Off Stage

By Betty Comden

Book Overview

In this incandescent autobiographical collage, lyricist, playwright and performer Betty Comden takes an exuberant and rueful look back on a lifetime of celebrated triumphs and private sorrow. With her lifelong collaborator Adolph Green, she has achieved glorious success on stage in such musical milestones as On the Town, Wonderful Town and Bells Are Ringing and on screen in the unforgettable Singing in the Rain and The Band Wagon. But this very intimate memoir takes us behind her experiences in theatre and film to her childhood in Brooklyn, her determined exodus to Manhattan and Broadway, her courtship and marriage and the lessons she has learned as a wife and mother. Off Stage is, then, not only of special interest to theatre and movie buffs. It is also the poignant and inspirational story of a woman of many talents and interests who tried to have it all - and very nearly succeeded.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879100842
• ISBN13: 9780879100841
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Limelight
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

WHO WOULDN'T LOVE BETTY COMDEN?

Even if she weren't one-half of the legendary theatrical writing team of Comden and Green, Betty Comden's life would be worth reading about. Collaborating with Adolph Green for some 70 years the brilliant duo gave us such blockbuster Broadway shows as "On The town," "Bells Are Ringing," "The Will Rogers Follies" and "Applause." Alone, she was a doting wife, a mother who thought she could never master motherhood, and a woman left to mourn the death of her husband, son, and many dear friends. Born in Brooklyn to Russian immigrant parents, the young Betty had a love for words and was intrigued by the theater. While her teaming with Green made theatrical history, her unprecedented success did not shield her from tragedies and disappointments. These, along with her joys and triumphs, she recounts with candor and humor. - Gail Cooke

A wonderful read, a wonderful person

If Betty Comden had done nothing more than collaborate on the great musical On The Town, she'd be a star in my personal pantheon. But she's had a wonderfully varied career, as creator and performer, and she has set high standards in all projects. Ms. Comden has lived long enough to have experienced many sadnesses, and she writes about them as openly as she does the happinesses. This book is a gift from a true Broadway original, and a genuine professional. Not to be missed, and bless you, Betty, for giving it to us!