2 comments about Spring Awakening - Vocal Selections.

1. This book is fantastic! It's not like alot of vocal selection books that just have the solo works, this had the multiple parts built into the staff to create the beautiful harmonies and chords that are affluent in the musical! Definately worth the wait! Reccomend it to anyone who knows the musical, or just wants to learn to sing such amazing music! I only wish they would have had the reprise in it. On a side note, on one of the songs I believe it is "Touch Me" some lyrics are not the same as whats heard on the soundtrack/lyrics on the cd insert, but it is no big deal seeing as they all flow with the music and it's only a line or two.



2. If you have not yet seen the show and you are able to do so, see it. Drink it in. It is the strongest social commentary on repression of ALL people, not just teens, I have seen in a long time. Read the script. Discuss with your friends. It is as multifaceted as a diamond. It is the anthem to an era.
   
   As a vocalist, I own the vocal selections to about 15 musicals I have enjoyed. Every time I get the same watered down vocal lines, removed harmonies, gross accompaniments and rhythms that seem to have been transcribed by a first year music theory student. Not so with this book. This book has the significant harmonies that can be heard on the soundtrack. It is truly a masterful transcription of a difficult score. All the songs you could want are there.
   
   The best vocal selections I have in my possession.

2 comments about The Theater Experience Tenth Edition.

1. I read this text for my theater appreciation class. As a theater major that already knows most of the basics, it was boring at times for me personally, but it is a good source to get information on theater.



2. I had to get this book for my theatre appreciation class. it taught me alot that i didnt really think about when i went to see a play....thought provoking.

5 comments about Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part.

1. This book is a classic and should be added to any actor or singer's library. It was recommended to me in my college acting days and I took a lot out of it. I recommend it to my serious voice students all the time.



2. This is a really great acting book- definitely one of the best i've read. Not only for auditions but for rehearsal as well, (as it states in the book.)



3. This book deals with theatre, and I was going into it thinking it would help me audition for movies. I did not learn anything from it. But...if you are into the theatre, you will find it very helpful.



4. Considering the low price, I can't imagine a more valuable book for the actor. Michael Shurtleff is a luminary of theatre, and this book reads like a private class with him. Remember, this is a guy who basically launched the careers of DeNiro, Streisand, Redford, Vereen, Tomlin, Midler, and Hoffman. His wonderful career included both Broadway and film casting. He knows a lot, and in this book, he shares it with you.
   
   This book may be called "Audition", but the discussions go way beyond the audition. Granted, the opening chapter (Practical Aspects of the Audition) contains sage advice applicable only to the audition. What follows in the book are the "12 Guideposts", the bible of scene study and character development. Following the very readable discussion of the "Guideposts", Shurtleff writes essays on topics such as musical theatre, comedy, pace, and monologues. I know that my copy will become well-worn as I refer back to it again and again.
   
   I am currently in two shows, and I'm putting the "Guideposts" to work for me. I've not had an audition since buying the book, but I am looking forward to using Shurtleff's advice the next time I read for a part.
   
   This is a must-read for actors and directors. Highly recommended.



5. This is a fantastic book with extremely helpful information to any young actor aspiring to become a professional actor. Every actor needs this book so they can improve their auditioning skills and get the part they want! Break a leg!

5 comments about Doubt.

1. I have ordered several items from Amazon recently and your request for review does not state which one you are referring to. I assume that it is for "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden.
   
   We recently returned from a trip to Japan, where we heard about the lives of modern geishas and actually met one too. I was fascinated by the book and could not put it down. The cultural differences among our Countries are incredible. Imagine men bidding for the virginity of a young geisha. But don't think about them as prostitutes. There are subtle but very important differences. Rather compare them with a young woman - in our Country - who marries a 70 year old... Isn't that a "kept woman"?
   
   But there is much more to be learned than sexual habits. I strongly recommend this book. It is at least very entertaining. But also very informative.
   
   Marika Frankl



2. This is an amazing play. It is very well-written, and the character-driven plot is difficult to tear yourself away from. Even though at times it is somewhat ambiguous, I thoroughly enjoyed this play and would gladly recommend it. I can't wait for the film to come out - Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep are perfectly cast in my opinion.



