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Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked

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Author: Carol De Giere
Publisher: Applause Books
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$24.95~~
Buy New: $16.47
You Save: $8.48 (34%)

New (22) Used (7) from $12.75

Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 7.4 x 1.3

ISBN: 1557837457
Dewey Decimal Number: 792
EAN: 9781557837455
ASIN: 1557837457

Publication Date: September 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Defying Gravity takes readers into the creative world of Broadway and film composer Stephen Schwartz, from writing Godspell's score at age 23 through the making of the megahit Wicked. For this first authorized biography, de Giere draws from 80 hours of interviews with Schwartz and over 100 interviews with his colleagues, friends, and family. Her sympathetic yet frank narrative reveals never-before-told stories and explores both Schwartz's phenomenal hits and expensive flops.

Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Defying Gravity - A Winner January 6, 2009
If you think Stephen Schwartz is brilliant, as I do, this book is for you. br /The thing I love about this book is getting the inside story about what brought him to the incredible heights he has reached today. From his early childhood where, thank goodness, the show business bug bit him, to winning the well deserved Tony award you learn so much about him and his works. Even if you've never met him, you feel as if you know him and you admire him even more than you had before.br /A must have for any fan of Stephen Schwartz or for anyone who enjoys musical theatre. You'll be entertained and informed!

5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Book! January 1, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I had really been looking forward to reading this book, and was thrilled to be able to get a few copies directly from the author that were autographed by both the author and Stephen Schwartz. The book exceeded all of my expectations. I only knew about a couple of his musicals, but Carol covered them all. br /I also had no idea the amount of group effort that can go into writing and producing a musical for Broadway. My respect for Mr. Schwartz has greatly increased with reading this amazing book.br /It was also fascinating to get a look into the inner workings of Mr. Schwartz's writing process. br /If anyone wants too get an insiders look at not only Stephen Schwartz's musical and creative career, but also of the process of creating and producing musicals, I heartily recommend this book!br /Good job Carol!!!

5 out of 5 stars

Perfect Book for the Theater Lover in Your House December 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I purchased Defying Gravity already a devoted Stephen Schwartz fan, and knew that I would enjoy learning more about his career. The author, Carol de Giere, does a masterful job providing the reader with two books in one. br /br /There is the Schwartz biography which takes the reader from his youth to the hit Godspell straight through to WICKED. Quotes from Schwartz and others involved in the various productions (and his life) were open, and insightful. Book two is the how WICKED was developed, tried out in San Francisco, tweaked and opened on Broadway. As a reader of many books on theater, I think de Giere does a wonderful job of capturing how a musical is produced, in a very effective approach, and frankly a way I have not seen before. Her approach was straightforward, which was strongly supported by the candor and honesty of Schwartz and others involved in the creation of WICKED. This section of the book is not sugar-coated, and provides readers with one of the most realistic accounts of how musicals are produced. I thoroughly enjoyed both sections of the book and highly recommend it to everyone! br /br /This book is perfect for the theater lovers, fans of Schwartz's and his music, fans of WICKED, anyone interested in going into theater, and especially those who are want to understand how musicals are created. This is a must-have for all musical theater fans! br /

5 out of 5 stars

A "must read" for Musical Theatre fans December 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Carol de Giere has done a superb job of detailing the career of Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz has been one of the most influential Broadway composers of the 20th century. Despite his popularity and achievements, there has never been a serious look at his body of work until now. "Defying Gravity" tells the history and creation of some of the most popular and iconic Schwartz shows from the past 40 years of Broadway: Godspell, Pippin and Wicked. It details his film and stage scores and his collaborations with the likes of Leonard Bernstein, Joseph Stein, Alan Menken and Charles Strouse.br /br /This book is a musical theatre cornucopia.

4 out of 5 stars

Informative book codifying lots of theatre lore. November 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Strong book that closely examines Stephen Schwartz's career and creative process. It purposefully avoids his personal life, which is unfortunate, because it might lead to some revealing truths in his songs.br /The book has a heavy thrust on the creation of Wicked and in general, the book is written for someone who might be new to theatre and Schwartz. A solid first book about an important theatrical voice.

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