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LEE & LOW BOOKS celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and to recognize how far the company has come, we are featuring one title a week to see how it is being used in classrooms today as well, as hear from the authors and illustrators.
Synopsis: Born in 1905, Anna May Wong spent her childhood working in her family’s laundry in Los Angeles’s Chinatown. Whenever she could afford it, Anna May slipped off to the movies, escaping to a world of adventure, glamour, and excitement. After seeing a movie being filmed in her neighborhood, young Anna May was hooked. She decided she would become a movie star!
Anna May struggled to pursue an acting career in Hollywood in the 1930s. There were very few roles for Asian Americans, and many were demeaning and stereotypical. Anna May made the most of each limited part. She worked hard and always gave her best performance. Finally, after years of unfulfilling roles, Anna May began crusading for more meaningful roles for herself and other Asian American actors.
Anna May Wong—the first Chinese American movie star—was a pioneer of the cinema. Her spirited determination in the face of discrimination is an inspiration to all who must overcome obstacles so that their dreams may come true.
Awards and Honors:
Carter G. Woodson Award, NCSS
Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
Choices, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
Veronicahas a degree from Mount Saint Mary College and joined LEE & LOW in the fall of 2014. She has a background in education and holds a New York State childhood education (1-6) and students with disabilities (1-6) certification. When she’s not wondering around New York City, you can find her hiking with her dog Milo in her hometown in the Hudson Valley, NY.
0 Comments on Celebrating 25 Books Over 25 Years: Shining Star as of 1/1/1900
The first female Juliet appears to have been Mary Saunderson, to Henry Harris’s Romeo in 1662 when her future husband, Thomas Betterton, played Mercutio. Later she acted admirably as Ophelia and Lady Macbeth but nothing I have read characterizes her as great. Elizabeth Barry (c.1658–1713) succeeded her as Betterton’s leading lady, excelling in pathetic roles and achieving her greatest successes in the heroic tragedies of her own time.
बहुमुखी प्रतिभा की धनी है काजल निषाद एक गृहणी, एक कलाकार, एक परम शिव भक्त, एक कवयित्री, एक नेता, एक समाजसेवी ढेरों गुणों की खान है काजल निषाद. इन सब के इलावा एक खूबी काजल जी में और भी है कि उनमें अभिनेत्री होने का घमंड जरा भी नही है. बेहद सीधी सादी और भोली […]
Holy Cow! Sometimes I just have to get that off my chest. The 25th volume of Skip*Beat! ROCKED! The drama was cranked up when Sho made a surprise appearance during the filming of Kyoko and Ren’s TV show and WOW! He really knows how to stir up trouble. And best yet, how to get under Kyoko’s skin. Jealous when he thought that she was hung up on Reino, a rival singer, Sho wanted to make sure Kyoko knew what she was missing. Delivering a huge bouquet brimming with all the things he thought she’d love, he throws down the gauntlet. He’ll not be overshadowed by the Beagle or by smarmy Ren, either!
When Sho steals Kyoko’s first kiss, hilarity ensues. She is distraught, Ren is quivering with rage, and poor Yashiro – he can only look on in horror as his client’s sense of well-being is shattered into a billion tiny pieces. I didn’t know who I felt worse for – Ren, Kyoko, or Yashiro, who would have to deal with the fallout from Ren’s state of agitation. Kyoko is traumatized, until Ren scoffs at her reaction to Sho. If she wasn’t a willing participant in the kiss, is it really a kiss? Besides, she’s an actress, and there will be times when she’ll have to kiss a co-star. That’s not a kiss, either, it’s just part of the script, and part of the job. Just when he’s made her feel better about the whole episode, Ren works in a little threat; she needs to be careful to never let Sho take advantage of her again, because she only gets one chance. There will be no second chances. Oh, dear!
Later, when Kyoko is alone in Ren’s dressing room, he does something to push Sho completely out of her mind. Literally. Suddenly, she can only think of Ren, and don’t think that doesn’t make him all smug and extremely self-satisfied. Valentine’s Day was so much fun, I was sorry to see it end. This has been my favorite volume of Skip*Beat! so far, and I wonder if it can be topped. Even the art was kicked up a notch, but that impression might be due to the amount of illustrations featuring Ren.
