Individual actors Books

Book Synopsis? In her 60-year career, Joanne Woodward has been a film, television and stage actress, television producer and director, stage director, and film director. She won the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in The Three Faces of Eve and was nominated for Rachel, Rachel, Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams and Mr. & Mrs. Bridge. She also won the Best Actress Emmy Award for See How She Runs and Do You Remember Love. This book is the first to be solely devoted to Woodward''s life and career, which were often overshadowed by the successes of her late husband, Paul Newman.

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Book Synopsis Anita Page (1910-2008) first captured attention near the end of the silent film era in such classics as While the City Sleeps (1928) with Lon Chaney, The Flying Fleet (1929) with Ramon Novarro, and her own favorite, Our Dancing Daughters (1928) with Joan Crawford. In a relatively short career, Page enjoyed critical acclaim. She appeared in the first full-sound movie to win Best Picture, The Broadway Melody (1929). With a foreword by her close friend, actor Randal Malone, this reference work is the first to fully detail Page''s remarkable career, including a biography and a complete listing of all her films, along with her one stage appearance and her returns to the limelight in later years. Entries provide complete production information, reviews and behind-the-scenes commentary. Dozens of photos and revealing anecdotes complete a portrait of a fascinating yet underappreciated performer.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ixForeword by Randal Malone 1Preface 3Anita Page: "You Were Meant for Me" 7The FilmsA Kiss for Cinderella (1925) 73Love 'Em and Leave 'Em (1926) 75Beach Nuts (1927) 76Telling the World (1928) 78While the City Sleeps (1928) 83Our Dancing Daughters (1928) 86The Flying Fleet (1929) 93The Broadway Melody (1929) 98Speedway (1929) 106Our Modern Maidens (1929) 109The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929) 114Navy Blues (1929) 118Free and Easy (1930) 121Caught Short (1930) 124Our Blushing Brides (1930) 127The Little Accident (1930) 130War Nurse (1930) 134Reducing (1931) 137The Easiest Way (1931) 140Gentleman's Fate (1931) 146Sidewalks of New York (1931) 149Under Eighteen (1932) 152Are You Listening? (1932) 154Night Court (1932) 157Skyscraper Souls (1932) 161Prosperity (1932) 164Jungle Bride (1933) 166The Big Cage (1933) 169Soldiers of the Storm (1933) 172I Have Lived (1933) 174Hitch Hike to Heaven (1936) 176The Runaway (1961) 178Sunset After Dark (1996) 180Theater 185Foreign Language Films 191Shorts 193Documentaries and Television 195Video Films 197Chapter Notes 199Bibliography 209Index 211

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Book SynopsisCrossover Stardom: Popular Male Stars in American Cinema focuses on male music stars who have attempted to achieve film stardom. Crossover stardom can describe stars who cross from one medium to another. Although crossover' has become a popular term to describe many modern stars who appear in various mediums, crossover stardom has a long history, going back to the beginning of the cinema. Lobalzo Wright begins with Bing Crosby, a significant Hollywood star in the studio era; moving to Elvis Presley in the 1950s and 1960s, as the studio system collapsed; to Kris Kristofferson in the New Hollywood period of the 1970s; and ending with Will Smith and Justin Timberlake, in the contemporary era, when corporate conglomerates dominate Hollywood. Thus, the study not only explores music stardom (and music genres) in various eras, and masculinity within these periods, it also surveys the history of American cinema from industrial and cultural perspectives, from the 1930s to today.Trade ReviewCrossover Stardom represents a welcome intervention in star studies, providing a long overdue framework to explore multi-media stardom as a key concept within the field. Lobalzo Wright's wide-ranging study of stars from Crosby to Kristofferson is entertaining and enlightening, serving as both a rich resource and an invitation to further research on this essential topic. * Karen McNally, Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Studies, London Metropolitan University, UK *Julie Lobalzo Wright explores a relatively neglected but important field of star studies. Her clear, scholarly and lively discussion of male stars with contrasting levels of meaning and popularity in different media expertly ranges over questions of genre, spectatorship and masculinity. Drawing especially on gender and cultural theory, her fine analysis of persona and performance brilliantly highlights afresh the impact and significance of crossover stars like Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley. * Peter William Evans, Emeritus Professor of Film Studies, Queen Mary, University of London, UK *Crossover Stardom presents five case studies of US American male stars who moved from music to film. Although each case study is insightful in itself, the strength of Crossover Stardom is the bringing together of five quite different male stars over a period of almost a century. Lobalzo Wright effectively uses the concept of the star image to examine both the historical continuities as well as the changes in the way gender and genre function within the entertainment industry. Rather than merely questioning whether or not these crossovers into film were successful, the book shows how the onscreen performances are informed by the off-screen music star image. The focus on the star image enables to explore how these performers embody an ideal masculinity of their times and its connection to music genres, ranging from the American songbook, rock ’n’ roll and country to contemporary hip-hop and pop. Crossover Stardom not only successfully applies the star image to popular music studies, but also highlights the relevance of the—often-neglected—male music star in the study of film. * Jaap Kooijman, Associate Professor in Media Studies and American Studies, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction 1: The Crooner Film Star: Bing Crosby 2: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Film Star: Elvis Presley 3: The Country Film Star: Kris Kristofferson 4: The Rap Film Star: Will Smith 5: The Pop Film Star: Justin Timberlake Conclusion Bibliography Filmography

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Book SynopsisQueer exceptions is a study of contemporary solo performance in the UK and Western Europe that explores the contentious relationship between identity, individuality and neoliberalism. With diverse case studies featuring the work of La Ribot, David Hoyle, Oreet Ashery, Bridget Christie, Tanja Ostojic, Adrian Howells and Nassim Soleimanpour, the book examines the role of singular or ‘exceptional’ subjects in constructing and challenging assumed notions of communal sociability and togetherness, while drawing fresh insight from the fields of sociology, gender studies and political philosophy to reconsider theatre’s attachment to singular lives and experiences. Framed by a detailed exploration of arts festivals as encapsulating the material, entrepreneurial circumstances of contemporary performance-making, this is the first major critical study of solo work since the millennium.Trade Review‘Rising to the promise that the title holds out, this excellent book will be of value to all scholars with an interest in contemporary performance practices. It gives deep and well-informed insight into not only the creation and presentation of solo performance work but the economic realities within which it is embedded […]Greer’s palette is broad and wide-ranging, though this not in any way at the expense of detail – far from it. This brilliant addition to scholarly considerations of contemporary theatre practices is deeply rooted in an insider’s understanding of the logistics, economics, and sheer hard work that underpins solo performance.’Alison Jeffers, New Theatre Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 2 (May 2019)'This wide-ranging, brilliant, and scholarly volume adds a much-needed perspective on and assessment of queer solo performance: one that does not simply venerate it as identity validation nor dismiss it as a tool of neoliberal identity consumption, but that instead articulates how the works analysed offer twenty-first-century radical performance politics looking at, out, through, and beyond the performance of ‘the singular subject in neoliberal times’'Contemporary Theatre Review'Through an examination of contemporary European solo performance, Stephen Greer explores the form’s simultaneous resistance to and compatibility within neoliberalism.'The Drama Review'Queer Exceptions... catalogues a breadth of innovative performance practices, making it a valuable read for contemporary performance scholars. The application of a figural approach further offers a provocation to scholars across the discipline to reconsider ways in which we hold performance practices together.'Theatre Research International -- .Table of ContentsList of figuresAcknowledgmentsIntroduction 1. Locating solo performance 2. The martyr: dramaturgies of endurance, exhaustion and confession 3. The pariah: queer outcasts and the politics of wounded attachment 4. The killjoy: public unhappiness and theatrical scapegoats 5. The stranger: performing ‘out-of-placeness’ in the UK and Europe 6. The misfit: illness, disability and ‘improper’ subjects 7. The optimist: alternatives to neoliberalism in the here and now Conclusion ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisJason Statham has risen from street seller through championship diving and modelling to become arguably the biggest British male film star of the twenty-first century. This is the first book to offer a critical analysis of his work across a variety of media, including film, television, video games and music videos. Each chapter focuses on a particular aspect of Statham’s career, from his distinctive screen presence to his style, branding and celebrity. Accessibly written, and featuring a contribution from Hollywood director Paul Feig, who worked with Statham on the 2015 action-comedy Spy, the collection will appeal to a wide audience of scholars, students and fans.Table of ContentsIntroduction – Steven Gerrard and Robert Shail1 Reframing the British tough guy: Jason Statham as postmodern hero - Robert Shail2 ‘I’m certainly not Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt’: Jason Statham, fandom and a new type of (anti)hero - Renee Middlemost3 The power of Statham - Paul Feig4 ‘It’s that peasant mentality’: the cult persona of Jason Statham, Hollywood outsider - Jonathan Mack5 A balancing act(or): Jason Statham and the ensemble film – Sarah Thomas6 Blagging it both ways: The Bank Job and the British heist movie - James Chapman7 Jason Statham in Spy: subverting genre and gender - Clare Smith8 Arthouse Statham - Martin Carter9 Transporting Jason Statham: national identity in the Transporter trilogy - Jennie Lewis-Vidler10 The avatar hero: exploring the virtualisation of the Statham brand - Dean Bowman and Erin Pearson11 Ageing Statham: expendable expendable? - Nathasha Parcei12 Crank it up! Scoring Statham - Shelley O’Brien 13 Clothes make the man: Statham’s sartorial serendipity - Steven GerrardConclusion - Steven Gerrard and Robert ShailIndex

