Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway

by Michael Riedel

“A vivid page-turner” (NPR) detailing the rise, fall, and redemption of Broadway—its stars, its biggest shows, its producers, and all the drama, intrigue, and power plays that happened behind the scenes.

“A rich, lovely, debut history of New York theater in the 1970s and eighties” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review), Razzle Dazzle is a narrative account of the people and the money and the power that turned New York’s gritty back alleys and sex-shops into the glitzy, dazzling Great White Way.

In the mid-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 and losing money. Bernard Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld, two ambitious board members, saw the crumbling company was ripe for takeover and staged a coup and staved off 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, spearheading the revitalization of Broadway and the renewal of Times Square.

“For those interested in the business behind the greasepaint, at a riveting time in Broadway’s and New York’s history, this is the ticket” ( USA TODAY ). Michael Riedel tells the stories of the Shubert Organization and the shows that re-built a city in grand style—including Cats , A Chorus Line , and Mamma Mia! —revealing the backstage drama that often rivaled what transpired onstage, exposing bitter rivalries, unlikely alliances, and inside gossip. “The trouble with Razzle Dazzle is…you can’t put the damn thing down” ( Huffington Post ).

Genres: Nonfiction, Theatre, History, Music, New York, Audiobook, Pop Culture

464 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jessica J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love theater, but I don't know as much about it as I would like to. I don't really know a lot about any of the shows that were a thing before I was a teenager, for instance, but I want to change that. I was kind of disappointed by last year's Secret Life of the American Musical , because I wanted to find something that was a little more about the history and the business side of the shows as opposed to literary deconstructions of the songs. That's why I grabbed this book.

And I'm so glad I did because this was SUCH A FUN book. It's the kind of book where, every ten pages or so, I would stop and recite fun facts to my husband as I read.

It's essentially a history of the Shubert Organization, the biggest theater-owning company on Broadway. The company was founded by three brothers in the early twentieth century and played a significant role in the Golden Age. But by the time the late 60s and early 70s rolled around, Broadway seemed to be hanging on for dear life, as New York City in general and Times Square in particular descended into a seedy den of hookers and drugs you might remember from movies like Midnight Cowboy. Broadway's slide was compounded by the fact that the three Shubert brothers had all passed away and the company was now in the hands of an inept nephew. Between the city's reputation as too dangerous for tourists and the inability/disinterest of Lawrence Shubert Lawrence, Jr (Yes, he was the SECOND Lawrence Lawrence in the family) to put up shows that were big draws, audiences were down significantly from the decade before. Two lawyers for the organization, Bernard Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld, saw what was happening and decided to take charge. The two of them led the organization through the production of such shows as Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Cats, Phantom,, and Les Mis.

So they basically saved Broadway. At least, that seems to be Riedel's argument.

Riedel also highlights some of the creators and other personalities who worked closely with Jacobs and Schoenfeld, such as Michael Bennett, Tommy Tune, and Frank Rich. There's a lot of info coming at the reader, but even as someone who didn't know a lot about what happened on Broadway before Jonathan Larson, I never felt lost or overwhelmed. He did an excellent job bringing these people to life on the page. Riedel further provides some sociopolitical background on the decline that New York experienced in the 70s and 80s, which was a huge help to me. That background is stuff that I'm vaguely aware of but am A) too young to remember and B) too far removed from New York to have ever heard it discussed by any one.

Overall, I found this to be a a fascinating look inside the theater world. It's hardly comprehensive, given its strong emphasis on just one company, but I really learned a lot from Riedel and his occasionally snarky tone was the perfect fit for a book that walked the line between fact and gossip.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The connections between the fortunes of Broadway and New York was key to pulling together all the stories I’d heard…”

If this text had been written by anyone other than Michael Riedel I doubt I would have cared to read it. The gossipy (but eminently knowledgeable and talented) theater columnist for the New York Post, Riedel is the right guy to write this book. He is a talented writer and researcher and he has a seamless style that flows nicely. He can get a little into the weeds at times and you don’t mind, and sometimes don’t even notice, because his style and structure in this text work so well together.

RAZZLE DAZZLE is really a cultural and historical study of how Broadway (as an institution) changed and grew from the fifties to the end of the twentieth century. It does not sound all that exciting, but in Riedel’s hands I was never bored while reading this text. Starting with the founding and history of the Shubert Organization, and culminating with the deaths of Bernard Jacobs and Gerald Schoenfeld (who saved the Shubert Organization and made it a powerhouse in the American theater) this book is a cultural history of the theater scene on Broadway, the transition of Times Square from porn city to a family destination, and the bankruptcy and resurgence of NYC. Along the way we occasionally get in-depth looks at iconic shows (“A Chorus Line”, Phantom of the Opera”, etc.) and personalities (Michael Bennett, Cameron Mackintosh, etc.) who changed the scene and the way business was done. It was surprisingly more interesting all the way through then I assumed it would be.