Grade: A-
Review copy purchased from Amazon
From Amazon:
Kyoko’s Valentine’s battle with Reino has finally gained her Sho’s attention—but now it’s the last thing she wants! Sho is determined to make her obsessed with him, and shows up on set with an over-the-top gift to taunt her. But when Kyoko explains her true relationship with Reino, Sho makes an inexcusable move. Has he undone her years of healing in one fell swoop?!
I decided to read Will the Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up? because Abi’s a kickboxer, and the movie set setting sounded interesting. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, but Abi’s lack of common sense derailed some of my enjoyment later on. The ending was satisfying, but the middle stretch did test my resolve. The story would have worked better for me if Abi had been 16 instead of 18, because she acted so immature. Part of that is because of her speech impediment, which made her family and her friends want to take the lead and help her over life’s little hurdles. It quickly got annoying when she continually craved their help and feedback, or when she blamed everyone but herself for the messes she found herself in.
With speech therapy, time, and practice, Abi has overcome her embarrassing stutter. Bullied because of it when she was younger, her parents enrolled her in kickboxing lessons to help build her self esteem. Discovering that she was good at it, Abi has become a champion kickboxer. When her instructor suggests she audition as a stunt double for an indie movie that his friend is working on, she’s reluctant to step outside of her comfort zone. Her friends Matt and Liv convince her to give it a shot, but Abi still has her reservations. She’s never wanted to be in the limelight, and even though the job is to be star Tilly Watson’s stunt double, she’s scared she’ll have trouble interacting with a new group of people.
The audition is almost a complete disaster; her stutter returns with a vengeance, and she’s so nervous she can barely think. When it’s time to show off her martial arts skills, however, she’s immediately calmed and is able to nail the job. Once on the set, she starts to think that she’s made a horrible mistake. Tilly is mean and taunts her about her speech impediment, and the director is a stern task master. Just when she’s beginning to regret taking the position, Tilly’s boyfriend shows up on the set. Mistaking Abi for Tilly, he greets her with a kiss – and Abi is smitten with the young actor.
As I stated earlier, I enjoyed the book at first. Then after Abi starts her new job, I started to get annoyed with her. She’s basically a doormat for Tilly, and starry eyed over Jon, she starts letting down her best friends. She makes some very bad decisions, and then doesn’t take ownership of them. She feels sorry for Jon because Tilly is cheating on him, and starting wondering what it would be like to be his girlfriend. He’s so kind to her, and he’s gorgeous, too. I was disappointed in her, thinking that it was kind of low for her to even contemplate stealing someone else’s boyfriend, so when Jon’s attentions aren’t quite everything they seem, I thought Abi got a little bit of what she deserved.
At the start of the story, she is head over heels in love with Matt, but because she’s afraid of ruining their friendship, she keeps her feelings a secret. Her flip-flop between the two guys made her seem shallow, and it looked like she was just using Matt. As a distance grows between them, she’s confused and blames him for not accepting her new happiness with her job. She finally feels like she belongs somewhere, but she can’t seem to meld her old life with her new one. Soon, Liv isn’t speaking to her at all, and there’s a new awkwardness with Matt.
While Abi does finally understand that she is the cause for most of her grief, it takes a long time for her to get even the smallest hint that most of her problems are self-inflicted. I liked the ending because she finally does grow up and stop taking her friends and family for granted, but it took a long time for that to happen.
Grade: C+
Review copy provided by publisher
From Amazon:
Abi Saunders might be a kickboxing champion, but when it comes to being the center of attention, she’d rather take a roundhouse kick to the solar plexus any day. So when her trainer convinces her to audition to be the stunt double for hot teen starlet Tilly Watson, Abi is shocked—and a little freaked out—when she gets the job.