3. I saw "Doubt" this weekend down in the Twin Cities. While you are more likely to see a national touring company of a Tony Award winning musical, such as "The Light in the Piazza" (which we will see in a couple of weeks), Tony Award winning dramas do make it out to the hinterlands from time to time. What was rare was that the cast was headed by Cherry Jones, who won her second Tony Award for originating the role of Sister Aloysius on Broadway. Usually you have to go to New York City to see the stars in the show (or maybe Los Angeles, which is where I saw Michael Crawford do "Phantom"), so this was a real treat. The draw might have been an award-winning actress, but by the end of the performance the star is John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize winning play.
   
   "Doubt: A Parable" is set in a parochial school in the Bronx in the Autumn of 1964 and begins with a homily by Father Flynn that questions the role of doubt in the modern world and sets the stage for the drama. The priest asks the audience, "What do you do when you're not sure?" Then Sister Aloysius, the principal of the school, has a meeting in her office with young Sister James, who is warned about being too passionate about teaching history to her students in general and in particular not to turn FDR into a secular saint. Sister Aloysius is not a sympathetic figure, especially given that our introduction to the nun is to watch her crush the joy of teaching out of a young teacher. However, then she makes Sister James aware that she has concerns for a new student, Donald Mueller, the school's first black child. Her concern is not because of the boy's race, but because she suspects Flynn has been "interfering" with the boy.
   
   Distance makes it difficult to remember the times, but an undercurrent of the play is how Sister Aloysius is strictly old school while Father Flynn has embraced the directives of the Second Vatican Council to make the clergy more accessible to their parish and become like "members of their family." Shanley does not get into deep theological issues but finds a telling point of contention in Sister Aloysius' dismissal of the song "Frosty the Snowman" as an example of paganism. Yet despite our lack of agreement with her strict conservatism, it is impossible not to be concerned about Sister Aloysisus' suspicions regarding the charismatic young priest who likes his fingernails to be slightly long.
   
   I have a background in competitive debate so one of the things I appreciated in Shanley's drama is how he balances the two sides to create the requisite titular state. When I was dissecting the play with my wife on the way home from the theater I discovered that while I (male Italian raised Lutheran) was looking at the play from the assumption of the priest's innocence, she (female Irish raised Catholic) was assuming he was guilty. Of course the play works both ways, but certainly there have been more than enough headlines about stories of abuse in the Catholic Church in the past decade to make it easier for the play's audience to jump to the same conclusion as Sister Aloysius.
   
   Coming to a decision as to the "truth" of what happened between Father Flynn and the young boy is a question of when you decide to place your bet on who to beleive. Sister Aloysius begins the play with her suspicions and moves towards certainty on her own timetable. Sister James serves as a warning not to decide too early, but Shanley clearly wants us to come to our own decisions before the drama's "resolution." Waiting until you are sure is to repeat Hamlet's tragic error, which is not to say that Sister Aloysius is the Dane's opposite because she is not guilty of the proverbial rush to judgment. The term "reasonable doubt" is never used in the play, but it certainly comes into play as the nun commits to certainty in advance of having absolute proof, mainly because being denied such proof cannot, in her mind at least, preclude action. Sister Aloysius wants to know what really happened between Father Flynn and Donald, even if the boy's mother is willing to turn a blind eye.
   
   For me the point at which Sister Aloysius becomes heroic is when Father Flynn threatens her for her refusal to follow Church protocols. He seeks to convince her that she has no choice, because failure to obey would basically send her to Hell for disobedience. But she sees her self in the same danger is she falls to do what she can to save one of her children, and in her decision to damn herself for the right reason and his decision to coerce rather than persuade is where my doubts were erased. For me the most delicious irony is the way Sister Aloysius' crucial phone call mirrors Father Flynn's point earlier in the play about the value of true stories. The final line of the play is also dripping with irony in a very conscious effort by Shanley to leave his audience exactly as he wants them to be.



4. I knew the basic idea behind this show when I ordered it but I didn't expect anything this powerful. When I finished it I just sat it down and said "Wow". Without a doubt this is one of the most powerful plays I have ever read. The Father's monologue on gossip just blew me away. This show is written for an African American woman to play one of the parts. I think you can tweak the show so you can play it with a non-African American in the role but I never like the idea of messing with a play like that. I know that sounds terrible but it is a reality in the theater that I work in. We are in a rural area and simply never have actors of any non-white ethnicity come out for shows. It's just a sad fact of where we live. This show is simply fabulous and I would love to direct it.