Riedel sums up his book nicely when he writes, “…if it makes any impression at all I hope it’s that Broadway and its fractious band of colorful characters were as important to the survival of this city as any Wall Street titan, real estate magnate, civic leader, or politician.” It’s an interesting thought, and he makes a good argument for it.

Mr. Riedel has written a follow up (of sorts) to this book, and I will pick it up someday.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway is written by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel. The book is full of stories about the Shubert Organization and the Broadway shows that they were involved in. The later chapters also give us some insight into the Nederlander theaters and their shows.

I love musical theatre. So I was super excited to read this book.

The book looks in details at all of the key players on Broadway. There is a lot of information about Broadway in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. I was unaware of so much that is told. And it was really fascinating reading. If there is anything that you want to know about Broadway then this book is fantastic.

I really enjoyed reading about Schoenfeld and Jacobs. And I loved seeing how things evolved with them at the helm of the Shubert Organization. I especially enjoyed reading about their decision to go from being a landlord to producing again. And I loved reading about all the various musicals, especially everything to do with A Chorus Line (and how it reversed the fortunes of the Shubert Organization).

Much of this book is super interesting. But there are a lot of pages full of details about people's childhoods. I am more interested in the stuff that relates directly to Broadway.

My biggest issue with the book is that the timeline is all over the place going back and forth in time. A person dies at the end of one chapter. But then is mentioned in the next chapter. Many chapters seem to focus on a specific person. So the author starts their story at the beginning. I just found it a bit confusing and would have preferred to have the book told chronologically.

There really was much to like about this book. I was really fascinated by the feud between the Shuberts and the Nederlanders. I loved reading about David Merrick and Tommy Tune. The success of 42nd Street (the musical). The NY Times critic Frank Rich. The 80s and 90s were so interesting to read about. I loved learning every detail about Nine vs Dreamgirls at the Tonys. Cats. Les Miserables. Disney.

This was an extremely detailed account of Broadway over the years. A must read for any musical theatre fan.



Thanks to edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this book.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, this may be a bit too much inside baseball for the civilian reader. I arrived in NYC for my second stint in 1985, just as the British invasion was fully taking hold; my first big shows were LES MIS and PHANTOM. But Riedel has done exhaustive research on the shifting fortunes of Broadway over the previous decades, from the super-powerful days when the Shuberts ruled the streets to the restoration of their near-monarchy in the 1980s.

It's all great juicy fun, with an army of backstage players, from the monsters like David Merrick to the majors like Michael Bennett. It's all here - the drugs and the infidelities, the betrayals and the backstage intrigue.

For those with no interest in Broadway, it may seem like a long slog through a dark forest. For those who live in these woods, it's a clear path and an exciting journey. I devoured this book, and basically never wanted it to end.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject of this book is like catnip to me: New York and Broadway theater in the 1970s and '80s, much of it regarding my husband's current employer, The Shubert Organization. Despite not containing a ton of new information, it does collect many long-told stories in one spot, which is a great thing to have. The book is thorough (though not at all comprehensive), well researched, and well written. The main reason I'm not giving it a 5-star review is that Michael Riedel is a garbage human being: his biases are obvious and are occasionally a major detriment to what could have been a definitive book on the era. Besides his right-wing politics and simplification of the financial crisis, he clearly has a hatred boner for Stephen Sondheim and Frank Rich. Rich plays a large part of the narrative but is portrayed as a hapless jerk. Sondheim is mostly ignored or written about in terms of his financial flops (and Riedel seems to take much glee in these dismissals). I get that Sondheim has tons of books about his own work and didn't necessarily factor as much into the story Riedel is telling, but how do you write a book about Broadway theater in the '70s and never mention the words "Sweeney Todd"? Even "They're Playing Our Song" is discussed quite a bit, and it was a pretty lousy show.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book before the latest, ‘Singular Sensation.’ This is my favorite because it covers the 70’s when I was a young adult and into the ‘City’ all the time. 😎 The days of Pippen with Ben Vereen, A Chorus Line, and all the Floyd Weber shows which I’m soso about. Sorry to those fans.
Plus, NYC in the 70’s was a different place and Broadway helped bring it back during this time, into the 90’s. And of course, all those great inside stories. Have fun! 😊

