Michael Riedel

Razzle Dazzle: the Battle for Broadway Michael Riedel

Publisher Marketing:"Razzle Dazzle "is a provocative, no-holds-barred narrative account of the people, money, and power that reinvented an iconic quarter of New York City, turning its gritty back alleys and sex shops into the glitzy, dazzling Great White Way and bringing a crippled New York from the brink of bankruptcy to its glittering glory. In the 1970s Times Square was the seedy symbol of New York s economic decline. Its once shining star, the renowned Shubert Organization, was losing theaters to make way for parking lots. Bernard Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld, two ambitious board members, saw the crumbling company was ripe for takeover and staged a coup amid corporate intrigue, personal betrayals, and criminal investigations. Once Jacobs and Schoenfeld solidified their power, they turned a collapsed theater-owning holding company into one of the most successful entertainment empires in the world, ultimately backing many of Broadway s biggest hits, including "A Chorus Line," " Cats," " ""Les Miserables," " Phantom of the Opera," and "Mamma Mia!" They also sparked the revitalization of Broadway and the renewal of Times Square. With wit and passion, Michael Riedel tells the stories of the Shubert Organization and the shows that rebuilt a city in grand style, revealing backstage drama that often rivaled what transpired onstage, exposing bitter rivalries, unlikely alliances, and of course, scintillating gossip." Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2015 (EAN 9781451672169, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Booklist 09/01/2015 pg. 27 (EAN 9781451672169, Hardcover) Library Journal 09/15/2015 pg. 79 (EAN 9781451672169, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Riedel, Michael Michael Riedel has been a theater columnist for the"New York Post"since 1998. He worked at the"Daily News"(New York) for five years before returning to the"Post"and has written for"The Guardian, Harper s Bazaar, Mirabella, Departures", and"Commentary."Riedel is the cohost of"Theater Talk"with PBS, is a contributor to the BBC, and has appeared on"Larry King Live", the "Today"show, "Good Morning America", and many other news programs. He lives in New York City."Razzle Dazzle"is his first book. Contributor Bio:  Berkrot, Peter A veteran of stage and screen, Peter Berkrot's career spans four decades, and his voice can be heard on television, radio, video games, and documentaries. He has been nominated for an Audie Award and has received a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards and starred reviews.