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Book SynopsisWHAT HAVE WE HERE? follows Billy Dee Williams from his childhood growing up in Harlem to his days on Broadway and in Hollywood before landing the role in George Lucas' space opera that would win him everlasting fame.Over a 60-year career spanning Broadway, music, movies, and television, Billy's tales and travels include Lawrence Olivier, Marlon Brando, James Baldwin, Henry Fonda, Duke Ellington, Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Richard Pryor, Sylvester Stallone, Diahann Carroll, and a world of less famous but no less colourful characters.And that's just his life on this planet. As hundreds of millions of Star Wars fans worldwide know, Williams is and always will be Lando Calrissian, the double-dealing, outlandishly handsome rogue from George Lucas' classic Star Wars adventures The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi, a role he reprised in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

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Book SynopsisMake Me, Lisa Stathoplos'' searingly honest and dark humored memoir explores how one comes to be. Comes to live in their own skin; exist in their very bones. In 1958 Lisa landed on this earth with a whack and a wail and a highly uncomfortable feeling that she shouldn''t be here. Regardless, here she is. Born into a fusion of the French and the Greeks, Lisa''s wickedly smart and loving family nurtures her from fussy baby, "moody" child, into a passionate, rebellious young woman.Set in the beauty of Southern Maine, with a few forays to the Caribbean, the Atlantic shipping lanes and Greece, Make Me is both as tempestuous and tranquil as the sea when Lisa takes us on her voyage toward acceptance and authenticity. Her stories of growing up Catholic, coming of age beside the turbulent Atlantic Ocean, discovering dance, her activism and becoming a successful professional actor as well as a fishwife, are fraught, rewarding and often hysterically funny.Make Me follows Lisa''s memories in and out of chronological time, landing on the significant ones that shaped her most of all. The language is crisply straightforward, hauntingly witty, and emotionally fathomless. Make Me is an oceanic ride into Lisa''s very soul and should be read by anyone who is becoming who they truly are or has already arrived.

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Book SynopsisCraft classic drinks with the first official cocktail book inspired by the life and legacy of John Wayne.Based on the iconic and beloved actor John Wayne, this collection of satisfying drinks takes cocktail enthusiasts on a trip through some of John Wayne’s most memorable characters, films and extraordinary life. This unique book includes seventy recipes for delicious, handcrafted cocktails and a selection of tasteful bar bites to pair with the beverages. With drinks inspired by characters such as Rooster Cogburn, Big Jake McCandles, and Davy Crockett, John Wayne: The Official Cocktail Book includes step-by-step instructions, tips on how to craft the perfect cocktail, and beautiful full-color photography. This book is an essential addition to every fan’s bar cart or bookshelf. OFFICIALLY LICENSED: The first officially licensed John Wayne cocktail book. Created in conjunction with John Wayne Enterprises. 70+ RECIPES: From refreshing cocktails to serve a crowd to tasty after-dinner sips, learn to make dozens of specialty drinks inspired by The Duke DELICIOUS BAR BITES: Includes recipes for delicious nibbles to accompany the libations and create a perfect cocktail party MOVIE MEMORIES: Relive favorite characters, scenes from John Wayne’s filmography of more than 80 movies FULL-COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: Features beautiful full color photography of the delicious drinks COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Complete your John Wayne collection the treasure trove of memorabilia, stories, and interviews John Wayne: The Genuine Article

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Book SynopsisA collection of inventive writings in letter form from a sixteenth-century star of commedia dell'arte. Isabella Andreini (1562–1604) was a commedia dell’arte diva who toured Italy and France as part of the Compagnia dei Comici Gelosi. Letters is a collection of epistles written by Andreini in fictional, anonymous, male, and female voices, a “hermaphroditic” alternation of gender unlike any that had been seen in letter writing to that time. In her letters, Andreini remade the humanistic epistolary genre into a distinctive fusion of literary and dramatic performance. The guise of epistolary intimacy cedes to a knowing artificiality, which allows for the emergence of Andreini’s modern critique of the gendered self as a uniform entity. The collection centers on love and examines—from surprising perspectives—pertinent issues such as death, the birth of a girl, prostitution, patriarchal marital practices, love in old age, courtiership, country and city life, human nature, and defenses and critiques of both sexes. Trade Review"Paola De Santo and Caterina Mongiat Farina’s critical edition and translation of Isabella Andreini’s Letters (1607) is a long-awaited resource for English readers and scholars of Renaissance and early modern studies. This monumental volume showcases De Santo and Mongiat Farina’s strong translation skills, as well as their deep knowledge of Andreini’s work and the rich trove of classical and Renaissance sources from which she drew her copious allusions. Their erudite notes contextualize the letters well for the modern reader. On the whole, the volume provides an eminently readable and enjoyable translation of this work that found enduring fame in Italy and abroad during the seventeenth century." -- Julie D. Campbell, Professor of English, Eastern Illinois UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Illustrations Introduction The Other Voice Life, Works, and Authorship Isabella Andreini and Women’s Writing in Early Modern Italy The Question of Genre: Pushing the Boundaries of the Letterbook Summary and Analysis of the Letters Love as the Beginning, Middle, and End of the Letters A Discordant Harmony: Paired and Thematically Grouped Letters The Actress as Writer: Thematic and Stylistic Aspects of the Letters Rhetoric and the questione della donna in the Letters Reception and Afterlife Translators’ Note Letters of Isabella Andreini Permission Dedicatory Letter Encomiastic Verses and Anagrams Table of All the Letters Contained in the Work Letters AppendixComparative Table of the Letters’ Summaries: 1607 Edition and This Edition Gender Designations of Letter Writers and Recipients Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Hobbit trilogy, Twelve Years a Slave, August: Osage County, The Fifth Estate; Hedda Gabler, After the Dance, Frankenstein; Hawking, To the Ends of the Earth, The Last Enemy, Parade''s End, and, of course, Sherlock. For most actors, these stellar cinematic, theatrical, and television events would be the highlights of a lifetime''s work. On Benedict Cumberbatch''s résumé they are only a few of many entries. Especially since 2010, his performances have garnered a plethora of best actor awards, both in the theatre (Evening Standard Theatre Award, Critics Circle Theatre Award, and Olivier Award), by playing the dual roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature in the National Theatre''s Frankenstein, and on television (Broadcasting Press Guild Award, Critics Choice Television Award, Crime Thriller Award, and TV Choice Award), by starring as the titular Holmes in the BBC''s Sherlock. Add these and other recent accolades to nearly a decade s nominations and awards (such as the Golden Nymph as best actor in Hawking), and it''s easy to see why Benedict Cumberbatch is often hailed as the actor of his generation. Cumberbatch''s body of work further includes indie films, radio plays and series, television documentaries, live dramatic readings, multimedia advertisements, and even the occasional stint as a fashion model. He often shares an intriguing perspective on his profession, as evidenced in sometimes controversial interviews. He has become so much in demand that online box offices crash when tickets for his performances go on sale, and, before a Cheltenham Literature Festival Q&A session, fans overwhelmed Twitter when so many responded immediately to a call for questions. Cumberbatch consistently is a top name on lists ranging from sex appeal to global influence. In 2012 he beat David Beckham in the former and U.S. President Barack Obama in the latter. Increasingly, part of Cumberbatch''s job involves the role of celebrity. Benedict Cumberbatch is at a pivotal point in his profession, and his career trajectory especially as documented in entertainment media permits a closer examination of just what it means to be a celebrity or star in Britain or the U.S. and how an actor may be perceived very differently in London or Hollywood. This performance biography is an analysis of a man in transition from working actor to multimedia star, as well as the balance between actor and celebrity. It looks at what makes this actor so well suited to play one of popular culture''s iconic characters, Sherlock Holmes, and how Sherlock is so well suited to propel Cumberbatch toward greater global fame.

