Overview

In this touching and often hilarious theatrical memoir, Ron Fassler tells the stories of how over a four-year span, between the ages of 12-16, he saw 200 Broadway plays and musicals for as little as $1.50 a ticket--and all from UP IN THE CHEAP SEATS. Such landmarks as Company, 1776, The Great White Hope, Hair, Follies and Pippin are but a small sampling of the original productions Fassler saw, funded entirely from the money earned as a Long Island paper boy. His eyewitness account to some of the greatest shows and stars of the 1960s and 70s (with visits backstage to a number of them), is furthered by conversing over the past four years with 100 men and women who were part of this remarkable time. Threading his own stories with theirs, the book features memories and insights from the likes of Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Bette Midler, Sheldon Harnick, James Earl Jones, Austin Pendleton, Ken Howard, Hal Linden, Stacy Keach, Jane Alexander and Mike Nichols among many others. With a half-century of theatregoing behind him, and dozens of credits over a long career as an actor and writer, Ron Fassler invites us to revisit the plays that impacted him as a young teenager and future artist. Included are indepth studies of the lives and careers of some of Broadway's finest actors: Julie Harris, Joseph Maher, Maureen Stapleton and John McMartin--all brought to life in vivid detail and sharp observation. UP IN THE CHEAP SEATS: A HISTORICAL MEMOIR OF BROADWAY is a first-of-its-kind hybrid that mixes the personal and the professional; a delightful and intimate portrait of a time in the theatre that once was ... and will never be again.

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9780999315392

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Reviews

If you've ever been a theater-obsessed teenager, this book is for you. If you're a theater-obsessed adult of a certain age this book will bring back many sweet memories and remind you of why you became a theater-obsessed teenager. An utterly charming and thoroughly entertaining memoir that draws back the curtain on many famous and infamous Broadway shows of the sixties and seventies, all through the eyes and thanks to the chutzpah of a budding actor and critic who never met a stage doorman he couldn't schmooze. It also pays beautiful tribute to four unique actors who should never be forgotten--Julie Harris, Maureen Stapleton, Joe Maher, and John McMartin. For that alone it is worth the price of admission. -Nathan Lane As a theatre-buff, I've read countless books about Broadway, but Ron Fassler's Up in the Cheap Seats is unique among them all. It demands to be in theatre departments worldwide. I can't think of a single comparison, as it is from the perspective of a passionate theatre-goer who just happens to be a child! It's so good, I relished every word and tried to read it as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible, simply because I didn't want it to end! I intend to buy several copies as gifts, as it is one of my all-time faves, right along with William Goldman's The Season. -Mark Hamill I deeply enjoyed Up in the Cheap Seats. The combination of Ron Fassler's personal, resonant story, along with the interviews and history of the shows make for a fascinating and very entertaining book. -Michael Feinstein Love of the theatre, from an early age (and it's almost always from an early age) is a hard thing to make clear to people who don't have that particular affliction. It has a texture of its own, a sensation all its own, and attempts later in life to shake it off have been known to make people inexplicably sad. What is this thing called this kind of love? How do you evoke it? I don't know. But Ron Fassler does. If you want to understand your theatre-crazy friends, or understand yourself if you are such a one, read this beautiful and joyous book. -Austin Pendleton I don't think I've ever read a book about the theatre that was as good natured, funny, and moving. A coming of age non-narcissistic love letter to some well deserving theatre legends. -Emanuel Azenberg What a delightful book! I also grew up in New York City with the same kind of infatuations as Ron Fassler (I too loved Robert Preston). And just as he did, I wrote rather unconvincing reviews of everything I saw, offering very, very strong opinions. I devoured Up in the Cheap Seats with great glee. -Andre Bishop For those of us whose hearts belong to the theatre, this is uninterrupted bliss. From the evocative cover to the delicious story inside, it is a funny and moving journey of a lifetime of theatre going. At 14, Ron had the eyes and ears of the toughest New York Times drama critic, along with the gift for expressing his opinions. Luckily for us, he wrote them all down. A gorgeous, brilliant book to be cherished. -Swoosie Kurtz It is my great honor to be included in the pages of Ron Fassler's wonderful book, Up In The Cheap Seats. Not only does he manage to capture the essence of the historical aspects of latter twentieth century theater, he inspires us with what it means to be a lover of the stage, its practitioners, and its traditions. I'm thrilled and proud to be a part of it. Thank you Ron, for giving us a memorable and lasting legacy. -Stacy Keach What a wise and wonderful book! It brought back many memories for me of the glory days of Broadway. Delightful. -Robert Morse