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

To quote a Stephen Sondheim lyric “I’m just a Broadway baby.” Which is true, born and grew up in Manhattan and fell in love with Broadway at an early age when my parents first took me to “My Fair Lady” (of which I remember very little, except for the rotating stages changing scenes which fascinated a little boy.) So I’m always drawn to behind the scenes stories and histories of Broadway and this is good on both counts. It’s very readable, although you may find it a little slow going at first as there’s a lot of early background and diverse characters to introduce. The history focuses mostly on the Schubert empire and the so called Battle For Broadway and gives some fascinating insight into their growth and sometimes dysfunctional development. But you’ll also meet the other players, Nederlander, Jujamcyn and later Disney. Other major characters include Michael Bennett (Chorus Line and Dreamgirls fame) David Merrick, Tommy Tune and many others. There is a nice dollop of gossip versus history, and you do have to accept that while this is well researched, Michael Reidel is the New York Post critic and his relationships with many of those he’s writing about influences his point of view. That being said it’s an enjoyable read and despite my knowing a good deal about Broadway, I did learn a lot. My minor critiques are that the author often assumes you’ll recognize names and doesn’t always clarify who they area at first. And he does repeat the same anecdote more than once. It’s almost as if after writing an early chapter, he puts it aside and repeats the same story again later, forgetting he already told us this. It’s a minor shortcoming in an otherwise enjoyable and informative history of a Broadway. I look forward to his new book “Singular Sensation”.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your enjoyment of the book will depend on your love for Broadway and for New York City. I love both dearly, and I was very interested to learn about the history of the numerous Broadway theatres that I have sat in and enjoyed shows, how Broadway organizers contributed to the transformation of Times Square from an area of rampant crime into a must-see tourist attraction, how musicals like A Chorus Line, Cats, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast ushered in a new renaissance of Broadway shows not seen since the time of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Razzle Dazzle is fairly dense, and often meanders, particularly in the last half of the book, which is the reason for my 3-star rating. However, the first half of the book is compelling and irresistible, documenting how the Broadway district came to be, the widespread financial corruption that almost killed Broadway, and the people who singlehandedly saved the Broadway industry from imploding.

If you ever wondered why two Broadway theatres are named after lawyers, Schoenfeld and Jacobs, well this book will gladly provide the answers :)

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronicle of the birth of New York's Broadway that careens through the years starting with The Schubert family and their control of real estate theater property, the personalities of all these characters involved in the making of shows from musical revues, plays, the Golden Age of the late 40s into the 50s, the British invasion, and the Disney-fication (in the 90s) of an area that was (in the late 60s and 70s into the 80s) a seedy, trash filled, environment of crime and grind house movie theaters. It reads, often, like Riedel's version of the GOODFELLAS of the stage with all the backstabbing, duplicity, lying, and 'family' control of the industry. Instead of guns, these people use lawyers, pens, and acid tipped tongues to maneuver and get what they want.

[Kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was super insightful and educational for me. i really loved learning the history of Broadway! i especially enjoyed reading about the development of critical shows (ie Equus, Cats, Annie, etc) and how they shaped the theatrical landscape.

however, the author never acknowledges or explores the problematic parts of this history (often glossing over racist quotes from the time period or the abuse from certain producers). It’s easy to piece together if you’re thinking critically, but I would have preferred to explore it instead of putting these historical figures on pedestals and ignoring some critical parts of their legacies.

