Lights on Broadway: A Theatrical Tour from A to Z » (Hardcover and CD)

Harriet Ziefert has been making magic with words for many years. She is the author of over 200 books for young readers. A mother of two and grandmother of five, she lives in South Orange, New Jersey.

Liz Murphy was born and raised in England and attended the Kingston Art College, where she majored in graphic design. She currently lives with her husband and two sons in Montclair, New Jersey. Liz has illustrated four other picture books for Blue Apple.

Tony Award winner and Broadway icon, Brian Stokes Mitchell, brings star power to this Broadway treasury. With entries such as 'audition,''box office,''marquee,' and 'understudy,' kids will discover Broadway from A to Z. Elliot Kreloff's energetic and dynamic illustrations come from someone who clearly knows theater from first-hand experiences.

With an introduction by Mitchell, quotes from famous Broadway performers, and theater facts and trivia, fans of all ages will delight in this compendium.

Bonus material includes an on-line, behind-the-scenes video hosted by Mitchell. Visit his website at www.brianstokes.com

Publishers Weekly

Tony Award–winning actor Mitchell’s fittingly dramatic introduction ushers readers into the world of Broadway, inviting them to “be ignited by the incredible collaborative magic that gives life and light to the theater.” The theme of collaboration recurs throughout this alphabetical roundup of theatrical terms—A is for actor, O is for orchestra, U is for understudy—which spotlights the many roles that play a part in mounting a stage production. Other entries (improvisation, lights, rehearsal) address techniques or mechanics of the theater. Quotations from celebrated actors, producers, and other figures from the theater world (among them Nathan Lane, Billy Crudup, and Idina Menzel) add sparkle and insight to these busy pages, but there are also humdrum bits (“Every member of the audience needs a ticket in order to enter the theater and see the show”). Kreloff’s neon illustrations incorporate a range of display type and cartoon styles, and evoke the dazzle and buzz of Broadway. A CD featuring Mitchell singing an adaptation of “I Was Here” is included. Ages 8–up. (Nov.)