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Book Synopsis'Entertaining...revealing, shocking' BERNARDINE EVARISTO'Sublime' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMSActor and director Zawe Ashton brings us a unique look at life, work and the absurdities of today's worldZawe Ashton has been acting since she was six. She has played many different roles, from 'cute little girl' to 'assassin with attitude', Oscar Wilde's Salome to St Trinian's schoolgirl by way of Fresh Meat's Vod. In Character Breakdown, Zawe scrolls through a version of her life. Or is it a version of her art? Or something in between. In it, she encounters glamour, horror, absurdity and questions like: is a life spent more on performance than reality any life at all?'Smart, funny, vivid, honest, dark, timely' The Times'A smart, funny and well-written take-down of modern showbiz' Elizabeth Day, author of How To FailSelected by Bernardine Evaristo as one her 20 books by Black British Womxn WritersTrade ReviewA very great bookA smart, funny and well-written take-down of modern showbiz -- Elizabeth Day * Mail on Sunday *Smart, funny, vivid, honest, dark, timely * The Times *An entertaining and original memoir touching on career, life and identity. It is an enjoyable read, despite the humiliating tales of auditions or filming situations where she is physically assessed, objectified or subject to casual racism. Understandably there is an undertone of rage in her keen observations -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *Character Breakdown embraces darkness while also being a wickedly absurd look at modern show business * Stylist *

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Book SynopsisThe Oscar-nominated Precious star and Empire actress delivers a much-awaited memoir which is wise, complex, smart and funny.This Is Just My Face is the whirlwind tour of Gabourey Sidibe’s life so far. In it, we meet her polygamous father, her gifted mother who fed the family by busking on the subway, and the psychic who told her she’d one day be ‘famous like Oprah’. Gabby shows us round the Harlem studio apartment where she grew up, relives the debilitating depression that hit her at college, and reminisces about her first ever job as a phone sex ‘talker’ (less creepy than you’d think). With exhilaratingly honest (and often hilarious) dispatches on friendship, depression, celebrity, haters, fashion, race, and weight, This Is Just My Face will resonate with anyone who has ever felt different - and with anyone who has ever felt inspired to make a dream come true.'Frank, funny, and insanely charming' Lena Dunham'A read that lives up to the unforgettable attitude of its name' Glamour'You’re the BOMB, girl!' President Barack ObamaTrade ReviewHere, Gabourey Sidibe cements her status as gives-zero-effs queen of Hollywood AND perceptive best friend in your head. Frank, funny, and insanely charming…we are blessed by her honesty, passion and wit * Lena Dunham *A read that lives up to the unforgettable attitude of its name...This is Just My Face will make you fall in love with this funny, talented, gorgeous, bad bitch of a woman * Glamour *Gabourey Sidibe's memoir isn't your average celebrity memoir. It's good. Really good. And not just because it's revealing (although that it is), but because it's well-written... Observant and funny, but not indulgent or try-hard * Cosmopolitan *A book you will want to give your daughter * The New York Times *"I just wrote the truth, and it made me feel better." That is the theme of this unique and universal book by a young woman who is both a total surprise and an instant classic. Gabby combines New York and Senegal, the streets and the heights, bravery and self-doubt, laughing and seriousness. Her truth helps us to find ours—and what could be a bigger gift than that? * Gloria Steinem *Sidibe’s hilarious Twitter account is no fluke – the Empire actress’ memoir about growing up in New York City and finding unexpected fame in Hollywood is sharp, witty, and wonderfully substantive * Entertainment Weekly *Gabourey Sidibe’s delightful memoir This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare offers a memorable look into what happens when a black girl’s dreams come true, from the inside out. From her unique childhood as the daughter of a subway singer mother and polygamous father to struggling with depression to getting the role of Precious, Sidibe is fearless, incredibly funny and gorgeously open. What she offers of herself in these pages is a gift * Roxane Gay *A mix of complexity, intelligence and humor, Gabby's book promises to be as big a success as her acting * People *To know Gabby is to love Gabby. To read her book is to love her even more. It is bold, brave, on-your-front-foot writing. Her story inspires you to step up and own your life with a compassion and confidence so potent that it will break down any door * Laura Linney *A funny, smart memoir * Nylon *You’re the BOMB, girl! * President Barack Obama *

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Book Synopsis‘Hershman has managed to gather a huge amount of information and distill it into a book that is not only respectful but full of insights into what makes this unstarriest of stars able to produce brilliant work without appearing to break a sweat.’ - Kathryn Hughes, Mail on SundayHe was a Salford-born, homework-hating bookie’s son who broke the social barriers of British film. He did his share of roistering, and yet outlived his contemporaries and dodged typecasting to become a five-time Oscar nominee and one of our most durable international stars. Bon vivant, perennial rebel, self-effacing character actor, charismatic charmer, mentor to a generation of working-class artists, a byword for professionalism, lover of horseflesh and female flesh – Albert Finney is all these things and more.Gabriel Hershman’s colourful and riveting account of Finney’s life and work, which draws on interviews with many of his directors and co-stars, examines how one of Britain’s greatest actors built a glittering career without sacrificing his integrity.Trade ReviewHershman has managed to gather a huge amount of information and distill it into a book that is not only respectful but full of insights into what makes this unstarriest of stars able to produce brilliant work without appearing to break a sweat. -- Kathryn HughesA great read . . . It’s about time Finney’s career was placed in the biographical spotlight. -- Greg JamesonThe book is strong . . . in its evaluation of Finney’s extraordinary career, and for an introduction to the work, it’s invaluable. -- Paul T. Davies

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Book SynopsisThe unique story of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise – British television's most iconic double act. 'A warm and sympathetic portrait of two pals who conquered the world simply by radiating hilarious friendship' Sunday Times 'Barfe lifts the lid on the lives of TV's most iconic double act... and gets to the heart of what made them so loved by a nation' Sunday Post 'Set to be the definitive account of the television age's funniest pair' New European 'Colour about the characters of [Morecambe and Wise] is mixed with Barfe's usual forensic research' Chortle The Morecambe and Wise Show was the crème de la crème of TV light entertainment from the late 1960s until the early 1980s. The hardy perennial comedy duo at its heart had even greater longevity, spanning five decades and becoming a national institution whose shows drew audiences in excess of twenty million. They also loved each other like brothers, and the audience repaid that love; they were the nation's best friends. In Sunshine and Laughter, Louis Barfe tells the touching story of Morecambe and Wise, and explores how it is that thirty-seven years after their last television show, the tall handsome one with glasses and the one with the short, fat, hairy legs continue to work their unique brand of comedy magic.Trade ReviewA warm and sympathetic portrait of two pals who conquered the world simply by radiating hilarious friendship * Sunday Times *Barfe lifts the lid on the lives of TV's most iconic double act [...] and gets to the heart of what made them so loved by a nation * Sunday Post *Britain's best-loved double act have a superb chronicler in Louis Barfe... This looks set to be the definitive account of the television age's funniest pair * New European *Written with affection... Such colour about the characters of [Morecambe and Wise] is mixed with Barfe's usual forensic research * Chortle *Louis Barfe is becoming a polymathic guide to British show business * Sunday Times *Countless TV programmes have paid tribute to 'the boys' [...] and there's a veritable library of books. So do we need a new one? The answer – if you're a fan – is a resounding yes. And comedy historian Louis Barfe [...] is just the man to do it. A safe pair of hands, his Sunshine and Laughter is the perfect companion piece to Graham McCann's excellent 1998 biography. His research is exemplary * Camden New Journal *The comedy continues * Devon Life *

