love the theatre and Children!
925269
A beautifully illustrated and informative book.  What a great idea!  Mrs. Tirabassi is a talented storyteller and teacher. She skillfully weaves the joy of the theatre experience and all its magic with facts and memorable information.  Children will love the story and I learned many concepts about one of my favorite places on earth....the theatre.  Throw in a few fairies and, well, you have a perfect book for all ages.  Buy it, you will love it.
355239
In 2008 I visited this theater and made a tour behind the stage.
We had a meeting with a Rockette and could ask her questions about her life and performing and made a photo together with her.
Despite the free information collected during that visit I wanted to have a more in detail book about this so special theater.
The Radio City Hall An Affectionate History of the world's Greatest Theater is now a valuable asset in my souvenir collection.
I can recommend this book as a very good buy for anybody interested in the subject may it be from theater or architectural point of view.

Jan Verweerde (MrClogz1947) New Zealand
4701684
If you're interested in theatre you need to own this. It is full of everything from upcoming events around the world to articles, conservatory auditions and more.
1744798
As a high school theatre director, I have enjoyed the excitement that this amazing musical had created. I purchased this for my drama students, and they LOVE it! The annotations are interesting and add so much more to their understanding of the process of writing. Every line of the show is here - and with the added research, quips, and insights, this book is a must read.
1027647
We are producing this play and the adaptation is wonderful for our community resources.  The author has kept the spirit of the play fully in tact while bringing the language and context a little closer to our current sensibilities.  We are a non-profit family theater dedicated to bringing theater to everyone (not just the well off!) and this play joins us on that crusade.  Thanks, Henry.  We truly appreciate your craftsmanship and gift.
355709
Seeing this play is perhaps the most exciting moment of my life of enjoying live theatre.  We all know the story of the "Wizard of Oz" and this is the music that explains why one witch is good while the other is "evil" (really, she's just a misunderstood animal rights activist).  The songs are just perfect, and there is never a dry eye when Glinda and Elphaba sing "For Good" which is perfect.  Even if you've not seen the play, you will enjoy this music for sure.
2275405
My grandchildren love this.  And it brings back fond memories of "Shocker Theater" for me.  If from the Atlanta area, you'll know the show.  Love it!
1649250
I've had the honor of directing a production of this moving, important play and it has been an incredible experience for all of us--the actors, set designers, lighting and sound people, costumer, and crew. The opening night audience laughed and cried and loved everything about it. Levy did her research well and has crafted a masterpiece. I hope we see more productions of this play. We opened on Veterans Day, and had many veterans in the audience so it was even more poignant. A play people should read AND see!
3068319
This is an informative and delightful set that has information on Hollywood songsters that can be found no where else. Each entry has a wonderful picture accompanying. I have spent many, many happy hours pouring over the entries and learning facts about my favorite stars. This is a must have for all libraries and any scholar of musical theatre or musical film or just popular music of the 20th century. Well worth the money! It is clear that Parrish and Pitts have done their homework, but even clearer that they have a love for the subject matter and it shows on every page. As a songwriter with a love for the field, I use this book constantly.
4622012
I'm the director of a church children's choir and last year, we put on our 3rd annual Chrismas Musical with our elementary and middle schoolers.  We'd never used material from Little Big Stuff before, but after one listen, I was COMPLETELY sold on this as our show for the year.  The story was great, especially considering that our church liturgist and I both huge Star Trek fans! We laughed at all of the inside jokes as we planned for this production.

I highly recommend this for several reasons:

- Little Big Stuff has done ALL the work for you! Not only do they send you lesson plans, music, scripts, publicity information and (optional) tshirts, they also do all of the choreography for you! They send you a DVD with all of the choreography demonstrated and ready for you to teach to the kids.  WOW!

- Lots of parts, big and small. If you're like me, you have a ton of kids who want parts, but their capabilities are at different levels.  There are so many different sized parts in this show, you'll find something to fit every skill level!

- The music is flat out FUN! These are ear worms that will have you humming them for months after your program.  And not in a bad way, either. The tunes are catchy and current, and some of them incorporate familiar Christmas melodies such as Joy to the World, Little Town of Bethlehem, and Angels We Have Heard on High in new ways that you haven't heard before.

- A very clever story line! The plot of this musical involves the crew of a star ship trying to go back in time to witness the birth of Christ. The combination of pop culture with the traditional Christmas story was such a fresh perspective on the typical Christmas Program, but it also includes all of religious iconography that will be expected from a church program.

- FREE preview at the Little Big Stuff web site.  Before you choose this or any other musical, you should be able to listen to it for free.  LBS has links available for you to listen to the entire production and music on their web site.  (Free for music and play directors.)

There's so much more that I could say about this musical, but I'd rather you check it out for yourself. You won't be disappointed!! We had such a great experience that we're doing another LBS production this year.
1881670
I grew up in the Pittsburgh area and we watched Mr. Rogers from the beginning.  He originally worked behind the  scenery with the puppets and Miss Josie Carey was out front.  We used to send in drawings and I remember one hat (paper) contest.  We'd be so excited to see our "creations " on the show.  My brother had a puppet of King Friday and I had Henrietta Pussycat.  They are still in great shape having passed to our children and now awaiting grands. For my 12th birthday, we got to go to the show and sit up high.  It was the highlight of that birthday.  So,I loved Mr. Madigan's book, every word of it! I'm so thankful that Mr. Rogers helped him and his family. So often writers try to tear down people who have helped others. I'm also so happy to have known some about Mrs. Rogers, too.  This book will remain one of my treasures always. By the way, I"m 62, so I am one of his oldest children !
3064463
Rick McKay did a wonderful job of bringing the golden age of Broadway to light.  This documentary is both informative as well as highly entertaining.  As someone who did not have a good understanding of the Golden Age, I found this film to be exciting, funny and moving.  Mr. McKay explains his fascination with the great white way which began for him as a young boy. Broadway legends are interviewed and tell the story of their coming of age, while Broadway itself comes of age.  I highly recommend this film to both the Broadway novice as well as the Broadway familiar. It it an excellent addition for the home as well as a wonderful present for any age.
2126225
As you may have guessed, I think this series is a wonderful learning experience for all children...and we adults who are willing to admit we still need to learn about the world's cultures...

