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Director John Doyle is an unlikely revolutionary. Described by critics as 'the saviour of the Broadway musical' , the 'amazing Mr Musicals' and 'the man who changed the face of the American musical', his name alone has become synonymous with a style of reinvention that opened doors for what commercial musical theatre could be in the 21st century.
In his first book Doyle presents a reflection of the 50-year theatrical journey of a boy who never dreamt this could happen to him. With a reputation for thinking outside of the box and credited with helping create a new art-form - that of actor-musician led musical theatre - he was simply working at his craft and trying to earn a living.
From the Highlands of Scotland through to prestigious regional theatres, Broadway and multiple Tony Awards thanks to revolutionary productions of Sweeney Todd, Company and The Color Purple, this reflective yet practical book tracks a rich and celebrated journey in theatre from one of the most important and recognized contemporary artists.
Through anecdotes, industry insight and practical advice, this book inspires students of theatre both young and old to look into themselves and discover what makes each of us unique. From working directly with esteemed artists such as Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman, John Kander and Terrence McNally to actors such as Patti LuPone, Chita Rivera, Judy Kuhn and Michael Cerveris, it also considers the challenges of programming and running a prestigious New York theatre at the height of Covid and against an ever shifting social background. This book is a record of a remarkable career in the theatre that demonstrates how art comes from within and our journeys make us who we are.
Table of Contents
Chapter One - A Boy of No Importance
Chapter Two - The Only White Guy on the Bus
Chapter Three - The Early Artistic Director Years
Chapter Four - The Later Artistic Director Years
Chapter Five - Thinking Out of The Box
Chapter Six - Why God was a Woman
Chapter Seven - Then Along Came Steve
Chapter Eight- Building the Box Set
Chapter Nine - Give my Regards to Broadway
Chapter Ten - Now I was Driving the Bus!
Chapter Eleven - From The Met to Sydney Opera House
Chapter Twelve - Opening Doors
Appendix
Product details
| Published | 22 Jan 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 288 |
| ISBN | 9781350508521 |
| Imprint | Methuen Drama |
| Dimensions | 234 x 156 mm |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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