Being a stunt double is overwhelming, but once the wig and makeup are on, Abi feels like a different person. Tilly Watson, to be exact. And when Tilly’s gorgeous boyfriend, Jon, mistakes Abi for the real star, Abi’s completely smitten. In fact, she’s so in love with her new life, it isn’t long before she doesn’t have time for her old one.
But when the cameras are turned off, will she discover running with the Hollywood A-list isn’t quite the glamorous existence she thought it was?
I’ve been in a manga kind of a mood recently. I’ve been reading some new series that caught my attention, as well as trying to catch up on some of my favorites that I’ve fallen behind on. Skip*Beat! is one of those. Kyoko is a fun protagonist; she’s a good girl who had her heart stomped on by the guy she loved, and now she’s out for revenge. Sho is an up and coming celebrity, and in order to get back at him, Kyoko is determined to become more popular than he is. When she’s in a rage, she’s possessed by her anger, which causes dramatic, and usually, hilarious results.
Now that we are quite a ways into the series, the tables have turned on Sho. Now he has a crush on Kyoko, but he won’t come out and tell her directly (as is the shoujo way!), nor will she give him the time of day. Kyoko just wants her revenge, revenge, revenge! She’s even gotten over her earlier animosity for Ren, one of Sho’s rivals. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? Only Ren has developed feelings for the stubborn Kyoko and her never say die spirit, but she’s so oblivious she doesn’t even notice. Just like with Sho, all of her focus is on becoming a success in show biz.
In volume 22, Kyoko is having a hard time stepping into her latest role. She’s confused about what the director wants, and she’s holding up shooting with her inability to immerse herself into her new character. With some help from Ren, her acting mojo is recharged and viola! She’s become Natsu, a high school bully, much to the dismay of Chiori, one of her cast mates. Chiori is resentful of Kyoko’s success, and she wants desperately for her to fail. Chiori’s career is stuttering, and the intense competition she feels for Kyoko isn’t helping her.
I thought that volume 22 dragged a bit, but volume 23 cranked up the drama and the action that I love this series for. Kyoko and Chiori’s feud becomes explosive. Chiori schemes against Kyoko, almost causing her great bodily harm. In return, Kyoko pushes Chiori to deliver the very best performance she’s capable of. Their competition is intense, and I felt really bad for the actress who got caught up in the middle of it.
Volume 23 closes out with the beginning of a fun Valentine’s Day story, which I’m looking forward continuing in the next installment of the series.
Is there such a thing as being too good? With Ren’s help, Kyoko finally gets into her new character. But when she shows up on set and wows the crew with her new spin on the old bully role, it sends some of her costars over the edge! Kyoko’s used to dealing with her own demons, but can she stand up to someone else’s?!
Chiori’s rage threatens the whole production when she lashes out and hurts Kyoko. Kyoko is used to overcoming obstacles, and she uses her injury as an excuse to push Chiori into exploring her acting. But Chiori has a traumatic past. Will focusing on the dark side of her character bring it all rushing back?!
Sabrina Darby is the author of The Short and Fascinating Tale of Angelina Whitcombe. I enjoyed this quirky read, and was delighted when Sabrina agreed to answer some of my questions. Check out what she has to say:
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Sabrina Darby] From my bio: I’ve been reading romance since the age of seven and learned my best vocabulary (dulcet, diaphanous, and turgid) from them!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about The Short and Fascinating Tale of Angelina Whitcombe?
[Sabrina Darby] This story was so much fun to write because the premise is basically a mom hiring a mistress for her son.
The official blurb is:
Wanted:
A beautiful young woman—preferably one with no connections, who won’t ask too many questions—to spend two weeks in the North of England with an obstinate, aloof, and utterly handsome man.
Must love dogs, fixing up crumbling castles, and gorgeous and complicated war heroes who may or may not be hiding hearts of gold under their gruff exteriors.
Must not, under any circumstances, fall in love . . .
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Sabrina Darby] This story actually started as a blog post on TheBallroomBlog.com, where I was playing with some of the common story elements in historical romance: wounded, war-scarred hero, meddling mother, castle, etc. It grew into a series of posts and then into a novella.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Angelina?