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Book SynopsisAn alternative autobiography of the well-loved actor and man of the theatre, winner of the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography. In My Life in Pieces Simon Callow retraces his life through the multifarious performers, writers, productions and events which have left their indelible mark on him. The story begins with Peter Pan – his first ever visit to the theatre – before transporting us to southern Africa and South London, where Callow spent much of his childhood. Later, he charms his way into a job at the National Theatre box office courtesy of his hero, Laurence Olivier – and thus consummated a lifetime’s love affair with theatre. Alongside Olivier, we encounter Paul Scofield, Michael Gambon, Alan Bennett and Richard Eyre, all of whom Callow has worked with, as well as John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson and Alec Guinness, David Hare, Simon Gray and many more. He writes too about figures he did not meet but who greatly influenced his life and work, figures such as Stanislavsky, Nureyev and Cocteau, as well as Charles Laughton and Orson Welles. And he even makes room for not-quite- legit performers like Tony Hancock, Tommy Cooper, Frankie Howard – and Mrs Shufflewick. The result is a passionate, instructive and beguiling book which, in tracing Simon Callow’s own ‘sentimental education’, leaves us enriched by his generosity and wisdom. 'first rate... the best writer-actor we have' David Hare 'Simon Callow combines zest, originality and passion and has elegantly turned his views and life in the theatre into an astonishing memoir' Richard EyreTrade Review'An engaging passionate book which will augment Callow's growing status as a national treasure' * Guardian *'Not simply a terrific actor who happens to write. You could as well call him a terrific writer who happens to act' * The Times *'Essential... [Callow has] a gift for transforming personal experience into blazingly intelligent, objective, critical appreciation' * Observer *

