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Nothing Like a Dame

Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

Edited by Eddie Shapiro

Twenty stunning, in-depth interviews with the leading women of Broadway
Ranges from Elaine Stritch to Kristin Chenoweth, from Patti LuPone to Idina Menzel
Puts readers behind-the-scenes of some of their favorite Broadway shows

Nothing Like a Dame

Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

Edited by Eddie Shapiro

Description

In Nothing Like a Dame, theater journalist Eddie Shapiro opens a jewelry box full of glittering surprises, through in-depth conversations with twenty leading women of Broadway. He carefully selected Tony Award-winning stars who have spent the majority of their careers in theater, leaving aside those who have moved on or occasionally drop back in. The women he interviewed spent endless hours with him, discussing their careers, offering insights into the iconic shows, changes on Broadway over the last century, and the art (and thrill) of taking the stage night after night. Chita Rivera describes the experience of starring in musicals in each of the last seven decades; Audra McDonald gives her thoughts on the work that went into the five Tony Awards she won before turning forty-one; and Carol Channing reflects on how she has revisited the same starring role generation after generation, and its effects on her career. Here too is Sutton Foster, who contemplates her breakout success in an age when stars working predominately in theater are increasingly rare. Each of these conversations is guided by Shapiro's expert knowledge of these women's careers, Broadway lore, and the details of famous (and infamous) musicals. He also includes dozens of photographs of these players in their best-known roles.

This fascinating collection reveals the artistic genius and human experience of the women who have made Broadway musicals more popular than ever -- a must for anyone who loves the theater.

Nothing Like a Dame

Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

Edited by Eddie Shapiro

Contents
Foreword by Elaine Page
Introduction
1. Elaine Stritch
2. Carol Channing
3. Chita Rivera
4. Donna McKechnie
5. Angela Lansbury
6. Leslie Uggams
7. Judy Kaye
8. Betty Buckley
9. Patti LuPone
10. Bebe Neuwirth
11. Donna Murphy
12. Lillias White
13. Karen Ziemba
14. Debra Monk
15. Victoria Clark
16. Audra McDonald
17. Kristin Chenoweth
18. Idina Menzel
19. Sutton Foster
20. Laura Benanti
21. LaChanze
22. Tonya Pinkins online on the companion website
Acknowledgements
Index

Nothing Like a Dame

Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

Edited by Eddie Shapiro

Author Information

Eddie Shapiro is a freelance writer and theater journalist whose work has appeared in Out Magazine, Instinct, and Backstage West. He is the author of Queens in the Kingdom: The Ultimate Gay and Lesbian Guide to the Disney Theme Parks.

Nothing Like a Dame

Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

Edited by Eddie Shapiro

Reviews and Awards

"A fascinating and remarkably authentic collection of conversations with theatre aristocracy." --John Kander

"This book is an encyclopedia of modern musical theatre via a series of tender meetings between a diehard fan and his idols. Because of Eddie Shapiro's utter guilelessness, these women open up and reveal more than they ever have before, and we get to be the third guest at each encounter." --Alan Cumming

"Eddie Shapiro has woven together an insightful, inspiring and truly revelatory collection of interviews with these legends of musical theatre. It is an honor to hear personal stories from these incredible women on their creative process and the shows they have graced." --Daryl Roth

"For those who are interested in knowing about the inner lives of the great ladies of the theater, this is the book for you." --Graciela Daniele

"A wonderful collection of interviews that are honest, comprehensive and fascinating. What a treasure to hear all these extraordinary women tell their stories in their own words!" --Kathleen Marshall

"Shapiro states that he wanted to create a tapestry, an oral history, of the last 60 years of American musical theater, and he has succeeded...Highly recommended for readers who are interested in the theater, women performers, and those who dream of being on Broadway." -- Library Journal

"[Falling] somewhere between a reference book and my fantasy version of People magazine from a parallel universe where Broadway musicals are the dominant art form...[this] book offers diehard fans new facets to admire about favorites, and newer fans may be inspired to learn more about the myriad shows and personalities mentioned within the book's pages." --Talkin' Broadway

"Elaine Stritch, Patti LuPone, Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, and Audra McDonald are among the leading ladies taking center stage in this sparkling compilation that chronicles the life and times of the Great White Way." --O, The Oprah Magazine

"Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater is filled with Eddie Shapiro's penetrating interviews with Broadway's most dazzling femmes." --Michael Musto, Out Magazine

"These great ladies of the stage offer a funny, warm, informative and dishy look at the experience of life on Broadway." -- Playbill.com

"For theater devotees, Shapiro's book is a veritable treasure trove." --Huffington Post

Nothing Like a Dame

Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

Edited by Eddie Shapiro

From Our Blog

Cocktail party conversation from Oxford

Compiled by Jonathan Kroberger Our publicity department spends all week long talking about our books and occasionally they find it hard to stop talking about them when out and about. Here on the blog we're going to be featuring some of the facts they can be heard recounting outside of the office from some of our current books.

Posted on February 24, 2014

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A day with Carol Channing in Disneyland

by Eddie Shapiro When I began work on my book, I knew I would be fortunate enough to experience a few moments of 'Pinch me. This can't really be happening.' There were, as it turned out, so many that I'd be black and blue if there was actual pinching going on.Â But of all of those moments, I think the highlight would have to be spending a day at Disneyland with Carol Channing and her late husband, Harry, who were then 90 and 91 respectively.

Posted on March 4, 2014

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At the launch of Nothing Like a Dame

On Monday, 27 January 2014, the lobby of Oxford University Press's New York City office was filled with Broadway fans, and a few stars, drinking champagne in celebration of the publication of Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations With the Great Women of Musical Theater by Eddie Shapiro.

Posted on February 20, 2014

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At the launch of Nothing Like a Dame

On Monday, 27 January 2014, the lobby of Oxford University Press's New York City office was filled with Broadway fans, and a few stars, drinking champagne in celebration of the publication of Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations With the Great Women of Musical Theater by Eddie Shapiro.

Posted on February 20, 2014

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Happy Birthday, Carol Channing!

In recognition of the inimitable Carol Channing's 93rd birthday, we have excerpted a portion of her interview from Eddie Shapiro's forthcoming book of interviews with the leading ladies of Broadway, Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater.

Posted on January 31, 2014

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