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things John would never have in his pocket?
[Sabrina Darby] This is a hard one. John’s definitely the sort of guy who might collect random things if he thought they could be put to good use. Of course, he’s also very neat, so there would be nothing in his pocket by the end of the day. I do think, by the time the story happens, he would likely never have a gun in his pocket.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Angelina had a theme song, what would it be?
[Sabrina Darby] Just prior to meeting John, I’d say her theme song is the Dar Williams version of Comfortably Numb.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Sabrina Darby] Another good question, and hard to pick just a few since there is no doubt that I’m influenced by all of the amazing artists who have come before me. However, for now, I’d say Ani DiFranco, Carole Maso and Magritte.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Sabrina Darby] Something to write with, something to write on, and a latte.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Sabrina Darby] If we’re talking romance, then I’d have to say the last Sarah MacLean book that I read.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Sabrina Darby] I can’t remember because I’ve been reading voraciously for as long as I can remember. However, books like Harriet the Spy definitely contributed to my love for writing.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Sabrina Darby] In the past, I used to love ballroom dancing and karate. These days, I like going to museums (Los Angeles has some of the best!), traveling and spending time with my husband, family and friends.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
You can order The Short and Fascinating Tale of Angelina Whitcombe from your favorite bookseller, or by clicking the widget below. Available in print and digital (digital is only .99!!)
Today, I have the pleasure of featuring 4RV Publishing author Laurie Boris and her NEW contemporary novel The Joke's on Me (http://thejokesonme.net). Laurie and I have a lot in common, her book will also be released this month, she's a fellow 4RV author, and we're both ghostwriters.
Okay, now for the interview:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a recovering perfectionist, a closet stand-up comedian, and an obsessive writer. I’ve scorched several pots of brown rice because I snuck away to my computer to write just a little bit more of the story. Once, even the smoke alarm and a horrid burning smell couldn’t penetrate my writing bubble. Finally, my mother bought me a rice cooker so I wouldn’t burn my house down.
What’s the novel about?
Love, redemption, family, baseball, tomatoes… you know, the usual stuff. Seriously, The Joke’s on Me is about Frankie Goldberg, a thirty-seven-year-old former stand-up comic and actress who has been in Hollywood struggling for success (and ignoring her family) for the last fifteen years. When a mudslide drops her bungalow into the Pacific, Frankie books it for home: her mother’s bed and breakfast in Woodstock, New York. But the joke’s on Frankie–there’s little TLC here, only the family she left behind. Her mother is now in a nursing home, and her older sister has taken over the business. Frankie needs to decide what role she wants to play in this new iteration of Goldbergs, if at all. When her childhood crush shows up, it makes her decision that much harder. And life a lot more interesting.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I always loved writing, and kept a journal (there have to be at least five dozen black marble composition books full of scribbled words in my closet, dating back from junior high), but I went to school for advertising and became a graphic designer. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties and between jobs that I decided to become a writer. It just felt like the right time. Plus, it gave me something to do between interviews and freelance gigs. I wrote a lot of really bad short stories at first, and eventually got better.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
More writing! By day I’m a freelance writer. I ghostwrite, blog, write educational materials for kids, whatever people will pay me to do. When I’m not staring at my computer or burning pots of brown rice, I love to read, cook, and watch baseball.
There are a lot of food references in The Joke’s on Me. Does this stem from your love of cooking?
Yes, and my love of eating! Among the older generations in my family, like in Frankie’s, food was love, food was warmth, a kind of social currency. My grandmothers and great aunts literally ran around offering people food, selling us on second helpings like they would jump out a window if we didn’t eat. They were my inspiration for Frankie’s stand-up routine.
Can you tell us about your challenges getting your first book published?
The first book I tried to get
21 Comments on An Interview with Author Laurie Boris, last added: 7/23/2011
What an entertaining interview! Thanks for hosting, Karen. Enjoyed getting to know Laurie a little bit. And I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person who burns things on the stove while engrossed in writing - LOL!
