Musical Stages: An Autobiography

by Richard Rodgers

Book Overview

Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) was sixteen when he formed his famous partnership with Lorenz Hart. The ensuing years of toil and disappointment nearly convinced the young composer to abandon the theater for the security of a salesman's job in the clothing industry, but the overnight success of The Garrick Gaieties in 1925 determined his career. Ultimately, Rodgers wrote the scores for over forty Broadway musicals and collaborated with two of the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306811340
• ISBN13: 9780306811340
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

STILL THE GREATEST AMERICAN COMPOSER

I reviewed that book a few years ago,but i feel i could give a better review of it now.Let me be objective here by saying that RICHARD RODGERS was the best AMERICAN composer of the previous century.This book of memoirs gives you a real insight of the music business at the time of mister RODGERS.The anecdotes are very accurate;they show the good and the bad aspects of the music business.RICHARD RODGERS learned early in his career that you are always as good as your last success,and that producers are the kings of BROADWAY.The best example of this is that even with all the hits he had,RICHARD RODGERS never could give ALLEGRO a second chance on BROADWAY.A show that failed is almost never revived again.The man has a lot to say about creativity;the way one must always stand tall even in adversity.One of the most moving passage of the book is the retreat of LORENZ HART and his death at the age of 47.RODGERS certainly knew the value of a partnership.That he could work with both HART and HAMMERSTEIN demonstrates how good he was.Nobody in the history of AMERICAN music has done it better.Out of the 40 shows that he created,10 have become classics of the repertoire.That's quite a feat.If RODGERS was the best,it's simply because he was the most passionnate and the most talented;a perfect combinaison.In my book,there will never be enough revivals of his shows.Buy this,you'll become a fan too,this is guarantee for a lifetime of musical pleasures.

You absolutely must read this book

This book is an absolutely essential book for anyone who wants to understand musical comedy. I advise first reading a biography of Oscar Hammerstein and then jumping to this autobiography. I highly, highly recommend the book "Getting to Know Him : A Biography of Oscar Hammerstein II" by Hugh Fordin. The Rodgers auto-biogrophy is of the highest quality. Of course, it is a reflection of the author's upbringing and sense of decorum. Thus, Rodgers never mentions that Larry Hart was a homosexual despite their 20 year collaboration. Rodgers could easily have written an auto-biography that was four times as long, as his life was very full. The best part is the story of his childhood and the incredible persistance and focus he had to have to become a success. I advise, immediately after finishing this book, jumping into the suburb biography of Stephen Soundheim, to whit, "Stephen Sondheim : A Life" by Meryle Secrest

Essential reading for musical theatre & film buffs!

Thoroughly readable and entertaining, this is one of the most interesting autobiographies in the musical theatre field. Yes, Rodgers can be less than frank about some subjects -- Larry Hart's private life and the questionable way Josh Logan was compensated for co-writing the libretto of SOUTH PACIFIC both get minimal coverage, but that was to be expected. (Could a man of Rodgers' time ever have written openly about Hart's homosexuality?) Otherwise, this is a one-of-a-kind look into the life and mindset of a genuine giant in 20th Century theatre. Rodgers was not afraid to make a few frank observations about people he had worked with, and his insights are still worth reading. If musicals are your thing, don't miss this one!

A MUSIC MAKER THAT SOUNDS VERY WELL ALSO IN PRINT

I was glad to see that this book is still available, so that other people can also enjoy it. I read "Musical Stages" in the early 80's, and my admiration for Mr. Rodgers increased considerably on learning about his personal and professional life in his own words. I was particularly delighted with stories like the one about "Blue Moon", which seemed destined to oblivion, but instead became one of his greatest hits ever. Or the ones about the way he worked with his partners Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II, and how he dealt with Broadway and Hollywood people, producers, musicians, fellow composers... Above all, what strikes the reader most is the genuine love Mr. Rodgers always had for the stage. The anxieties, curiosities and goings-on involved in the production and staging of his Broadway works made me quite envious of those who were able to see the premieres of shows such as "On Your Toes", "Pal Joey", "Oklahoma", and so on, which Mr. Rodgers relates in such a vivid way. I was lucky enough, though, to see Yul Brynner in the 1978 revival of "The King and I" at the Uris Theater in New York. It was a magic moment I will treasure forever. Every person of good taste in this world owes a lot to this determined and sensitive man that managed to create a lot of the best music of this century, regardless of national, ideological or whatever boundaries you may think of. And, on top of that, Mr. Rodgers tells us his wonderful life story in a style that echoes the irresistible charm of his immortal melodies. For better enjoyment of this book, I recommend that you read it with your CD player on with, for instance, the soundtracks of Mr. Rodgers' shows and movies, or compilations and/or albums dedicated to his music by the likes of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O'Day, Bing Crosby, Maurice Chevalier, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Like me, you will thank God for the existence of someone like Mr. Rodgers, and for the legacy he's given us.

A must for theater fans!

The autobiography of composer/lyricist Richard Rodgers. Very good reading; filled with anecdotes of his long career, including, of course, his work with Lorenz Hart and later, Oscar Hammerstein II. Also, his solo work as composer and lyricist. Along the way, you will meet Mary Martin, Gertrude Lawrence, and others. One caveat: Take what he says with a grain of salt. If you believe everything he says, you'll think he was Mr. Nice Guy and it was everyone else who had a problem.