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Book SynopsisAn insight into French film through its actors: profiles of 175 actors and actresses of the French Cinema, illustrated with caricatures of each actor by Jenny BATLAY and Igor BRATUSEK. - Not just biographies, but personal sketches of the actors and actresses, looking at their personalities, acting, and careers. The book is presented alphabetically in mini-dictionary form, and its contributors include academics from around the world - from universities in Australia, Austria, Canada, Cyprus, France, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and throughout the United States - as well as journalists, film curators, and lovers of French cinema, both francophones and Francophiles. It contains a comprehensive alphabetical Index of 2,200 Films - mostly French Films (with their alternative English titles where these were issued), as well as American and European films in which the profiled French actors have appeared. Accurate biographical details (from original records) are provided, including birth names for those actors with a stage name different to their birth names.Table of ContentsCONTENTS [names entered without accents on BookData]: FOREWORD; ISABELLE ADJANI (1955 - ), ANOUK AIMEE (1932 - ) [Francoise Sorya Dreyfus], MATHIEU AMALRIC (1965 - ), RICHARD ANCONINA (1953 - ), FANNY ARDANT (1949 - ), PIERRE ARDITI (1944 - ), NIELS ARESTRUP (1949 - ), ARLETTY (1898 - 1992) [Leonie Bathiat], ANTONIN ARTAUD (1896 - 1948), ARIANE ASCARIDE (1954 - ), STEPHANE AUDRAN (1932 - ) [Colette Suzanne Dacheville], DANIEL AUTEUIL (1950 - ), SABINE AZEMA (1949 - ), CHARLES AZNAVOUR (1924 - ) [Charles Aznaourian], JEAN-PIERRE BACRI (1951 - ), EDOUARD BAER (1966 - ), JOSIANE BALASKO (1950 - ) [Josiane Balaskovic], JEAN-FRANCOIS BALMER (1946 - ), BRIGITTE BARDOT (1934 - ), JEAN-LOUIS BARRAULT (1910 - 1994), HARRY BAUR (1880 - 1943), NATHALIE BAYE (1948 - ), EMMANUELLE BEART (1963 - ) [Emmanuelle Behart-Hasson], LEILA BEKHTI (1984 - ), JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO (1933 - ), FRANCOIS BERLEAND (1952 - ), SARAH BERNHARDT (1844 - 1923) [Henriette-Rosine Bernard], JULES BERRY (1883 - 1951) [Marie Louis Jules Paufichet], RICHARD BERRY (1950 - ), JULIETTE BINOCHE (1964 - ), MICHEL BLANC (1952 - ), FRANCIS BLANCHE (1921 - 1974), BERNARD BLIER (1916 - 1989), RICHARD BOHRINGER (1941 - ), ROMANE BOHRINGER (1973 - ), SANDRINE BONNAIRE (1967 - ), DANY BOON (1966 - ) [Daniel Hamidou], MICHEL BOUJENAH (1952 - ), CAROLE BOUQUET (1957 - ), MICHEL BOUQUET (1925 - ), BOURVIL (1917 - 1970) [Andre Raimbourg], CHARLES BOYER (1899 - 1978), MARCEL BOZZUFFI (1928 - 1988), CLAUDE BRASSEUR (1936 - ), PIERRE BRASSEUR (1905 - 1972) [Pierre-Albert Espinasse], JACQUES BREL (1929 - 1978), JEAN-CLAUDE BRIALY (1933 - 2007), GUILLAUME CANET (1973 - ), JULIEN CARETTE (1897 - 1966), JEAN CARMET (1920 - 1994), JEAN-CLAUDE CARRIERE (1931 - ), MARIA CASARES (1922 - 1996) [Maria Victoria Casares Perez], VINCENT CASSEL (1966 - ) [Vincent Crochon], ALAIN CHABAT (1958 - ), MAURICE CHEVALIER (1888 - 1972), CHRISTIAN CLAVIER (1952 - ), FRANCOIS CLUZET (1955 - ), JEAN COCTEAU (1889 - 1963), COLUCHE (1944 - 1986) [Michel Gerard Joseph Colucci], CLOVIS CORNILLAC (1967 - ), MARION COTILLARD (1975 - ), DARRY COWL (1925 - 2006) [Andre Darricau], MARCEL DALIO (1900 - 1983) [Marcel Blauschild], BEATRICE DALLE (1964 - ) [Beatrice Cabarrou], GERARD DARMON (1948 - ), DANIELLE DARRIEUX (1917 - ), JEAN-PIERRE DARROUSSIN (1953 - ), JAMEL DEBBOUZE (1975 - ), CECILE DE FRANCE (1975 - ), LOUIS DE FUNES (1914 - 1983) [Louis de Funes de Galarza], ALAIN DELON (1935 - ), JULIE DELPY (1969 - ), CATHERINE DENEUVE (1943 - ) [Catherine Dorleac], CHARLES DENNER (1926 - 1995), GERARD DEPARDIEU (1948 - ), JULIE DEPARDIEU (1973 - ), EMMANUELLE DEVOS (1964 - ), PATRICK DEWAERE (1947 - 1982) [Patrick Bourdeaux], JEAN-CLAUDE DREYFUS (1946 - ), MARIE DUBAS (1884 - 1972), JEAN DUJARDIN (1972 - ), ALBERT DUPONTEL (1964 - ), ROMAIN DURIS (1974 - ) ANDRE DUSSOLLIER (1946 - ), GAD ELMALEH (1971 - ), FERNANDEL (1903 - 1971) [Fernand Joseph Desire Contandin], EDWIGE FEUILLERE (1907 - 1998) [Edwige Louise Caroline Cunatti], BRIGITTE FOSSEY (1946 - ), FREHEL (1891 - 1951) [Marguerite Boulc'h], PIERRE FRESNAY (1897 - 1975) [Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach], CATHERINE FROT (1956 - ), JEAN GABIN (1904 - 1976) [Jean Gabin Alexis Moncorge], CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG (1971 - ), MICHEL GALABRU (1922 - ), NICOLE GARCIA (1946 - ), MARIE GILLAIN (1975 - ), ANNIE GIRARDOT (1931 - 2011), JUDITH GODRECHE (1972 - ) [Judith Goldreich], EVA GREEN (1980 - ), SACHA GUITRY (1885 - 1957), JOHNNY HALLYDAY (1943 - ) [Jean-Philippe Smet], MARINA HANDS (1975 - ), ISABELLE HUPPERT (1953 - ), AGNES JAOUI (1964 - ), LOUIS JOUVET (1887 - 1951), GERARD JUGNOT (1951 - ), ELIE KAKOU (1960 - 1999) [Alain Kakou], ANNA KARINA (1940 - ) [Hanne Karin Bayer], SANDRINE KIBERLAIN (1968 - ) [Sandrine Kiberlajn], BERNADETTE LAFONT (1938 - 2013), CHRISTOPHE LAMBERT (1957 - ), JEAN-PIERRE LEAUD (1944 - ), MADELEINE LEBEAU (1923 - ), FERNAND LEDOUX (1897 - 1993), VIRGINIE LEDOYEN (1976 - ) [Virginie Fernandez], VALERIE LEMERCIER (1964 - ), JEAN LE POULAIN (1924 - 1988), ROBERT LE VIGAN (1900 - 1972) [Robert Coquillaud], THIERRY LHERMITTE (1952 - ), VINCENT LINDON (1959 - ), MICHAEL LONSDALE (1931 - ), FABRICE LUCHINI (1951 - ) [Robert Luchini], BENOIT MAGIMEL (1974 - ), JEAN MARAIS (1913 - 1998), SOPHIE MARCEAU (1966 - ) [Sophie Daniele Sylvie Maupu], JEAN-PIERRE MARIELLE (1932 - ), ROXANE MESQUIDA (1981 - ), PAUL MEURISSE (1912 - 1979), GERARD MEYLAN (1952 - ), MIOU-MIOU (1950 - ) [Sylvette Herry], EDDY MITCHELL (1942 - ) [Claude Moine], YVES MONTAND (1921 - 1991) [Ivo Livi], JEANNE MOREAU (1928 - ) , YOLANDE MOREAU (1953 - ), FRANCOIS MOREL (1959 - ), MICHELE MORGAN (1920 - ) [Simone Roussel], PHILIPPE NOIRET (1930 - 2006), VANESSA PARADIS (1972 - ), GERARD PHILIPE (1922 - 1959) [Gerard Philip], EDITH PIAF (1915 - 1963) [Edith Giovanna Gassion], JEAN PIAT (1924 - ), MICHEL PICCOLI (1925 - ), DENIS PODALYDES (1963 - ), BENOIT POELVOORDE (1964 - ), JEAN POIRET (1926 - 1992) [Jean Gustave Poire], ALBERT PREJEAN (1894 - 1979), RAIMU (1883 - 1946) [Jules Auguste Cesar Muraire], SERGE REGGIANI (1922 - 2004), JEAN RENO (1948 - ) [Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jimenez], PIERRE RICHARD (1934 - ) [Pierre Defays], EMMANUELLE RIVA (1927 - ) [Paulette Riva], JEAN ROCHEFORT (1930 - ), VIVIANE ROMANCE (1912 - 1991), [Pauline Arlette Ortmans], LUDIVINE SAGNIER (1979 - ), EDITH SCOB (1937 - ) [Edith Helena Vladimirovna Scobeltzine], JEAN SEBERG (1938 - 1979), EMMANUELLE SEIGNER (1966 - ), MATHILDE SEIGNER (1968 - ), MICHEL SERRAULT (1928 - 2007), DELPHINE SEYRIG (1932 - 1990), SIMONE SIGNORET (1921 - 1985) [Simone Henriette Charlotte Kaminker], MICHEL SIMON (1895 - 1975), SIMONE SIMON (1910 - 2005), JACQUES TATI (1907 - 1982), [Jacques Tatischeff], AUDREY TAUTOU (1976 - ), SYLVIE TESTUD (1971 - ), JEAN-LOUIS TRINTIGNANT (1930 - ), CHARLES VANEL (1892 - 1989), LINO VENTURA (1919 - 1987), BORIS VIAN (1920 - 1959), JACQUES VILLERET (1951 - 2005) [Mohammed Boufroura], JACQUES WEBER (1949 - ), LAMBERT WILSON (1958 - ), ELSA ZYLBERSTEIN (1968 - ); COMPREHENSIVE INDEX OF 2,200 FILM TITLES; THE EDITORS AND ARTISTS; THE 67 INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2020 Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present Book Prize​Winner of the 2019 Art Journal Prize from the College Art Association What is the role of pleasure and pain in the politics of art? In Touched Bodies, Mara Polgovsky Ezcurra approaches this question as she examines the flourishing of live and intermedial performance in Latin America during times of authoritarianism and its significance during transitions to democracy. Based on original documents and innovative readings, her book brings politics and ethics to the discussion of artistic developments during the “long 1980s”. She describes the rise of performance art in the context of feminism, HIV-activism, and human right movements, taking a close look at the work of Diamela Eltit and Raúl Zurita from Chile, León Ferrari and Liliana Maresca from Argentina, and Marcos Kurtycz, the No Grupo art collective, and Proceso Pentágono from Mexico. The comparative study of the work of these artists attests to a performative turn in Latin American art during the 1980s that, like photography and film before, recast the artistic field as a whole, changing the ways in which we perceive art and understand its role in society.Trade Review“An astute and moving book, Touched Bodies gives account of the transition from an aesthetics of representation to an aesthetics of embodiment and bodily vulnerability in Latin American art of the 1980s. A contribution to aesthetic theory as much as to the history of art, Touched Bodies extends our understanding of performance-based art in relationship to practices of vulnerability, dissensus, and cross-temporal performativity.” -- Rebecca Schneider * author of Performing Remains: Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment *"Mara Polgovsky makes an outstanding contribution to the re-evaluation of the performative turn in adversarial art from 1970s and 1980s Latin America, expanding the genealogy of conceptualism and recalibrating the spectrum of body-centered practice. The originality of her approach provides unparalleled insights into the complex interaction between corporeality, political activism and the body as site of desire and vulnerability." -- Erica Segre * author of Intersected Identities *"Polgovsky’s book, which has already been shortlisted by the Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present for its 2020 Book Prize, brings to an international audience a series of artists who have broken the mould of Latin America’s default posture of political protest and produced works which sometimes condense the cry of despair in its barest expression by breaking down the gulf between their bodies and their work. She has brought to the project a remarkable combination of philosophical erudition and descriptive skill, plus the unstoppable curiosity of the best researchers. The book marks a turning point." * Journal of Latin American Studies *“An astute and moving book, Touched Bodies gives account of the transition from an aesthetics of representation to an aesthetics of embodiment and bodily vulnerability in Latin American art of the 1980s. A contribution to aesthetic theory as much as to the history of art, Touched Bodies extends our understanding of performance-based art in relationship to practices of vulnerability, dissensus, and cross-temporal performativity.” -- Rebecca Schneider * author of Performing Remains: Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment *"Mara Polgovsky makes an outstanding contribution to the re-evaluation of the performative turn in adversarial art from 1970s and 1980s Latin America, expanding the genealogy of conceptualism and recalibrating the spectrum of body-centered practice. The originality of her approach provides unparalleled insights into the complex interaction between corporeality, political activism and the body as site of desire and vulnerability." -- Erica Segre * author of Intersected Identities *"Polgovsky’s book, which has already been shortlisted by the Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present for its 2020 Book Prize, brings to an international audience a series of artists who have broken the mould of Latin America’s default posture of political protest and produced works which sometimes condense the cry of despair in its barest expression by breaking down the gulf between their bodies and their work. She has brought to the project a remarkable combination of philosophical erudition and descriptive skill, plus the unstoppable curiosity of the best researchers. The book marks a turning point." * Journal of Latin American Studies *Table of ContentsIntroduction Corporeal calligraphies in times of change The long 1980s: redefining the temporality of art From curatorial to historical revisionism Beyond the art of post-dictatorship From memory studies to the aesthetics of dissensus The performative turn The ethics of performance Overview of chapters Chapter 1 – Writing the Body A precarious aesthetic A monstrous scene Territories of excess Sacrificial bodies Neonic Obscenity A mystical occasion Sor Teresa, la Lumpérica A corporeal rhetoric The implicated self Chapter 2 – Lamentations Prayerful acts Sky writing and the poetics of ambiguity The new life Song for his/her disappeared love The politics of lamentation Purgatory Neither sorrow nor fear (Un)godly fragments Chapter 3 – Mē mou haptou: Touch, Ethics, and History Waiting for Ariel A political medium? A tortured era A glimpse into 1960s collage Noli me tangere Brailles The haptic gaze Never Again Scenes from inferno Pacem in terris Chapter 4 – Nudities Le féminin Christs and mannequins Divine phobia Intimacy reawakened A scourge from God? Chapter 5 – Ritual and/of Violence Potlatch The scene of destruction The scene of war Mexico’s parodic guerrilla art The scene of ritual Liminal personae The scene of terror Letter bombing The scene of the self Exploding time Chapter 6 – Cybernetics and Face-off Play The hybrid face The interface Facial traces The (post-)facial matrix Conclusion Touched bodies The trace Acknowledgments List of References List of Figures Index

