AmandaNYC Posted December 23, 2000 Share Posted December 23, 2000 Does anyone know anything about the new book about Jerome Robbins that should be coming out any day now (it seems to have been delayed)? It's entitled: "Jerome Robbins: That Broadway Man, That Ballet Man". I only know what's posted on Amazon & B&N. There's also another one coming out in the spring. If anyone knows anything about either, please share! Thanks. Happy holiday! -Amanda Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 23, 2000 Share Posted December 23, 2000 Amanda, I think that Deborah Jowitt is writing a book about Robbins, but I don't know when it's due to be released. I don't know anything about this one except its impending existence, unfortunately. It's a shame it's missed the pre-Christmas season, though. Link to comment
Dale Posted December 25, 2000 Share Posted December 25, 2000 New York magazine had a small sidebar about this about two weeks ago. It said that there were two books, the Christine Conrad book, "Jerome Robbins: That Broadway Man, That Ballet Man." Evidently Conrad had access to Robbins' papers and personal items. Another book, "Dance with Demons" by Greg Lawrence is expected to come out some time in 2001. This book is supposed to be more gossipy. Wasn't Lawrence married to Gelsey Kirkland and co-wrote her two books? Link to comment
dirac Posted December 25, 2000 Share Posted December 25, 2000 Yup, if it's the same Greg Lawrence. This is unfortunate, if the Robbins book is written in the same turgid prose as the Kirkland opuses. As for the gossipy part, if even half of what one hears about Robbins', uh, management style is true, there should be plenty of dish to dish. Link to comment
Manhattnik Posted December 25, 2000 Share Posted December 25, 2000 I don't know anything about the Conrad book, but I do know that Deborah Jowitt has been working hard and diligently on an "authorized" biography of Robbins, and has been given access to his personal papers and memorabilia. I would be quite surprised that the estate would give two writers such access at the same time, but stranger things have happened. Link to comment
dirac Posted December 26, 2000 Share Posted December 26, 2000 Although I haven't seen it yet, I think the Conrad book is more of a pictures-with-text coffee table kind of volume, and so it wouldn't be intruding on Jowitt's territory or vice versa. Link to comment
ltraiger Posted December 26, 2000 Share Posted December 26, 2000 I heard what Mahattnik described. Deborah spoke this past summer at the D.C. dance conference about her work. She has authorized permission and access to all his papers (detailed as boxes and boxes of letters, notes, journals, etc.) and, I recall, she is still in the interviewing stage, I believe. I, too, would be surprised that more than one biographer was authorized by the Robbins estate. ------------------ Link to comment
Alexandra Posted December 26, 2000 Share Posted December 26, 2000 I should check this before I write it but I have a vague memory of hearing that there ARE two authorized biographies, because they cover different aspects of his life? It would be possible to have an artistic one and a more general biography, for example. Link to comment
Dale Posted December 27, 2000 Share Posted December 27, 2000 The following is a review of the Conrad book from the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/leisure/arts...2100430,FF.html Link to comment
AmandaNYC Posted December 27, 2000 Author Share Posted December 27, 2000 Originally posted by dirac:Although I haven't seen it yet, I think the Conrad book is more of a pictures-with-text coffee table kind of volume, and so it wouldn't be intruding on Jowitt's territory or vice versa. Yup, that it is (though not coffee table book size). Got it today, though B&N said it wouldn't be available for 1-2 weeks. Not the kind of book I'd buy for myself, but a good gift book, which it is for my Robbins-loving sis. After one quick page-flip, I already found an error. There's a pic from Brandenberg labeled as Wendy Whelan and Peter Boal. But, it's not them. Looks like James Fayette and Maria Kowroski to me. Ah, well. -Amanda Link to comment
liebs Posted January 4, 2001 Share Posted January 4, 2001 I had a look at the Robbins book "That Broadway Man... the other day in the NYCB gift shop. It is definately a "coffee table" book, not a serious biography or study of his work. It was very attractively designed and had many lovely photographs. Link to comment
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