5. Doubt is a superb piece of theater. Shanley is one of America's top playwrights and screen writers; and he does his best work since "Moonstruck." The play is, in my opinion, NOT a parable. The ending is questionable and the message is murky.
   
   Don't let that discourage you. The play and the book will give you more for your money than you will find anywhere else this season.
   
   The philosophy you'll find in the book and playbill. The drama you'll find at the play.

1 comments about Suzy Gershman's Where to Buy the Best of Everything: The Outspoken Guide for World Travelers and Online Shoppers (Where to Buy the Best of Everything).

1. I LEAVE FOR PARIS AND CONTINUE ONTO THE SOUTH OF FRANCE WITH A DASH INTO ITALY TO SHOP......THIS WILL BE MY BEDTIME READING.....IN HOTELS ALL OVER EUROPE.....THANKS SUZY & SARAH. LOVE YA

5 comments about Othello (Folger Shakespeare Library).

1. The most beautiful aspect of the play is Iago's ingenious deception of Othello. In every phrase, Iago knows just what to say to swing his Moor closer to the belief in Desdemona's infidelity. The subtle strategist to his general (and the puppeteer to Roderigo and Cassio), Iago is in full glory practicing his art of insinuation.
   
   Iago is the master of duplicity: "Divinity of hell! When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows". Here he echoes Banquo in Macbeth: "To win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray's in deepest consequence". However, while in Macbeth the devious instruments of darkness were netherworldly creatures, here Iago himself takes on devil's work. Treachery plays here the most insidious part: it lays the ground for murder.
   
   Treachery itself takes its roots in hatred. While Richard III and Macbeth are murderers for their own advancement, Iago's guiding star in his hunt is hatred. His "I hate the Moor" at the end of the 1st act, breaking the flow of the soliloquy in which he derides Roderigo (and not unlike Richard III's "Ha!") is the essence of Iago in a line.
   
   The reasons for his hatred are not as clear cut. Iago knows that his being cuckolded by Othello is a mere suspicion (but willfully decides that he does not want to know for sure and will act as if it were true). This is his private (false) excuse for hating Othello. His public one, or at least the one he presents to Roderigo, is having been passed over in the pecking order of military ranking. But he only gives this argument to Roderigo and never repeats it in any soliloquies. And we know how much Iago can be trusted when he speaks to someone else...
   
   His take on Cassio is not much more lucid. Cassio is surely not married, and yet according to Iago, he is "a fellow almost damned in a fair wife" (whether this is one of Shakespearean slips where he forgot to give Cassio a wife or a mutation of "life" into "wife", the phrase is just too beautiful to disregard, even if it does not fit with the text). "He hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly" complains Iago of Cassio. He also worries of having been cuckolded by the lieutenant. The former may signify Iago's fear of looking bad in the face of Cassio's promotion (although "daily" and especially "beauty" do not really fit, so the phrase could signify other things and overall seems obscure). The latter suspicion is just preposterous.
   So it appears that Iago, whom in this play Shakespeare gave most artful language, is sometimes inconsequential and opaque. While it may not have been Shakespeare's intent, one could conclude from this that hatred may exist for Iago without any real reasons at all. Some people fall in love for no reason, Iago may have fallen in hatred for no reason. Maybe Iago's excuses for his actions are just his awkward attempts at justifying his inexplicable hatred?
   
   In any case, with all his hatred and scheming, Iago is another spectacular Shakespearean villain endowed with inspired language. His art of intrigue ensures him a place among Shakespeare's leading characters (villains for the most part) and will entertain our enduring fascination with human nature's dark side...



2. Definitely Shakespeare stays true to his form and creates another literary masterpiece. Just like that of Romeo and Juliet, this is another tragic play. It is set around the early 1600s in England and tells the story of the marriage of Othello, a black man of high standings, and Desdemona, a white lady.
   
   Iago acts as the catalyst for the conflict, trying to disassemble the marriage and Othello and Desdemona. In Shakespeare's dialogue, he uses rather explicit imagery in describing the pair to others to arouse racial prejudice against their marriage. He does all this to get back at Othello for not promoting Iago to a higher position and giving the rank to another soldier. At the climax of the story, the "honest Iago" (yes, I remember this quote quite clearly, as it is mentioned multiple times and is an oxymoron because while everyone believes him to be honest, on the inside he is a clever schemer) successfully convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him.
   
