Michael Ridel Bücher

The 1990s marked a transformative era for Broadway. At the decade's start, British musicals like Les Miserables, Cats, and The Phantom of the Opera dominated, but Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard signaled a shift. This change paved the way for a new wave of American musicals, highlighted by the unexpected success of Rent, which reimagined Puccini's La Bohème. The return of American musical comedy culminated in The Producers, while plays made a strong comeback with Tony Kushner's Angels in America. A new breed of producers emerged, challenging the traditional control of theater owners, and corporations recognized the profitability of live theater. Just as Broadway regained its cultural significance, the September 11 attacks instilled fear, with concerns that Times Square could be targeted. Remarkably, Broadway reopened just two days later, driven by dedicated theater professionals eager to unite New Yorkers and support the city's economy. Michael Riedel captures the drama behind Broadway's mega-hits and flops, immersing readers in high-stakes premieres, tense rehearsals, contract negotiations, and fierce Tony Award competitions. With stories of feuds and collaborations, this account reveals the intrigue of a revolutionary period in the Theater District, where despite triumphs and disasters, the show always goes on.