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Put on a Happy Face
Just about everyone who can hum knows and loves Charles Strouse's music. He composed some of the most successful shows in Broadway history ("Annie," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause," and "Golden Boy"); wrote the film score for "Bonnie and Clyde" as well as the unforgettable theme song for "All in the Family"; has been...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
July 1st 2008
by Union Square Press
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Loved this book, but I'm predisposed to. It's a Broadway memoir about my favorite Broadway composer, so I devoured it.
The writing style is very conversational to the point of simple, yet always remains engaging. Since it's a memoir, Strouse comes off as very congenial, and a regular joe with a nice word to say about everyone. He doesn't get juicy, until the chapter comes about Arthur Laurents. Since all of his shows interest me, I personally found it great fun to hear about their c...more
The writing style is very conversational to the point of simple, yet always remains engaging. Since it's a memoir, Strouse comes off as very congenial, and a regular joe with a nice word to say about everyone. He doesn't get juicy, until the chapter comes about Arthur Laurents. Since all of his shows interest me, I personally found it great fun to hear about their c...more
Put on a Happy Face by Charles Strouse, digitally charming memoir about a life on Broadway. Strouse was the composer of many of the songs found in Broadway’s Annie and bye-bye Birdie. Strouse grew up in New York in a seemingly well-to-do Jewish family that seem to have many problems. Born during the Depression, Strouse took many of the hardships that came with life and turned them into musicals. It recounts a story in a hard to put down memoir.
Put on a Happy Face is a very entici...more
Put on a Happy Face is a very entici...more
I love biographies/autobiographies because so many people have led so many interesting lives. Charles Strouse is no different, he is a composer of musicals like Annie, Annie Warbucks, Rags, and Bye Bye Birdie. I thought it was interesting how he grew up during the Great Depression and all that he lived to see. It was in all a very well written very informative autobiography.
Charles Strouse is the composer of Annie and Bye Bye Birdie, to name two of his works, and his life in the world of music, of Broadway, TV and Hollywood is an interesting read. I recommend for anyone who like contemporary music and the world of the theater (and biographies).
Marilyn
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A delightful read. I was privileged to get a signed copy from Mr. Strouse, who was as friendly and disarmingly straightforward as his book.
Let me say this: If you are in musical theatre, want to write for musical theatre, want to direct musical theatre, or want to have anything to do with the great white way....you should read this book. It is funny, heartwarming, and really provides insight as to how vulnerable theatre artists truly are. It is a great memoir, from the man who wrote the songs that with the soaring melodies that we all know and love. Read it.
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