I'm thankful for microwaves: The food may grow cold again but won't burn.
The Joke's on Me is an enjoyable novel, and, no, I really don't say that about all of our books ... well, maybe I do because we only accept the ones that are. But Laurie's characters are quirky but so true to life. The plot grabs the reader. Yes, I like it.
Thank you, Michelle, Beth and Vivian! Not only was I burning things on the stove, I was burning them in the microwave! There's a very long story about a microwave heat pack, a metal twist-tie and having to buy a new microwave, but I try not to write while operating anything in my kitchen.
I soooo hope that Frankie Goldberg has even HALF of your personality Laurie. I will love her instantly if she does.
Something I love to do after reading a book is to reflect on the Book Title's significance. For me, the experience is enriched when the Title takes on a new meaning once the book has been absorbed. (Like 'Still Alice' for instance.)
I'm now looking forward to not only doing this for The Joke's On Me, but also - to wonder what the book's title(s) might have been.
Looking forward to reading Laurie's book, and I'm sure it will be one that I will be sad to leave the characters once I've finished the book. I usually do that when it's a book that I really enjoyed and couldn't put down.
I enjoyed this interview, Laurie sounds like a terrific writer, I can tell by her anecdotes and remembrances. The title is very good, I think because it spurs the readers interest. Of no significance, but it would alternitively make a great song title. CM.
Are you ready? The Academy Awards will be on live this Sunday at 8|5p and I will definitely be watching. Since I watched the Golden Globes and the SAG awards, I feel more prepared than usual for the Oscars. I have a good feeling who will win best actress...
Natalie Portman
...best supporting actor...
Christian Bale
...best supporting actress...
Melissa Leo
...and best animated feature film.
Toy Story 3
What do you think? Are you going to be watching? Do you have your predictions made? Do you foresee any big upsets?
Good predictions! I will watch if I'm home. I don't get to see as many movies as I'd like, so I don't have any predictions of my own. I do have to say Natalie looks gorgeous in that picture!
I'm rooting for Annette Bening...and I think she has a decent chance. She's turned in so many good performances in the past, but never won...plus, I was more impressed with her than Portman this year.
And I really want The Social Network to win best picture! I just think it's amazing.
I'm totally happy about Christian Bale. I've been a fan for years...
Yes! I'll be watching. So many good films and performances this year!
I just watched Winter's Bone last night and it was terrific! It's up for Best Picture, Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Best Supporting Actor (John Hawkes from Deadwood), and Best Adapted Screenplay. Go rent it! It's a noir mystery-YA set in the Ozarks. Great acting, great script.
I didn't see many films this year--lots to catch up on through Netflix--but I admit to loving Toy Story 3 and crying at end!
Dolphin Girl said, on 2/23/2011 2:25:00 PM
Haha totally true. I'm definitly rooting for Toy Story 3 (cutest movie ever) Btw I just finished re-reading Godess Boot Camp and I cant figure out Nicole's godly parent. Can I have a hint???? Please!?!?!?!?!
So, as you may know, I sold the film rights to the first three GHOST HUNTRESS books to the fabulous folks at Shoulderhill Films. They are hard at work trying to find the perfect screenwriter for the project, as well as the right movie company. They've started a GHOST HUNTRESS fan page on Facebook (please join!) and are asking fans who you think should play Kendall?
I would have to say Emma Watson. Cant wait to hear more!
Anonymous said, on 6/16/2010 2:43:00 PM
I think that Demi L looks like a Kendall. I would say Emma, but b/c it looks like Kendall is American (i have yet to read the books; but I will soon!) Emma's Brit accent might throw people off, especially people who watch the movies and never read the books (so annoying!).
Anonymous said, on 6/16/2010 2:48:00 PM
same anon @ 2:43- Or how about Alexandra Daddario from The Lightning Theif (yes I know she's 23, and maybe too old for Kendall, but she's a good actress)?
I really like the pics of Victoria Justice, Demi, and Emma--have you emailed them to see if they've read your books???--I can't imagine how excited you must be!!!!!!