   The story gains its momentum by revolving around the handkerchief which Othello gives to Desdemona.. Iago successfully steals it from her and gives it to Cassio, who thinks another lady has given it to him. When Othello sees the handkerchief in Cassio's hands all the thins Iago says comes back into his head, and he smother Desdemonda killing her.
   
   Shakespeare's play is of a man different from the rest of the people, he is the grey pebble on the sandy shore. This plays into his psyche, making him more susceptible to believe that Desdemona has betrayed him. He also incorporates the settings to his advantage from the more civilized and governed Venice to the island of Cyprus, a place where there is no law. When in Venice, there are no tragedies, all conflicts are resolved through talks and negotiations. However, when they move to Cyprus, the disputes are settled with fighting. The use of nature to determine their motives is another reason why Shakespeare is one of the best writers of his time.
   
   Shakespeare uses the underlying theme of revenge as the basis for his story. It all starts when Othello promotes Cassio to lieutenant rather than Iago, even between Cassio and his own lover, and even extending to Iago and his accomplice, a forlorn man who once wanted Desdemona's hand in marriage. This finally climaxes to Othello and Desdemona. It seems as if the only one who does not take a role in this cycle of revenge is Desdemona. She seems to accept her fate and prays before her death. In the play, she is the most pure of them all.
   
   With Shakespeare's clever banter in Othello and his use of figurative language, he makes this play to be an enjoying one. The story moves quickly and keeps one entranced with Shakespeare's language.
   
   Two words: Read it



3. Definitely another one of Shakespeare's masterpieces. The plot is just enticing and climatic, with many moments of uniqueness and suspense. Besides the awesome plot, it is the reader's engagement in each character's actions that draw this tragedy closer to every reader.
   
   In these 250 pages, Shakespeare accounts one of humanity's darkest secrets--namely vindication. Othello, the main protagonist, married to a beautiful Desdemona, is a revered Christian Moor and an ingenious general of the armies of Venice. Despite this high status, he is portrayed as an easy prey for Iago, the main antagonist. Having hired the less experienced Cassio as lieutenant, Othello has actually marked the beginning of his downfall. Working with Rodrigo who tries to win Desdemona's favor, Iago undertakes the task of destroying both Othello and Cassio. The remaining plot consists of Iago's numerous attempts, failures and successes. Iago, however, does not immediately resolve to using violence to satisfy his revenge, a decision that might surprise the reader at first. On the contrary, he succeeds to win Othello's trust through his malice, manipulative word choices and ironic statements. With Othello trust as his goal, Iago states, "Men should be what they seem, / Or those that be not, would they might seem none!" Hearing this, Othello would build more trust in Iago, who now seemingly shares the same moral principles of Othello. Using this recently gained trust for his advantage and Othello's ignorance, Iago seeds in Othello the thought of Desdemona's affair with Cassio, an action that is purely part of his machinations. The result is obvious: Othello immediately fires Cassio and hires Iago as the lieutenant for his recompense. However, this does not satisfy the antagonist, as he still has not destroyed Othello. Giving him further "proofs"--for these were merely part of his plan and thus not veritable--Iago establishes feelings of hatred and envy in Othello, who now confesses, "I do not think but Desdemona's honest." Othello's change in attitude is manifested as he calls his wife "the whore of Venice" and then "slaps" her, an act that downgrades her and demonstrates his fury. The plot from here is for you to find out. Although the plot is full of deception and destruction, Shakespeare succeeds in having a happy conclusion for this classic book.
   
   Knowledge of both the location and the era in which this book took place is definitely necessary to understand such terms as "the Moor," "Cyrus...Venice," and the abundant contrasts between "black" and "white." The book is set in the end of the sixteenth century, a period when Turkey tried to invade Venice. Most of the plot takes place in Cyrus, one of the Venetian cities attacked and later conquered by the Turks in 1570. Because of his war backdrop, Othello is referred to as "the general of Venice" throughout the book, amplifying his position as a revered leader in society. Othello's true race, on the other hand, has long been debated by critics. "Moor," nowadays, refers to the Islamic Arabic inhabitants of North Africa. In Shakespeare's time, the term might have either referred to Africans from other regions or tanned Europeans. Shakespeare often mentions "the black Moor," ensuring the addition of skin color in order to differentiate Othello from other Venetians. This difference of skin color, however, is ambiguous and should not be interpreted as a racial discrimination as the modern reader might believe.
   