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Book SynopsisThis monograph presents a specific experience of modernity within the context of Indian dance by looking at the transcultural journey of Indian dancer / choreographer Uday Shankar (1900b – 1977d). His popularity in Europe and America as an Oriental male dancer in the first half of the 20th century, and his worldwide recognition as the Ambassador of Indian culture, are brought into a historiographical perspective within the cultural and social reforms of early twentieth century India. By exploring his artistic journey beyond India in the period between the two world wars, and his experience of dance making, presentational technique and representation of India through various phases of his life, a path is forged to understanding the emergence of modernity in Indian dance.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Uday Shankar and Indian Dance History.- Chapter 2 Modern Dance? Placing Shankar’s Transculturality in Colonial South Asia.- Chapter 3 Dancing ‘Oriental’ Masculinity: Uday Shankar and his Experiments in Modern Dance.- Chapter 4 An attempt at creating a modern institution.- Chapter 5 Beyond the Proscenium with Dance, Magic, and Film.- Chapter 6 The Illusive Legacy.

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Book SynopsisEd Watson, Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet for over 20 years is a unique talent; a widely celebrated collaborator in dance, photography and fashion. Each illustrated essay of this gorgeous volume focuses on a distinct aspect of Watson’s career. Leading art critic Sarah Crompton discusses his trajectory from young student to principal dancer and coach with The Royal Ballet. Wayne McGregor reflects on their long and fruitful collaboration. Longtime friend Charlotte MacMillan engages in a lively conversation with the man himself, while Gareth Pugh muses on the concept of duende. Dozens of images by leading photographers—including Rick Guest, Nick Knight, Anthony Crickmay, Kosmas Pavlos, Nadav Kander, Paul Smith, Laurence Ellis, Teddy Iborra Wicksteed, Liz Seagrove, Paul Grover, and Johan Persson—depict Watson throughout his career, in rehearsal, on fashion shoots, in the dressing room, and in stills from his famed performances. Together these words and images tell the story of a performer of extraordinary versatility, exceptional physicality, and a profound artistic sensibility.

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Book SynopsisBy combing through the journals that Hannah has kept for much of her life, this collection of narrative essays deliver a fuller picture of her life, her experiences, and the things she''s figured out about family, faith, love, sexuality, self-worth, friendship and fame.Revealing what makes Hannah tick, this sometimes cringe-worthy, poignant collection of stories is sure to deliver plenty of Hannah''s wit and wisdom, and hopefully encourage you to try your hand at her patented brand of reckless optimism.Personal note:Hello, my darlings! I am incredibly pleased to present BUFFERING: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded!As a big fan of memoirs, I wanted to try my hand at writing about the events of my life that deserve a little more consideration than can be accomplished in 140-characters or a 6-minute vlog. Now on the cusp of turning 30, I''m ready to expose some parts of my life that I haven''t shared before. Before, it was all about

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Book SynopsisBeyond biography: a legendary performer’s legacy of symbolismTrade Review"Baker enthusiasts will be grateful for Jules-Rosette's challenges to other studies of Baker's life and legend. . . . It deserves a wide general readership and a significant place in the canon of Franco-American cultural studies and twentieth century French and American history."--Women's Review of Books

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Russell has positioned her concise, structurally adventurous contribution to 'Stanwyck studies' to reflect the expanding range of cultural approaches to women in media published during the past decade. . . . The twenty-six bite-sized essays cover themes of work, gender, sexuality, ageing, misogyny, class and race." --Times Literary Supplement"Catherine Russell's The Cinema of Barbara Stanwyck adds illuminating dimension to the actress's complex life story and equally vaunted career. Her meticulously researched and thoughtful analysis brings a fresh perspective to Stanwyck' s legacy, and captures the enduring power and charm of the classical Hollywood movie star." --Cineaste"The Cinema of Barbara Stanwyck makes the choice to refuse to simplify Stanwyck’s career. It underscores Stanwyck’s importance, but it doesn’t pretend like she, the films, or the era that created them are something they’re not. As a result, Russell has put together an unflinching work of criticism that must be acknowledged as the definitive work on the subject. It’s essential reading for anyone interested in Stanwyck or the era of film she headlined." --NewCity“Catherine Russell’s inventive study of Barbara Stanwyck’s long, fascinating career as a ‘working star’ offers a tantalizing model for other feminist histories of women’s work in the film industry. Achronological and essayistic, Russell’s approach weaves back and forth between Stanwyck’s onscreen roles, her star persona, and her working life to document what Russell calls ‘the structural misogyny of the industry.’”--Shelley Stamp, author of Lois Weber in Early Hollywood and Movie-Struck Girls“A deeply creative and insightful critical study of Barbara Stanwyck’s agency and labor as a performer, The Cinema of Barbara Stanwyck is a stunning blend of feminist historiography, archival research, star-studies, biography, and film analysis--a rewarding and immensely pleasurable read.”--Julie Grossman, author of The Femme FataleTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction to Stanwyck Studies A All I Desire: Pastiche and Performance B The Barbara Stanwyck Show: Everyday Melodrama C Crimes of Passion: A Destructive Character D Dion the Son, and Barbara the Bad Mother E Edith Head: Clothing Makes the Woman a Woman F Forty Guns and The Furies: Angry Women G Gambling Ladies: Playing Games H William Holden: Making Men I Illicit: How to be Ultramodern J Jungle Films/White Women K Kate Crawley: Cross-Dressing in the Archive L The Lady Eve: Performativity and Melancholia M Fred MacMurray: Kissing and Playing N No Man of Her Own: Double Women and the Star O Annie Oakley: A Girl and a Gun P Paranoia, Abjection, and Gaslighting Q The Queen R Riding, Falling, and Stunts S The Stella Dallas Debates T Theresa Harris: Black Double U Union Pacific: Unmaking History V Voice, Body, Identity W Working Women and Cultural Labor X Exotica and Bitter Tears Y You Belong to Me: Archives and Fans Z Zeppo Marx: Comedy and Agency Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIllustrates how American ballet developed over the course of the twentieth century from an aesthetic originating in the courts of Europe into a stylistically diverse expression of a democratic culture. West places at centre stage two artists who were instrumental to this story: Todd Bolender and Janet Reed.

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Book SynopsisFor young people, the space of the drama classroom can be a space for deep learning as they struggle across difference to create something together with common purpose. Collaborating across institutions, theatres, and community spaces, the research in Hope in a Collapsing World mobilizes theatre to build its methodology and create new data with young people as they seek the language of performance to communicate their worries, fears, and dreams to a global network of researchers and a wider public. A collaboration between a social scientist and a playwright and using both ethnographic study and playwriting, Hope in a Collapsing World represents a groundbreaking hybrid format of research text and original script titled Towards Youth: A Play on Radical Hope for reading, experimentation, and performance. Table of ContentsDedication Figures and Tables Acknowledgements I Acknowledgements II Prologue Part I: Listening, Pedagogy, Theatre, and Cultural Citizenship Listening as an Artful Practice of Care Listening and Caring as Political Acts Creating Social Value from Theatre The System: Worlds Apart but Structurally Familiar The Settings: Brief Social, Political and Educational Portraits of Athens, Lucknow, Coventry, Tainan, Toronto Athens, Greece: Setting the Context Lucknow, India: Setting the Context Coventry, England: Setting the Context Tainan, Taiwan: Setting the Context Toronto, Canada: Setting the Context Ethnography and its Ecologies An Overview of Data Collection A Word about Ethnography The Qualitative Landscape: Care and Cultural Citizenship Daring to Dream in Greek Austerity Misfit Citizenship and Political Personhood in India: A Methodology of Critical Dialogue and Rehearsed Futurity Hope, Performance Pedagogies, and Democratic Citizenship Canley Youth Theatre’s Missive to the World—Listen A Pedagogy of Hope Tainan Students Making the World they Need The Self, the Collective: Theatre and Social Change Interdependency Against All Odds Voicing Toronto Stories for a more Equal World The Territory of Race, Racism, and Gender in Verbatim Theatre Creation Visible and Invisible Vulnerabilities in Oral History Storytelling Muckles’ Story of Hearing and Being Heard Youth Alienation from Mainstream Politics: Who is the Knowledgeable Citizen? Devising Theatre, Identity and the Search for Structure and Meaning Hope and Care in the Quantitative Landscape Key Quantitative Findings Across Sites ‘Outside the Mainstream’ and the Nature of Personal Hope and Experiences of Care Generating Hope through Self-Creation in the School, the Community, and in the Drama-Making Space Young People as Care-Givers Finding and Giving Care in Context To Conclude: Wrestling Towards Hope through Relationships of Care Epilogue: Acting in Concert Turning Towards Part II: Towards Youth Audience Research Part II: A Step Towards Youth By Andrew Kushnir Towards Youth: A Play on Radical Hope By Andrew Kushnir Appendix References Index

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Book SynopsisA pioneer of the New Queer Cinema, Todd Haynes (b. 1961) is a leading American independent filmmaker. He has garnered numerous awards and nominations and an expanding fan base for his provocative and engaging work. Gathering interviews from 1989 to 2012, this collection presents a range of themes, films, and moments in the burgeoning career of Todd Haynes.

