At This Theatre

Rating:
Summary: ...Worth Every Penny
Review: Author Louis Botto is a master at telling stories of theatre past, present and the future. He's been going to the theatre for the past 65 years and has enough stories to fill the main reading room at the New York Public Library.

The book is full of images of old playbill covers, production photographs and souvenir programs from the shows he discuss. and it is not only great as a reference for what show played which theatre, who starred in the production or how long it lasted; but it's a very interesting read and worth every penny you spend.

Rating:
Summary: A Lullaby to Broadway
Review: For any theatre fan or history buff, Louis Botto's At This Theatre is an enjoyable and informative collection of colorfully-illustrated chapters chronicling the many productions and personalities playing at the existing theatres which together constitute "Broadway" today, this revised edition covering all current Tony-eligible houses with a history of legitimate productions (plus a few more theatrical venues in New York City), and including a useful index -- something missing from the first edition. One wishes, though, that this hefty volume could be even thicker, but for the many Broadway theatres now gone. However, of those legitimate stages which remain or which have been returned (or are returning) to theatrical glory, this book is an affectionate tribute to a century of plays and musicals on the Broadway stage and the many theatres which house them, some of which have become like a second home to some of us theatregoers. And at a time when corporations and other commercial producers have made it easy for a wary public to be cynical about the crass commercialism which has taken over so much of mainstream culture (including the renaming of some refurbished or rebuilt Broadway theatres), Brian Stokes Mitchell's thoughtful preface reminds us that there is a very human history and a living tradition at these theatres worth knowing and keeping in spite of it.

Rating:
Summary: Most beautiful theatre book
Review: I bought this book at the BCEFA fair in Shubert Alley and Mr. Botto signed it for me! It's simply the most beautiful theatre book I've ever seen. It really brings back memories. I only wish there was space for me to write in my own stories! And I have plenty!

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD HISTORY OF EACH OF THE BROADWAY THEATRES
Review: I own the first edition of this book and was
happy to see the new edition come out.
(The first edition was in 1984)
It is tells the history of the 40 Broadway theatres
which are currently being used in NYC.
It is filled with tons of photos from the plays
which have taken place in each theatre as well as
photos of other memorabilia related to the theatre.
The one thing that the books lacks are historic
and contemporary photos of the theatre interiors.
There are some color photos of the New Amsterdam
but very few others.
I think that the book would have had an added dimension
with interior photos of the theatres themselves.
Even without the theatre photos, I would still recommend
this book to any student or fan of Broadway theatre.