   Overall, a book that describes an individual's vendetta and ultimate downfall, "Othello" is not only as entertaining as another classical masterpiece of Shakespeare's but also a source where readers can truly fathom what we call today Karma.



4. Othello is one of Shakespeare's strongest plays. Certainly Iago is one of his strongest villains. This story is about the differences between good and evil and the struggle that goes on within any persons soul when choices have to be made. Iago is so masterfully portrayed that I felt strangely disturbed when I finished this play. Other characters in the play are also wonderfully portrayed. This is certainly one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.



5. This book is great for people that have a difficult time understanding Shakespeare. The side notes are more elaborate than most of the other editions and they include an act by act summary so that you know exactly what's going on and don't get lost in all the wording.

5 comments about Doctor Who Encyclopedia (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover)).

1. I found that this book is a must-read for both die-hard fans of Doctor Who, and people who are new to the series. I am a die-hard fan, and there were things in here that I didn't even know. The pictures are excellent, also.



2. If you follow Dr. Who the last 3 seasons and like to know more about the characters then this is the book for you. My kids love looking at this and having me remind them of the different characters and such.



3. I suppose one could use Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia to actually look things up, but really, I think it's more fun to start with the letter A and peruse its entries in order. This ensures that you don't miss any of the goodies within, while providing almost as chaotic a tour of the worlds of Doctor Who as one might get in the TARDIS itself.
   
   Take the letter D, for example. Here you learn why Madame de Pompadour was once called Madame d'Etoiles, what newspaper the Absorbaloff was reading when Ursula noticed his alien hands, the name of the beach where Rose said goodbye to the Doctor, the human name of the Slitheen in charge of the North Sea Boating Club, the provenance of the Doctor's claim that Martha was from Freedonia, the name of the Cabinet minister who called Saxon "insane" - and, of course, quite a bit about the words "Doctor" and "Daleks." The above list doesn't cover even half of the D entries found in the book, ranging in length from a sentence to an entire page each.
   
   Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia covers the first three seasons of the 2005-present revival of the series, plus the occasional mention of real-world creators of songs, films, etc. that appear in the show. I imagine the book could prove invaluable for the novice Doctor Who fan in learning more about the show's characters and continuity. Even a serious Doctor Who addict such as myself will find nuggets of forgotten or unsuspected detail, such as corporate information gleaned from a reception guest's telephone, or character names that were never actually heard on screen, or simply went by too fast.
   
   To keep the book to a manageable length (and possibly for licensing reasons), virtually nothing from the 1963-1989 adventures is mentioned unless it has been referenced in the new series, in which case a few older details are sometimes included. A few entries are misleadingly incomplete as a result. Aside from some awkward or repetitive wording, this is my only quibble with the book. I'm glad I bought it, and will almost certainly buy it again if there is a second edition after more adventures are aired, providing a basis for the not-yet entries author Gary Russell teases in his introduction.



4. I loved this book. I read a little at a time when I am in between things. It is great for the current Doctor Who fan or for anyone who would like to get into the show.



5. If you are a fan of the Dr.Who series from BBC this armchair edition is something you will find yourself looking at with the "I knew that" as the mysteries unfold.
   
   Wonderful gift for the guys at my house!

5 comments about Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film & Television.

1. If you are even thinking that this book might be of some interest to you, I can assure you it will change the way you work -- all for the good. Weston has boiled down and focused the art of getting a performance in a clear and brilliant manner. What else can I say, why are you still reading this - buy it. Simple.



2. Judith Weston has outlined for the director (of any performance, not just film) quick and effective ways to communicate and elicit the performance you want... at the very least, you will get something different. I am an actress who has had the privilege of working with Judith and her directors. I have seen the process in action. I've used it. When someone has truly applied the techniques that this book recommends, it doesn't matter if the actors have just started, or if they're old pros, with vastly different methods, the performances are fresh. The performances change. The performances improve! READ THIS BOOK!