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Book SynopsisThe winner of two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film in only five years, Asghar Farhadi has become Iran's most prominent director since the late Abbas Kiarostami. This volume offers a unique perspective into his career and sheds light on what Farhadi sees as his role and responsibilities as an Iranian filmmaker in a global age.

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Book SynopsisBarbara Stanwyck (1907-1990) rose from the ranks of chorus girl to become one of Hollywood's most talented leading women-and America's highest paid woman in the mid-1940s. Shuttled among foster homes as a child, she took a number of low-wage jobs while she determinedly made the connections that landed her in successful Broadway productions. Stanwyck then acted in a stream of high-quality films from the 1930s through the 1950s. Directors such as Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang, and Frank Capra treasured her particular magic. A four-time Academy Award nominee, winner of three Emmys and a Golden Globe, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy.Dan Callahan considers both Stanwyck's life and her art, exploring her seminal collaborations with Capra in such great films as Ladies of Leisure, The Miracle Woman, and The Bitter Tea of General Yen; her Pre-Code movies Night Nurse and Baby Face; and her classic roles in Stella Dallas, Remember the Night, The Lady Eve, and Double Indemnity. After making more than eighty films in Hollywood, she revived her career by turning to television, where her role in the 1960s series The Big Valley renewed her immense popularity.Callahan examines Stanwyck's career in relation to the directors she worked with and the genres she worked in, leading up to her late-career triumphs in two films directed by Douglas Sirk, All I Desire and There's Always Tomorrow, and two outrageous westerns, The Furies and Forty Guns. The book positions Stanwyck where she belongs-at the very top of her profession-and offers a close, sympathetic reading of her performances in all their range and complexity.

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Book SynopsisAbraham Polonsky (1910-1999), screenwriter and filmmaker of the mid-twentieth-century Left, recognized his writerly mission to reveal the aspirations of his characters in a material society structured to undermine their hopes. In the process, he ennobled their struggle. His auspicious beginning in Hollywood reached a zenith with his Oscar-nominated screenplay for Robert Rossen's boxing noir, Body and Soul (1947), and his inaugural film as writer and director, Force of Evil (1948), before he was blacklisted during the McCarthy witch hunt. Polonsky envisioned cinema as a modern artist. His aesthetic appreciation for each technical component of the screen aroused him to create voiceovers of urban cadences--poetic monologues spoken by the city's everyman, embodied by the actor who played his heroes best, John Garfield. His use of David Raksin's score in Force of Evil, against the backdrop of the grandeur of New York City's landscape and the conflict between the brothers Joe and Leo Morse, elevated film noir into classical family tragedy. Like Garfield, Polonsky faced persecution and an aborted career during the blacklist. But unlike Garfield, Polonsky survived to resume his career in Hollywood during the ferment of the late sixties. Then his vision of a changing society found allegorical expression in Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, his impressive anti-Western showing the destruction of the Paiute rebel outsider, Willie Boy, and cementing Polonsky as a moral voice in cinema.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Courageous and passionate enough to always embrace change, Linda has infused her life, love, and creativity with spirituality and a truly open heart." -- Jane Seymour, actress "Linda and Elvis sitting in bed doing [Monty] Python sketches in shrilt middle-aged women's voices was something I found hard to believe. I love this woman. You will too." -- Eric Idle, comedian "Linda has led an extraordinary life filled with both blessings and challenges, but she has met them both with grace and kindness." -- Roma Downey, actress "From Graceland's Jungle Room to the beaches of Malibu, my dear friend Linda shares her incredibly interesting and emotional journey, where she never once lost her sense of humor or maiden name." -- Kevin Nealon, comedian "Once in a while a memoir comes along that will change your life. This is not that book, but it is a fascinating inside look at pop-culture history from the nicest, most beautiful woman in the world." -- Jon Lovitz, comedian "Linda Thompson has had quite a life, and she's quite a woman. She is sweet, gentle, articulate, and loving. She's glamorous, so fun-and she's a mom. As her song says, this is all 'a little thing called life' but her life was no little thing." -- Tony Danza, actor "A funny thing happened on the way to Linda's life, namely Elvis, Bruce/Caitlyn, David Foster, and a rock star son. I was mesmerized by the front row seat 'behind the curtain.' A must-read!" -- Sela Ward, actress "Linda is loving, full of spirit, and always makes you feel as if you are the most important person in the room." -- Tim Allen, comedian "Words are the voice of the heart, and with Linda's Southern grace, she speaks with the tenderness, strength, and resilience of a true Steel Magnolia." -- Billy Ray Cyrus, musician "What amazes me about Linda goes far beyond her ridiculous talents for writing lyrics-it is that amidst the interesting and seemingly overwhelming and unique life she's led, she has remained the same beautiful human being she has always been." -- Brooke Shields, actress

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the Year 'For anyone interested in Lee's legacy, this is a roundhouse kick of a biography' – Sunday Times'At last, Bruce Lee has the powerful biography he deserves... It will thrill Lee's fans and fascinate the unfamiliar' – Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig'Meticulously researched' – Jimmy McDonough, author of Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography and Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al Green'You won't find a better match for a biographer with his subject than Matthew Polly and Bruce Lee... A definitive biography, told with passion and punch' – Brian Jay Jones, author George Lucas: A Life and Jim Henson: The Biography.  Trade Review'For anyone interested in Lee's legacy, this is a roundhouse kick of a biography.' * Sunday Times *'Proper biographical investigation … From his early street fights to his friendship with Steve McQueen, from his cha-cha to his one-inch punch, Bruce Lee was made to be Bruce Lee. And Matthew Polly was made to be his biographer.' * The Spectator *'The first in-depth account of Lee's journey from a street-brawling teenager to a global icon … Lee's charisma, ambition and relentless appetite for combat leap off the pages.' * CNN *'Matthew Polly’s new biography is long overdue but does Hong Kong’s most famous son proud ... engaging, enthusiastic and empathetic.' * South China Morning Post Magazine *'The first noteworthy treatment of its subject – and a definitive one at that ... Fascinating.' * New York Times Book Review *'Proof that dogged research and sharp insight lie at the foundation of any successful biography … a definitive work to satisfy Lee’s fans and spark curiosity in a new generation.' * Associated Press *'This thorough, well-sourced biography from Polly is an engrossing examination of the life of a martial arts movie star and his shocking, early death ... Polly wonderfully profiles the man who constructed a new, masculine Asian archetype and ushered kung fu into pop culture.' * Publisher's Weekly *'At last, Bruce Lee has the powerful biography he deserves. Matthew Polly’s book is packed with new information and sharp insights. It will thrill Lee’s fans and fascinate the unfamiliar. Bravo!' —Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig'You won’t find a better match for a biographer with his subject than Matthew Polly and Bruce Lee. From Lee's early days as the self-proclaimed Cha-cha Champion of Hong Kong to his final, fiery years as the iconic, fist flashing, kung-fu master, Polly tells Bruce Lee’s story with clarity and empathy, tearing away the myths to reveal Lee’s most interesting persona yet: the man himself. A definitive biography, told with passion and punch.' — Brian Jay Jones, author George Lucas: A Life and Jim Henson: The Biography. 'Believe it or not, Bruce Lee has never been the subject of a truly in-depth biography—until now. With this meticulously researched, beautifully realised work, Matthew Polly has written the definitive account. It moves with the authority, grace and economy of Lee himself. I was hooked from the first chapter.' —Jimmy McDonough, author Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography and Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al Green