Although, I like Miley in some stuff, I have a hard time picturing her doing this straight...Of course, that might be just what she needs...Right now she's kind of the definition of the difference between Movie Stars and Actors--they're by no means mutually exclusive, but when I see a Movie Star, I watch THEM, when I see an ACTOR, I watch the movie...and them.
Congratulations on your success!!! I wish you the best!!!
So cool! But...I'd mention someone not on your list: Willa Holland. She's so kickass Kendall-style.
Anonymous2.0 said, on 6/17/2010 12:27:00 PM
I think that Victoria Justice should play Kendall. Emma Watson is too blonde and British to be Kendall, and Miranda just isn't who I pictured as Kendall. But anyone would be better than Miley and Demi. Disney Channel stars should stay on Disney channal for the kids cuz they're typically horrible actors/singers.
Victoria Justice- she has the perfect face, perfect age, etc. (I've already commented on a Facebook status about all the good reasons it should be her and other suggestions.)
Also, Emma Watson would be amazing. She would probably bring more of the quiet, mysterious type characteristics to Kendall than Victoria Justice would. (But, don't get me wrong, Victoria Justice is a great actress.)
All of these suggestions are great, but I beg you not to choose Miley Cyrus- I don't like her acting and she might ruin the series for me if I go see the movie (which I ENTIRELY plan on!!). Demi Lovato isn't my favorite actress either, but I would choose her over Miley Cyrus any day. I think that Demi Lovato doesn't really grow into her character much. By this, I mean that I don't think she really tries acting like her character. She seems to be the same person in every show or movie she is in/on.
A new actress who has never been heard of before and is just starting out but has great acting skills is another option that I think would be great. She would already know what kind of mood the story is set in because it's based on a book series, so it would be a great beginning.
I picture a girl with long, dirty blond hair that's curly, very much like the girl on each cover. (The reason I picture her this way is pretty obvious.) However, I do make little tweaks to the Kendall I imagine as I read more because something happens or my mind just changes the picture. For this reason, Emma Watson has the looks because of her hair and her overall image.
Whoever you choose will be great because, as the author, you know what you had intended her to look like and how she was going to act, so the person you choose will be very similar to what we are all expecting. Good luck! :)
It’s Tony season and who better to educate us about the wonderful world of theatre thanThomas S. Hischak, author of The Oxford Companion To The American Musical: Theatre, Film and Television. Hischak is a Professor of Theatre at the State University of New York College at Cortland. He is the author of sixteen books on theater, film, and popular music as well as the author of twenty published plays. In The Oxford Companion To The American Musical Hischak offers over two thousand entires on musicals, performers, composers, lyricists, producers, choreographers and much more. Below are the answers to this morning’s quiz.
1. Harvey (1944). It was also her last Broadway credit.
9.The Sound of Music (1959). Six of the seven Von Trapp kids were nominated for Best Featured Actress and the eldest Von Trapp, Lauri Peters, was nominated separately. They all lost to Patricia Neway as the Mother Abbess in the same show.
It’s Tony season and who better to educate us about the wonderful world of theatre thanThomas S. Hischak, author of The Oxford Companion To The American Musical: Theatre, Film and Television. Hischak is a Professor of Theatre at the State University of New York College at Cortland. He is the author of sixteen books on theater, film, and popular music as well as the author of twenty published plays. In The Oxford Companion To The American Musical Hischak offers over two thousand entires on musicals, performers, composers, lyricists, producers, choreographers and much more. In the quiz below Hischak questions your Tony knowledge. Post your answers in the comments section. We will post the answer sheet later today.
1. The Tony Awards are named after actress and director Antoinette Perry (1888-1946), founder of the American Theatre Wing. What was her long-running comedy hit, later turned into a successful feature film starring Jimmy Stewart?
2. Name the musical star, ever a tabloid presence for her many marriages, battles with substance abuse, and ability to poke fun at her own image, who caused quite a stir in 1977 when it was discovered that, due to the strenuous dancing in the show, parts of her singing were prerecorded. She won the Tony anyway.