"""If you've ever been a theater-obsessed teenager, this book is for you. If you're a theater-obsessed adult of a certain age this book will bring back many sweet memories and remind you of why you became a theater-obsessed teenager. An utterly charming and thoroughly entertaining memoir that draws back the curtain on many famous and infamous Broadway shows of the sixties and seventies, all through the eyes and thanks to the chutzpah of a budding actor and critic who never met a stage doorman he couldn't schmooze. It also pays beautiful tribute to four unique actors who should never be forgotten--Julie Harris, Maureen Stapleton, Joe Maher, and John McMartin. For that alone it is worth the price of admission."" -Nathan Lane ""As a theatre-buff, I've read countless books about Broadway, but Ron Fassler's Up in the Cheap Seats is unique among them all. It demands to be in theatre departments worldwide. I can't think of a single comparison, as it is from the perspective of a passionate theatre-goer who just happens to be a child! It's so good, I relished every word and tried to read it as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible, simply because I didn't want it to end! I intend to buy several copies as gifts, as it is one of my all-time faves, right along with William Goldman's The Season."" -Mark Hamill ""I deeply enjoyed Up in the Cheap Seats. The combination of Ron Fassler's personal, resonant story, along with the interviews and history of the shows make for a fascinating and very entertaining book."" -Michael Feinstein ""Love of the theatre, from an early age (and it's almost always from an early age) is a hard thing to make clear to people who don't have that particular affliction. It has a texture of its own, a sensation all its own, and attempts later in life to shake it off have been known to make people inexplicably sad. What is this thing called this kind of love? How do you evoke it? I don't know. But Ron Fassler does. If you want to understand your theatre-crazy friends, or understand yourself if you are such a one, read this beautiful and joyous book. -Austin Pendleton ""I don't think I've ever read a book about the theatre that was as good natured, funny, and moving. A coming of age non-narcissistic love letter to some well deserving theatre legends."" -Emanuel Azenberg ""What a delightful book! I also grew up in New York City with the same kind of infatuations as Ron Fassler (I too loved Robert Preston). And just as he did, I wrote rather unconvincing reviews of everything I saw, offering very, very strong opinions. I devoured Up in the Cheap Seats with great glee."" -André Bishop ""For those of us whose hearts belong to the theatre, this is uninterrupted bliss. From the evocative cover to the delicious story inside, it is a funny and moving journey of a lifetime of theatre going. At 14, Ron had the eyes and ears of the toughest New York Times drama critic, along with the gift for expressing his opinions. Luckily for us, he wrote them all down. A gorgeous, brilliant book to be cherished."" -Swoosie Kurtz ""It is my great honor to be included in the pages of Ron Fassler's wonderful book, Up In The Cheap Seats. Not only does he manage to capture the essence of the historical aspects of latter twentieth century theater, he inspires us with what it means to be a lover of the stage, its practitioners, and its traditions. I'm thrilled and proud to be a part of it. Thank you Ron, for giving us a memorable and lasting legacy."" -Stacy Keach ""What a wise and wonderful book! It brought back many memories for me of the glory days of Broadway. Delightful. -Robert Morse"

"""If you've ever been a theater-obsessed teenager, this book is for you. If you're a theater-obsessed adult of a certain age this book will bring back many sweet memories and remind you of why you became a theater-obsessed teenager. An utterly charming and thoroughly entertaining memoir that draws back the curtain on many famous and infamous Broadway shows of the sixties and seventies, all through the eyes and thanks to the chutzpah of a budding actor and critic who never met a stage doorman he couldn't schmooze. It also pays beautiful tribute to four unique actors who should never be forgotten--Julie Harris, Maureen Stapleton, Joe Maher, and John McMartin. For that alone it is worth the price of admission."" -Nathan Lane ""As a theatre-buff, I've read countless books about Broadway, but Ron Fassler's Up in the Cheap Seats is unique among them all. It demands to be in theatre departments worldwide. I can't think of a single comparison, as it is from the perspective of a passionate theatre-goer who just happens to be a child! It's so good, I relished every word and tried to read it as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible, simply because I didn't want it to end! I intend to buy several copies as gifts, as it is one of my all-time faves, right along with William Goldman's The Season."" -Mark Hamill ""I deeply enjoyed Up in the Cheap Seats. The combination of Ron Fassler's personal, resonant story, along with the interviews and history of the shows make for a fascinating and very entertaining book."" -Michael Feinstein ""Love of the theatre, from an early age (and it's almost always from an early age) is a hard thing to make clear to people who don't have that particular affliction. It has a texture of its own, a sensation all its own, and attempts later in life to shake it off have been known to make people inexplicably sad. What is this thing called this kind of love? How do you evoke it? I don't know. But Ron Fassler does. If you want to understand your theatre-crazy friends, or understand yourself if you are such a one, read this beautiful and joyous book. -Austin Pendleton ""I don't think I've ever read a book about the theatre that was as good natured, funny, and moving. A coming of age non-narcissistic love letter to some well deserving theatre legends."" -Emanuel Azenberg ""What a delightful book! I also grew up in New York City with the same kind of infatuations as Ron Fassler (I too loved Robert Preston). And just as he did, I wrote rather unconvincing reviews of everything I saw, offering very, very strong opinions. I devoured Up in the Cheap Seats with great glee."" -Andr� Bishop ""For those of us whose hearts belong to the theatre, this is uninterrupted bliss. From the evocative cover to the delicious story inside, it is a funny and moving journey of a lifetime of theatre going. At 14, Ron had the eyes and ears of the toughest New York Times drama critic, along with the gift for expressing his opinions. Luckily for us, he wrote them all down. A gorgeous, brilliant book to be cherished."" -Swoosie Kurtz ""It is my great honor to be included in the pages of Ron Fassler's wonderful book, Up In The Cheap Seats. Not only does he manage to capture the essence of the historical aspects of latter twentieth century theater, he inspires us with what it means to be a lover of the stage, its practitioners, and its traditions. I'm thrilled and proud to be a part of it. Thank you Ron, for giving us a memorable and lasting legacy."" -Stacy Keach ""What a wise and wonderful book! It brought back many memories for me of the glory days of Broadway. Delightful. -Robert Morse"

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