Top 10 Must-Read Books for Broadway Lovers

Playwright and director Moss Hart’s rags-to-riches memoir is so successful that it spawned a film in 1963 and a play in 2014, showing how this man’s story continues to inspire. There’s a certain appeal to reading the story of Moss Hart, who was born to poor immigrant parents, grew up in New York and struggled for years before becoming a household name. Hart penned several popular works for both the stage and the screen, such as “You Can't Take It with You,” winning the Pulitzer for Drama, “Gentleman’s Agreement,” which won the Oscar for Best Picture, as well as 1954’s “A Star Is Born.” His Broadway legacy continued in the director’s chair, working on the original “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot.”

Although it’s more a textbook than a light read, this literary masterpiece nevertheless offers a fascinating and comprehensive look at one of the most underrated jobs in theatre: the swing. These are the performers who understudy numerous roles in a production wherever and whenever they’re needed - succinctly described here as “mathematicians, artists, soloists, team members, team leaders, peacekeepers, and miracle-workers.” J. Austin Eyer and Lyndy Franklin Smith reflect on their time performing, offering a new perspective on the Broadway world - and how to make the job a success. This, combined with collective insights of dozens of theatre professionals, offers an insider look at this essential role, going beneath the surface to see what makes a production tick.

Julie Andrews has defined many childhoods with her firm but kind characters and that unmistakable voice. Collaborating with her daughter for this autobiography, Andrews details her transition from performing as a child, to being in popular but troubled Broadway productions, and then thrust into huge blockbuster films seemingly overnight. Though she might be best-known as Mary Poppins and Maria, her Broadway experience was constantly intertwined with her more famous roles - including the drama behind the casting of Eliza Doolittle for the film adaptation, a part she’d originated on stage. She also gets into her Broadway run in “Victor/Victoria” and the heartbreaking surgery that cost her - and the world - her beautiful voice. Andrews nonetheless shows an optimism that everything happens for a reason - finding her voice again in writing books like this.

Certainly one of the most popular musicals of the new millennium, Wicked is also the fifth-longest running show in Broadway’s history and one of its highest-grossing musicals to date. Where the musical pulled back the emerald curtain on beloved characters such as the supposed “Wicked” Witch of the West, Elphaba, and the Good Witch, Galinda, this comprehensive novel covers everything that Wicked fans love about the show: the musical numbers, cast, costumes and makeup, and so much more, all with beautiful pictures courtesy of Joan Marcus. If you’re still not convinced to pick this up, just take a look at it; for you true fans, it’s instantly recognizable as a replica of Elphaba’s Grimmerie book of spells.

True, this talented actor, singer, and director (to name a few of his achievements) is known for much more than just his stint on Broadway - but what a stint it was! Redefining the Emcee role in several productions of “Cabaret” - earning an Olivier and Tony Award for his efforts - Cumming has returned to the stage several times, including as Otto in the comedy “Design for Living” revival and a one-man “Macbeth” in which he played every part. But it’s not all highs for the performer - “Not My Father’s Son” describes his painful upbringing, the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, and the unravelling of family secrets. This autobiography provides a riveting chronicle of the events that shaped the award-winning actor into who he is today.

To add to the laundry list of accomplishments from the mind and pen of Stephen Sondheim is this memoir detailing his 50+ years of experience in musical theatre. This is a chronicle of Sondheim’s work in a way only he could have delivered it; including lyrics from his contributions to TV, film, theatre and insights into his techniques. Interspersed throughout are this musical genius’ witty stories, comments, and critiques, providing a delightful sidebar to the meat of the book. Hailed as one of the greatest lyricists of all time, if you’re a fan of any of any of this work, which includes “West Side Story,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Into the Woods,” this is a must-read.

In a book that reads like a musical (starting with an overture and ending with a curtain call), this might very well be the definitive book on what makes a musical great. The author, a seasoned veteran with over 30 years on Broadway, dissects the patterns that permeate all great American musicals (from Fiddler on the Roof to the Book of Mormon, from Oklahoma! to Hairspray), but also why a radical outlier sometimes gets its time in the spotlight. Fans of musicals will relish as Viertel deconstructs some of the most famous scenes in Broadway history, teaches terms like the “11 o’clock number,” and proves there just may be a formula that keeps audiences coming back for repeated viewings.

“Fosse” can mean many things; a name, a dance style, a cautionary tale, or a mystery. Director, dancer and choreographer Bob Fosse is still a legend today, renowned as the only person to ever win a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy in the same year. Since 2019 saw Wasson’s book used as key reference for FX’s “Fosse/Verdon” miniseries, now’s as good a time as any to pick up this never-before-seen glimpse into the Broadway star’s private life. Who really was the man underneath the hat, the man synonymous with “jazz hands,” the man behind the choreography in “Chicago,” “Sweet Charity,” and “Cabaret”? Wasson leaves nothing to the imagination, chronicling both agony and ecstasy, from Fosse’s greatest successes to his fiercest rivalries and everything in-between in this tell-all biography.

This actress, singer, and dancer has done a ton in a career lasting over 7 decades, but her performative flair has touched many and been seen on screen and stage alike. Moreno debuted on Broadway at merely 13 years of age and went on to star in shows like “Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” The Ritz, and the female version of “The Odd Couple” before she shifted to the screen both big and small. This talented beauty reveals all in this telling novel, from her relationships with legends like Elvis and Marlon Brando, to her struggles with sexism and racism, in a story that feels somehow even more relevant today.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Tradition!: The Highly Improbable, Ultimately Triumphant Broadway-to-Hollywood Story of Fiddler on the Roof, the World’s Most Beloved Musical” (2014)
Barbara Isenberg

“Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway” (2015)
Michael Riedel

“Life Is Like a Musical: How to Live, Love, and Lead Like a Star” (2017)
Tim Federle

“Somewhere: The Life of Jerome Robbins” (2006)
Amanda Vaill

“The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway” (1998)
Julie Taymor

Well, when fans and Lin-Manuel Miranda alike call it the “Hamiltome,” you know it’s gotta be good. This book does much more than introduce the reader to the Broadway smash hit; it takes you behind-the-scenes, from humble beginnings, the formative White House performance, and finally the cultural phenomenon it is today. With exclusive photos, notebook snapshots, and in-depth interviews with many minds that made it possible, this is a book that “Hamilton” fans will not want to miss out on. And if you’re still wanting to master every verse, the lyrics are ripe for the memorizing within these pages. Miranda’s footnotes alone are worth the price of this book, but we can tell you this is one fun history book - that we might add, looks pretty darn classy on a bookshelf.