[Donald Butchko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had avoided this because I had really gotten sick of Reidel’s column. But this is really great. informative, well researched, but also dishy and fun. An essential musical theater history text.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway, theater columnist Michael Riedel has provided us theater nuts with a very satisfying look at the last six decades of Broadway, throwing in a bit of history from before the 1960s as well. His book focuses on the enormous influence the Shubert Organization has had on the American theater, starting with the three Shubert brothers and continuing to their successors, Gerald Schoenfeld and Bernard Jacobs, who took over the organization after J. J. Shubert’s death. We also see the contributions of the other legendary theater company, that of the Nederlanders, exploring the feud between the Shuberts and the Nederlanders and their eventual truce. Riedel tells so many wonderful tales in this book, not the least of which are stories of the wildly original Broadway character, producer David Merrick. Some of those Merrick stories I had read before; others were new to me. But all were immensely entertaining. What Riedel has given us is an account of how the Broadway theater was corrupt in the 1960s and how it has emerged as a big money business once again, and in a sense has saved New York City. It is a fascinating book. That being said, I found myself bothered by four “facts” in the book: twice Riedel mentions Broadway choreographer Onna White (The Music Man, 1776, Mame) yet he calls her Oona; in discussing the musical Annie, Riedel misnames the song “It’s a Hard Knock Life” as “It’s the Hard Knock Life”; at two different times, he mentions the show Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, but he calls it Your Arms Are Too Short to Box with God; and what bothered me the most, being a Houstonian, is that he says that the iconic performer and director Tommy Tune is from Wichita Falls, Texas (which is, indeed, where Tune was born,) but the implication is that Tune is a product of a tiny Texas town when, in fact, he grew up in Houston, attended Lamar High School (in the ultra-rich neighborhood River Oaks,) and studied dance with Patsy Swayze who trained such superstars as her son Patrick and the sisters Debbie Allen (Fame) and Phylicia Rashad ( TV and Broadway musical star.) I’m sure fact-checking of a 400 page book is a daunting task. I also agree that perhaps these four items are relatively insignificant. But when I see such easily checked errors, I question the bigger picture, which is “What else is incorrect in this book?” I hope the answer to that question is “nothing else,” for I thoroughly enjoyed Riedel’s book and learned quite a bit from it, increasing my knowledge of Broadway trivia.

[Charlie Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Original review available at my blog, HereWeAreGoing, here: https://herewearegoing.wordpress.com/...

Saw this in the New Releases section at the library and hesitated. In that fantasy world in which I live where I am pals with Broadway types, I recalled something about theatre-folk not caring for Riedel and, not wanting to be disloyal to my imaginary friends, I was going to pass. Then, I remembered he had been on the late, lamented (by me, at least) Smash, and so, I decided that if Megan Hilty, Wes Taylor, Christian Borle, Andy Mientus, and Jeremy Jordan agreed to appear in the same show as had he, I’d be forgiven for reading his book.

I’m a sucker for Broadway stories, gossip, and history. A book that gives me backstory on the Shubert and Nederlander dynasties, Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Michael Bennett, Hal Prince, Tommy Tune, Stephen Sondheim, and on and on and others and the history of Mack & Mabel – which was my first and finest flop-love as a child-theatre-fanatic; well — it’s a book I’m going to devour. Was it well written or insightful or particularly riveting? Probably not. And, this sentence on page 389: “He looked passed the decay and saw the former grandeur.” Passed? Really? It is this sort of thing that makes me scoff and sniff with unearned superiority. I mean, granted, my blog entries are rife with errors – but I write these in about 60 minutes, tops, and I do NOT have a copy editor (more is the pity).

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would the theatre be without egos and tantrums and entanglements?

Michael Riedel masterfully chronicles the highs and lows of Broadway - Times Square - New York through the triumphs, plights and schemes of the Schubert Organization. The personalities are larger-than-life, though not very admirable, at times. Their friendships and partnerships, rivalries and enemies are the epitome of "42nd Street" or "Guys and Dolls".
Riedel captures the atmosphere during industry scandals, the changing neighborhood, the changing tastes in entertainment and the theatre. The British invasion of Broadway as portrayed by the almost mythical stories behind "Cats" is unbelievable. There are absolutely hysterical escapades and heart-breaking moments.

I don't know if I would have the same reaction to the written book. With the audio, I felt like I was sitting next to my favorite raconteur, listening bedazzled at story after story -- with small groans as each CD ended. Some of the stories are really in-the-weeds, but you don't have to be a total theatre wonk to enjoy these incredible stories of one the tangible engines that drive NY.



** read by Peter Berkrot
13 discs -- app. 16.50 hrs

[Cindy Petzoldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Broadway (and I do), this is a terrific behind-the-scenes view of the 1990s and 2000s. The author does a great job explaining some of the business part of show business as well as the greed that sank some shows that could have been legendary. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is a cut above the usual dish-the-dirt show biz expose and still a fun as well as informative read. I especially enjoyed reading about the development of two of my favorite and completely disparate musicals of the last two decades: Ragtime and The Producers.

[Hayley B Halliwell]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and I am SO excited!! I can't wait to read it!!

Won this book last October. Never received my copy. Never received a reply when inquiring about it. Disappointed.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re someone who reads some books in print and listens to some audiobooks - I would not recommend going with the audiobook version of this one. I found the narration irritating. Besides that, though, it was interesting to learn about some of the business operations behind Broadway.

[Tyler Scheef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this one and could not put it down! As someone who’s loved Broadway since childhood it was fascinating to learn about the theatres and the people behind them

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hysteria over Hamilton drove home to me that I know almost nothing about the history of American musical theater. Razzle Dazzle was recommended to me by a friend who is looking to get into the theater business. He said it was the best book he read as part of his research.

