On Broadway Men Still Wear Hats: Unusual Lives Led on the Edges of Broadway

by Robert Simonson

Broadway has showcased many unique characters, not all of whom have graced the stage. A theater columnist/playwright (e.g., Café Society) profiles 18 men and women who ply unusual or dying professions connected to the New York theater. The cast of photographed characters an ex-accountant who writes Internet theater reviews, the female owner of a theatrical trucking company, and merchandisers catering to the stars. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Martin Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unusual little book by Robert Simonson, who was editor of Playbill On-Line back in the day, and also one of the playwrights published in my first anthology Plays and Playwrights for the New Millennium. It's a compendium of mini-biographies of about a dozen people who worked in/around the theater but were never at all well-known (except, perhaps, within the communities they served). It's a lovely concept, celebrating some of the unsung heroes and heroines of the New York theater world at the turn of this century.

Spoiler alert: one of those profiled is yours truly. Robert did a lovely job explaining me to the world, I think; for me the best part of the piece are the quotes from others about me, all very gratifyingly kind. (I cringe at my own quotes.) It's weird being in a book, but I am humbled and honored.

The other bios are just as nicely and lovingly assembled. My favorite is certainly the one about Elise Stone and Craig Smith, stalwart members of the Jean Cocteau Repertory at the time of the book's writing, and since that time founders/directors of Phoenix Theatre Ensemble in NYC. Elise and Craig are two of the finest actors I've had the pleasure to know and watch in many many productions, and the little tribute in this book is well-deserved and most interesting to read.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this for my dad for Christmas, and ended up reading it first. Ah well, it's a family tradition -- get something you think dad will like, but make sure that someone else will at least get some use of it. (yup, he's one of those hard-to-buy-for types.) If you're a theatre buff -- or, more precisely, someone who cares about the behind-the-scenes workings of the theatre world -- then you'll find this interesting. it's all about the people who work on the fringes of the theatre world -- not actually *in* a theatre, but still serving the theatre community. like the haberdashers or the maitre-D at the actors' favorite hangout. fun and informative.