Of course, a fan of classical music like me had enjoyed Chopin's music for many years, not even thinking about where he was born...Shame on Me... Now I know about a number of great tributes to their most important and famous composer from the 1800s, including black stone benches spread around the city where you can stop during your tour, sit and relax, and even press a button to hear a sample of the Master's music! How cool is that?! I'd love to have the opportunity to visit this country!

And, of course, to meet some of the children...

One part I especially appreciated was the inclusion of simple store-bought items, but provided in Polish...And then the writer asks the reader to match the words with their English version. A Great idea for beginning to learn another language. I think I got the match right...let me know if you do!

What I would most like to see: The Wielicza Salt Mine... There's lots more to learn about Poland--like Copernicus, Children's Day, and more about what the children do for fun and exercise, and home life!

The color scheme for this particular book is sure to attract readers' attention. They are bright, brilliant and eye-pleasing...and the features of the characters and places has been exceptionally well done...Kudos to Kelsea Wierenga! This was a favorite for me, just because there was so much new to learn... What country have you most enjoyed visiting with our tour guide Carole Roman?

Do encourage your children to become totally involved with this series and look forward to each new country. For many of us, it is one of the only ways to visit abroad...and starting your children learning about the world is bound to help in moving forward into living and getting older!  Highly recommended!

GABixlerReviews
Paperback provided by Publisher
3897795
The video is delightful! Cathy Rigby does a superb job in the title role. I have searched for years for a version of Peter Pan with the original musical score and screenplay, and this downloadable movie is as good as the "live" version I experienced at an outdoor theatre as a child. I can wholeheartedly recommend this video, which is suitable for the young-at-heart of any chronological age!
4437754
This is the most beautiful book I own. I had been to the New Amsterdam in its most painful days.  At this time I saw Mondo Cane and would not sit down it was such a flea bag theatre.  It was a historical sight...Ziegfeld  Folies et al.  I really felt sad as I stood there feeling the greatness  that had passed; at the time I felt... forever.  Disney has brought the  theatre and the feeling back.  I witnessed this with my viewing of LION  KING.  What I felt had been lost forever can be seen in this wonderful  book.  The pictures before and after make one feel that nothing is  impossible.  The beauty that had decayed and looked irreversable has been  accomplished and this book, and this theatre stand as testaments to what  can be accomplished. Anyone who has walked into a theatre and felt the past  rekindle will love to read this inspiring book. This book shows the cycle  of a wonderful theatre and all that it was and lost and then saved.  It  symbolizes the rise and fall of 42nd Street as well as one beautiful  theatre.  This book will for once and for all show what a thetare can be  and fall to and rise above. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested  in Theatres anywhere and what they should symbolize to all of us.
2996105
I love this book. I teach drama and music to elementary students and have used this book with young people ages 8-13 very effectively. Dr. Cullum has successfully distilled these ancient plays for children preserving the essence of the originals. Bravo, Dr. Cullum!
1126312
Myself and my partner, Kerry, visited Oxford to soak up the surroundings and to research our production of the play, "Shadowlands" by William Nicholson, based on the story of CS Lewis and Joy Davidman.  On arriving, we did not know where to start until we found a copy of Ronald K Brind's wonderful book.  It really was like finding treasure as it is totally unlike any other book written about Lewis, of which we have read many.  All of them are fascinating, but this one is truly personal.  Mr Brind manages to convey a true sense of what the lives of these extraordinary people were truly like drawing on his first hand experience and providing us with such unique nuggets of information that can only be communicated by someone who was actually there.

In addition to this, Mr Brind's passion for ensuring that Lewis' legacy is more evident in his home city, nationally and internationally shines through every word.

The tour itself is quite indescribably inspiring and moving.  We self navigated the route over the course of a couple of days and cannot really put into words what an amazing experience it was.  The words and photographs provided are extremely clear and made the tour easy to follow, including so many places of interest that, by the time we had finished, we felt that we had really got to know "Jack" and Joy.  Although it is difficult to pin-point just a few highlights as it is all so amazing, by visiting the hotel where it is very possible that the two initially met, Lewis' house, Joy's house, the crematorium at which is displayed Joy's epitaph and the gravestone for Lewis and his brother "Warnie" were particularly awe inspiring moments in a tour which we will never forget, and will take every opportunity to tell other people about, not to mention visiting again ourselves.

We also had the privilege of speaking to Mr Brind himself who was charming, kind, as passionate about his subject as his book had led us to believe, knowledgeable, and as grateful to us for expressing our delight in what he had written as we were to him for providing us this key into the lives of these very special people.  This was very humbling, as we believe that what Mr Brind is doing for the memory of Lewis and those around him is truly remarkable.  Although our production has now come to an end after a successful week of performances, our passion and interest in C S Lewis will remain undimmed, in large part due to Mr Ronald K Brind.  We thoroughly recommend the book and the tour to all people of all ages.  Even if you have not felt an interest in C S Lewis's life before this, you are sure to feel differently having read the book and been on the tour, which could well open up a lifetime interest.  Thank You Ronald - Thank You x