Razzle Dazzle is an imperfect teacher. I learned a great deal. I think I have a much better understanding now of Broadway, the importance of various musicals, and the story of the deterioration and later revitalization of Times Square. There are shows that I feel a stronger desire to see and theaters I feel that I must see. I also have a greater appreciation of the catastrophic damage that the AIDS epidemic wrought on the the entertainment community in the 1980s and 1990s.

Razzle Dazzle made me work to learn those things. I endured frustratingly long and drawn-out accounts of minor and major interpersonal squabbles. Riedel seemed unable to steer the narrative away from scores of reconstructed emotional conversations between figures who sometimes don't even play central roles in the overall narrative of Broadway's importance. By about the halfway mark of the book, I had tired of Riedel's obsession with "drama."

There has to be a way to tell a story in which many of the characters are eccentrics without running one's readers through so many fits of pique, inflated crises, and almost breakdowns.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the quotes on the back of my book is Hugh Jackman describing Razzle Dazzle as, "A love letter to Broadway." It's a pretty solid summary. The book focuses mainly on the Shubert Organization, started by the Shubert brothers and later run by Bernie Jacobs and Jerry Schoenfeld, and its massive amounts of power and influence on Broadway. The parts of the book talking politics and feuds were a little slower to me; I would love a companion documentary to really see the personalities at play. Regardless, it was interesting to see all the behind the scenes (literally!) work it took to create Broadway and keep it going through all the changes of a century, and how that shaped New York itself.

My favorite parts of the book were about the creation process of various musicals and plays. It never fails that if something is incredibly amazing, the work to make it happen is so much more than you ever dreamed. It's not like someone just writes a play and starts hiring actors; it's so many people doing so many jobs. It was fascinating and inspiring to see how much reworking successful shows did, changing and changing until the last minute to get the best show possible.

It's a fabulous read for anyone who loves musical theater.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this audiobook. Recounts the history of the Shubert Organization but the main focus is from Broadway's eclipse in the 1970's (largely due to the deterioration of Times Square and crime) through the productions that saved Broadway, from the Chorus Line to the AIDS epidemic to the end of the British invasion (Lez Miz and Phantom). The protagonists of a large part of the book the duo of Schoenfeld and Jacobs who were the first non-family members to run Shubert. I knew very little about Broadway, especially from the business end (trigger alert: there is quite a bit of ticket-skimming and other varieties of fraud). The book can become a bit gossipy, but in my opinion that only adds to the entertainment value.

The author has written a later book, Singular Sensation, which covers a more recent period, and I intend to read that also.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging look at the powers behind the scenes that saved the Broadway theater from the mid to late 20th century. The focus is on the presidents of the Schubert Organization (the theater owners), the producers, and the directors who ushered in several generations of Broadway after the "Golden era" and New York's financial collapse. Riedel manages to weave the stories of competing creative interests, financial interests, and over-the-top personalities into a coherent narrative of the dig and rise of an iconic industry.

2019 Catch Up Challenge: TBR list/books I own; Library books checked out

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, but probably only for fans of Broadway musicals. Lots of interesting background and gossip about Broadway insiders, and about famous Broadway shows. There are a LOT of people mentioned which sometimes became confusing as I didn't know all the major players, there's a lot crammed into this book! But I'm glad I read it since I've been reading up on Broadway and watching as many musicals online as possible since I won't be going to the theater for some time. I also really enjoyed Singular Sensation by the same author, which is shorter and more focused on recent shows. I read them out of order but I'd recommend reading this one first.

[Chris McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great history of Broadway during the 1970s-80s from the producer's/critic's perspective. Probably not of interest to the average theatre-goer, but a fascinating historiography for theatre scholars and afficianados.

[Hannah McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good! I'm not normally much of a non-fiction reader, and I know NOTHING about Broadway, but the way this was written kept me hooked the whole way through.

[Mary Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I learned a lot about Broadway history, but I wasn’t that into the book. Hence it took me a few months to finish.

[Josh Preputnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very extensive history of broadway throughout the 20th century that I would only recommend for those curious. Those who don't have as much of an interest may not enjoy it as much.

[Elisa]

This is about the "business" side of the theatre, not for me. Not bad, I just couldn't get into the financial side.

[Daniel Preciado · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for all theatre-lovers. I devoured it.

[Demi Wolford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic book. How Michael Riedel researched and told a story of this stature is beyond me. It is entertaining, funny, and filled with passion. 10/10.