3. Although The Phantom of the Opera won the Best Musical and six other Tonys in 1988, the Best Book and Best Score went to another musical that season. A 2002 revival, which added three little pigs, won Best Revival of a Musical. Name the musical.
4. The 1956 Tonys were the first in which musicals were nominated. Before that only a winner was announced. Damn Yankees won over what Rodgers and Hammerstein musical? Maybe if Julie Andrews—who auditioned but was told by Richard Rodgers to focus on getting the part of Eliza Doolittle instead—had stayed with the production, it would have had better luck.
5. Although The Producers cleaned up at the 2001 Tony Awards, winning most of the major awards, an earlier musical is the only one to win Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Director and all four musical performance Tonys for a musical. The earlier show could clean up again at the 2008 Tonys, in a different incarnation. Name that show.
6. In 1999, Parade was the only nominated musical with a book; the other three nominees were revues. Which one won? Hint: Ann Reinking and Chet Walker channeled another choreographer in numbers such as “Razzle Dazzle”, “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “Big Spender”.
7. What 1950s musicals won eight Tony Awards but was not revived on Broadway for fifty years? When it was, Donna Murphy lost to Idina Menzel for Best Actress in a musical.
8. It sometimes happens that someone is nominated for two different musicals in one season. For what two shows, impressive in very different ways, was Trevor Nunn nominated for Best Director of a Musical at the same Tony Awards ceremony?
9. Four girls and two boys were nominated together for the Best Featured Actress Tony for what 1959 musical?
10. “What worst piemaker in London has hosted the most Tony telecasts?”
It’s Tony season and who better to educate us about the wonderful world of theatre thanThomas S. Hischak, author of The Oxford Companion To The American Musical: Theatre, Film and Television. Hischak is a Professor of Theatre at the State University of New York College at Cortland. He is the author of sixteen books on theater, film, and popular music as well as the author of twenty published plays. In The Oxford Companion To The American Musical Hischak offers over two thousand entires on musicals, performers, composers, lyricists, producers, choreographers and much more. Below are the answers to this morning’s quiz. Be sure to check back next week on Tuesday for another quiz about the Tonys.
1. The musical Passion (1994) ran only 280 performances, the shortest run on record for a Best Musical winner. Hallelujah, Baby! (1967) ran only two weeks longer but it had closed before it won the Tony so the award could not help business.
2. Poet T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) won when his light verse was set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber for Cats (1982). 3.Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Mostel won for the original 1962 production, Silvers and Lane won for the 1972 and 1996 revivals, and Alexander won when he played Pseudolus and other roles in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (1989).
4. The Threepenny Opera (1954). In 1956 the American Theatre Wing gave a special Tony to the long-running Off Broadway musical.
5. It was their Broadway debut. Bosley in Fiorello! (1959), Smith in Follies (1971), Holliday in Dreamgirls (1981), Martin in My Favorite Year (1992), McDonald in Carousel (1994), Heredia in Rent (1996) and Foster in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002).
6.Chicago. The 1997 production won the Revival Tony and is still running.
7. Ethel Merman lost to Mary Martin in The Sound of Music in 1960. Bernadette Peters lost in 2004. Angela Lansbury won in 1975, Tyne Daly in 1990. Will Patti LuPone follow suit?
8. Best Orchestrations. Jonathan Tunick won for Titanic.
9. Frankie Michaels as Young Patrick in Mame and Daisy Eagan as Mary Lenox in The Secret Garden.
10. Tommy Tune. He has Tonys for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Director of a Musical, and Best Choreographer. Harvey Fierstein has also won Tonys in four different categories but half were for nonmusicals: as author of Best Play, Best Actor in a Play, Best Actor in a Musical, and Best Book for a Musical.
Edward A. Zelinsky is the Morris and Annie Trachman Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University. He is the author of The Origins of Ownership Society: How the Defined Contribution Paradigm Changed America which looks at how defined contributions (IRAs, 401(k) accounts, 529 programs, FSAs, HRAs, HSAs…) have transformed tax and social policy in fundamental ways. In the article below Zelinksy turns his sight towards health care reform.