3. This book isn't just for directors. It is an invaluable resource for actors as well. I've taught film and video acting for a number of years and never found a book that was worth having students read even part of. Until this one. Unlike most books on acting which focus on techniques that may work great on stage but are worse than disastrous on film, Judith Weston goes under the surface of acting and directing to the core of what a close-up camera needs to see. That, in a nutshell, is "lending the character your unconscious," so that absolutely nothing looks (or is) fake or "pretend." Even more importantly, she provides down-to-earth, extremely effective techniques for directors that support and demand genuine, affect-free performances. She discusses the creative process of the director at a level that is not idiosycratic or based on her personal "style" (as so many books for directors and actors do). Her advice is both common-sensical and deeply insightful, it's what every good director knows but often can't articulate consistently enough. Don't miss this book if you work in film or video, whether you are a director, actor, teacher, editor, DP, AD, or even a gaffer. After reading Weston, you will see every aspect of the actors performances more truly and clearly, and find yourself finding new ways to get the most out of every second on screen. One of those books that changes your life by telling you what you already knew more clearly than you ever thought it could be said, and giving you fresh new ways to put it into practical use. Highest recommendation.



4. This book teaches the most important skill a director can possess: getting great performances from actors.
   
   She breaks things down into logical bits and helps you avoid many common mistakes directors make, such as giving unplayable directions, giving too many directions, talking too much, etc.
   
   She writes with wisdom, insight, and humor.
   
   If you're a director or a wannabe director, do the world a favor and read this book so the world has better performances to watch.
   
   This book is the best kept secret in show business. An even more valuable secret is her workshop, which she teaches regularly in L.A. as of this review (Spring 2006).



5. I agree with Thor Vadir's review in that it did favor the actor more often than not. But that is ok as long as you are aware ahead of time.
   
   As a very first time director, I read this book through 2x before my shoot. It is a 40 min short film with paid actors.
   It was very helpful as a true newbie.
   
   This, coupled with some experience under my belt, has given me a great start to my (hopeful) career.

5 comments about Respect for Acting.

1. This book is a classic. I should be read by everyone interested in a career in acting. I'm a Talent Manager and partner in www.actinglink.com and I recommend this book to everyone of my clients. It's been called "the textbook for aspiring actors". If you are interested in acting but not sure where to start, I would strongly suggest starting with this book.
   
   Michael Packenham



2. As an actor, I found this book to very helpful with ways to aproach acting.



3. Uta Hagen is fabulous, according to my daughter. Her drama teacher loaned her the book and she wore it out. She now has a new one of her own and thinks all drama students need to read this.



4. this is the first book I ever read on acting just as I was about to embark on my first acting lesson, oh, so many years ago. any beginner, pro or dabbler would enhance themselves by reading this..Respect For Acting is the title, respect is the key, to respect your art, your discipline, your craft..you won't find everything you need in here, no book can do that for you that comes from experience but this is the finest book on acting you might ever read, right up there with Stanislavsky's books and a few others...this opened up the world of acting for me and showed what was expected of me and it's lessons still ring true after over 20 years of acting..



5. ...fortunately for anyone who might want the benefit of some of the late Ms. Hagen's acting advice, her writing improved enormously and her second book 'A Challenge For The Actor' (published in 1991) shows her capacity to grow as a scribe as well as a thespian. I would recommend that an aspiring acting student, especially one who is early in his or her career purchase 'A Challenge For The Actor' instead of 'Respect For Acting' as is 'A Challenge For The Actor' far less muddled and obtuse than 'Respect For Acting'

5 comments about Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.

1. I loved The Four Seasons. This book gives me a complete picture history of my favorite group



2. 
   There is no definitive biography of pop icons Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, but until one comes along this glossy coffee table book will do. Make no mistake - this book is primarily about the musical Jersey Boys rather than the musical group that inspired it - but there is plenty of material about both to make the casual fan happy.
   
   Billed as "the official companion to the Broadway musical," the book features the show's libretto, tons of photos, and interviews with the cast, director, writers, and the Four Seasons themselves. There is also a nice Valli/Seasons discography at the end of the book that spans five decades of musical output.



3. Even though I was born in 1991, I love the Four Seasons, and the Jersey Boys even more. To me, this book has everything a Jersey Boys fan would need, such as facts about the production of the show and interviews with everyone involve, including the original Four Seasons members. I believe the best part of this book is that it includes the script of the show and hundreds of pictures. Reading it almost makes you relive the live show. If you know any fans of Jersey Boys, this would make a perfect gift.



4. The Jersey Boys book is amazing. You can read the entire script of the hit Tony Award winning musical. It shows how fun the history of the show was, and has interviews with the actors and the original Jersey Boys themselves.



5. Purchased this as a christmas gift for Mom & Dad to go along with tickets to the Jersy Boys show. They both LOVED IT!!!!