The financing of medicine has emerged as the central domestic issue of the 2008 presidential campaign. Hovering over this debate is the memory of the failed health care initiative spearheaded by the then First Lady in 1993. Senator Clinton’s supporters suggest that Senator Clinton has learned from that earlier, unsuccessful experience. Her opponents contend otherwise. (more…)
LEE & LOW BOOKS celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and to recognize how far the company has come, we are featuring one title a week to see how it is being used in classrooms today as well, as hear from the authors and illustrators.
working in her family’s laundry in Los Angeles’s Chinatown. Whenever she could afford it, Anna May slipped off to the movies, escaping to a world of adventure, glamour, and excitement. After seeing a movie being filmed in her neighborhood, young Anna May was hooked. She decided she would become a movie star!
Veronica has a degree from Mount Saint Mary College and joined LEE & LOW in the fall of 2014. She has a background in education and holds a New York State childhood education (1-6) and students with disabilities (1-6) certification. When she’s not wondering around New York City, you can find her hiking with her dog Milo in her hometown in the Hudson Valley, NY.
Laurie, I want to thank you for being a guest today. Your book sounds and looks wonderful. I wish you the best with it!
Karen
Fabulous interview! The book looks wonderful! I'm going to add it to my long wish list!
Blessings
Michelle V
What an entertaining interview! Thanks for hosting, Karen. Enjoyed getting to know Laurie a little bit. And I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person who burns things on the stove while engrossed in writing - LOL!
All the best with your book!
I'm thankful for microwaves: The food may grow cold again but won't burn.
The Joke's on Me is an enjoyable novel, and, no, I really don't say that about all of our books ... well, maybe I do because we only accept the ones that are. But Laurie's characters are quirky but so true to life. The plot grabs the reader. Yes, I like it.
Vivian
Karen, thank YOU, for having me. This is a nice place to hang out.
Thank you, Michelle, Beth and Vivian! Not only was I burning things on the stove, I was burning them in the microwave! There's a very long story about a microwave heat pack, a metal twist-tie and having to buy a new microwave, but I try not to write while operating anything in my kitchen.
I soooo hope that Frankie Goldberg has even HALF of your personality Laurie. I will love her instantly if she does.
Something I love to do after reading a book is to reflect on the Book Title's significance. For me, the experience is enriched when the Title takes on a new meaning once the book has been absorbed. (Like 'Still Alice' for instance.)
I'm now looking forward to not only doing this for The Joke's On Me, but also - to wonder what the book's title(s) might have been.
I hope to read this one son, myself. And I love the cover. Quirky.
Looking forward to reading Laurie's book, and I'm sure it will be one that I will be sad to leave the characters once I've finished the book. I usually do that when it's a book that I really enjoyed and couldn't put down.
Great interview.
Michelle V, Thanks for stopping by. It's on my 'to get' list also.
Beth, I think every writer can relate to Laurie's burnt food story.
Vivian, 4RV does have good books! :)
Sally G, nice point about the titles of books.
Aidana, I agree the cover is fun.
Peabea, Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like a great set-up for a story. And the cover is awesome!
Thanks, Kate! We had fun with the tomatoes.
I enjoyed this interview, Laurie sounds like a terrific writer, I can tell by her anecdotes and remembrances.
The title is very good, I think because it spurs the readers interest. Of no significance, but it would alternitively make a great song title. CM.
Kate, Thanks for stopping by!
Tony, it really would make a great song title, if it's not one already!
I think it already is a song title, and also the title of an album. That's okay. I'll share.
Wow! Love it, love it love it. Great cover, fantastic interview. Can't wait to read the book.
Vanessa, It does sound like a very good book. And, I think the cover is great also!
Laurie, I think it's so neat that you got to exercise your standup routine and come out of the closet.
Barbars, it is neat when we can use one means or another to fulfill our dreams!
Probably the closest I'll get to being in front of a brick wall holding a microphone, Barbara!