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Book SynopsisA heartbreakingly honest memoir of a young woman battling with self-esteem and eating disorders in the public eyeTrade Review"Portia de Rossi's memoir reminds us that fame and celebrity is no substitute for feeling comfortable in one's own skin, and unconditional love. Her journey toward self-acceptance is an important lesson for those who struggle with eating disorders, sexual orientation, and confidence. Every girl who dreams of being a model should read this book, to learn that the best judge of beauty is not society -- but self." -- Jodi Picoult "Anyone who's ever wondered why a beautiful, talented young woman would starve herself -- as well as anyone looking for a powerfully-written memoir -- should read Unbearable Lightness. Portia De Rossi tells her story with genuine insight and unflinching honesty. Her plight is horrifying, but De Rossi herself is entirely sympathetic, and by the end, you will cheer her on." --Jeannette Walls "De Rossi is beautiful and famous and married to another celebrity and all of this makes it very easy to roll your eyes and dismiss Unbearable Lightness, her memoir of overcoming an eating disorder. Don't make that mistake: this is quite possibly the best book on the subject ever written. It is riveting and ruthlessly honest. De Rossi is the real deal; she's a fine writer with a sharp mind and tremendous substance who has turned in a rich, layered book of remarkable courage, power and significance. I have no doubt that her story will serve as life-changing inspiration for many young women currently struggling with their own food issues. But the book's general excellence makes it a fascinating and inspiring read for anyone." --Augusten Burroughs "There are passages in this book that I had to read through my fingers, and others that made me laugh aloud. UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS is breathtakingly honest, brutal and beautiful." --Jonathan Safran Foer 'a courageous, startlingly honest account...It really is an amazing read; beautifully writen, it vividly captures the alarming, self-destructive thought processes that drive anorexic behaviour' Diva Magazine, Jan 2011 'a surprisingly open memoir...Her book is a gripping story about dealing with the combined shame, as she saw it, of gayness and fatness' Times Magazine, Nov 2010 'This is the moving, often heartbreaking story of how the actress came to terms with her body and her sexuality, finding the strength to overcome her fears and create a life that nourished both her body and her soul' Scottish Daily Record

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times Bestseller * Named one of Variety''s Best Music Books of 2021 * Included in Audible''s Best of The Year list * A Business Insider Best Memoirs of 2021 * One of NME''s Best Music Books of 2021So, I''ve written a book.Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable opportunities (It''s a piece of cake! Just do 4 hours of interviews, find someone else to write it, put your face on the cover, and voila!) I have decided to write these stories just as I have always done, in my own hand. The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I''ve recorded and can''t wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or even hearing my voice bounce between the Kiss posters on my wall as a child. This certainly doesn''t mean that I''m quitting my day job, but it does give me a place to shed a little light on what it''s like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, walking through life while living out the crazy dreams I had as young musician. From hitting the road with Scream at 18 years old, to my time in Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, jamming with Iggy Pop or playing at the Academy Awards or dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, drumming for Tom Petty or meeting Sir Paul McCartney at Royal Albert Hall, bedtime stories with Joan Jett or a chance meeting with Little Richard, to flying halfway around the world for one epic night with my daughters…the list goes on. I look forward to focusing the lens through which I see these memories a little sharper for you with much excitement. 

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Book SynopsisMost Hollywood biographies are little more than 500-page musings on the ‘ when-I-met… ’ theme, filled with famous names, love affairs and cliché s of a ‘ meteoric rise’ or ‘ tragic fall’ . Bruce Campbell’ s If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor is the boisterous antidote to such convention. Campbell is the ultimate ‘ B’ Movie actor. Star of the cult Evil Dead trilogy, with a CV that ranges from buddy Sam Raimi’ s Spider-Man, through The X-Files and Xena: Warrior Princess, to the less-than-glamorous Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, you’ ve probably never heard of him. But his is one heck of a story! The popularity of Bruce, the cult hero of cable TV and Hollywood’ s second rung, is burning brighter than ever, his legion of fans undiminished after over thirty years. Insightful, encouraging and brilliantly funny, If Chins Could Kill! is a brilliant place to start for those unfamiliar with his work. For everyone else, it acts as a wonderful reminder for just why they fell in love with him in the first place.Trade Review‘An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous'‘[an] entertaining and witty Hollywood memoir…[with] enough insights and smarts to appeal to readers with a serious interest in popular culture.’‘This engaging memoir offers much more than the standard, glamorous "and then I did..." show business autobiography… it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell. High recommended’‘ An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous' ‘ [an] entertaining and witty Hollywood memoir… [with] enough insights and smarts to appeal to readers with a serious interest in popular culture.’ ‘ This engaging memoir offers much more than the standard, glamorous "and then I did..." show business autobiography… it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell. High recommended’

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Book SynopsisMusicals are the most popular form of stage entertainment today, with the West End and Broadway dominated by numerous long-running hits. But for every Wicked or Phantom of the Opera, there are dozens of casualties that didn't fare quite so well. In this book, Julian Woolford explores the musical-theatre canon to explain why and how some musicals work, why some don't, and what you should (and shouldn’t) do if you're thinking of writing your own. Drawing on his experience as a successful writer and director of musicals, and as a lecturer in writing musicals at the University of London, Woolford outlines every step of the creative process, from hatching the initial idea and developing a structure for the work, through creating the book, the music and the lyrics, and on to the crucial process of rewriting. He then guides the reader through getting a musical produced, with invaluable advice about generating future productions and sustaining a career. The book includes dozens of exercises to assist the novice writer in developing their craft, and detailed case studies of well-known musicals such as Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, Miss Saigon, Little Shop of Horrors, Godspell and Evita. An essential guide for any writers (or would-be writers) of musicals, How Musicals Work is a fascinating insight for anyone interested in the art form or who has ever wondered what it takes to get from first idea to first night. ‘A comprehensive and thoughtful guide to everything one must consider in order to write a successful musical. It would take at least a decade to learn all of this on one’s own. Invaluable.’ David Zippel (lyricist of City of Angels and The Woman in White) ‘If anyone knows how musicals work (I’m not sure I do), this highly entertaining dissection of every aspect of that bewildering art form reveals that Julian Woolford does.’ Tim RiceTrade Review'Excellent... a useful source of information' * The Stage *'Extraordinarily informative... always practical and always readable... a seminal examination' * ReviewsGate.com *'There is plenty here of interest to anyone wishing to analyse or create musicals or even with a general interest in the subject' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book SynopsisElvis: Still Taking Care of Business is arguably the most authentic, no-holds-barred depiction of the greatest entertainer who ever lived. This is the book that the estate doesn't want you to read--it's a balanced, respectful, and insightful look by a true Presley insider and carter member of the infamous Memphis Mafia. Sonny West, Presley's close friend and bodyguard for nearly two decades, provides a firsthand account of the King's lavish spending sprees and many charitable acts, as well as the many affairs Presley conducted with his costars. Among all of Elvis Presley's close associates, no one tells stories that are more entertaining than Sonny West--he can mesmerize audiences for hours with his Elvis tidbits.

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Book SynopsisCo-authored by the resident dramaturg at Shakespeare Theatre Company and a long-time scholarly consultant, this book chronicles how a small repertory troupe at the Folger Theatre on Capitol Hill became an internationally renowned company performing in a lavish, multi-venue performing arts centre in downtown Washington, D.C. The artistic vision and business acumen of Michael Kahn, the founding Artistic Director, largely catalyzed this transformation, but so too did the forces of neoliberalism and, more recently, globalization and new media. Accordingly, Shakespeare in the Theatre: Shakespeare Theatre Company not only examines directorial decision-making but also 3 decades of social and economic change in the nation's capital, from the complexities of gentrification to the arts policies of successive administrations. In addition to discussions of directorial practice, this book examines the ambivalence of American theatre artists toward their British cult

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Book SynopsisHow the smile and fortitude of a child actress revived a nation.Trade Review"Fascinating biography..." -- The Bookseller"Compelling... This isn't a traditional biography; Kasson is more interested in the context in which Temple became such an icon..." -- The Boston Globe"Kasson's fascinating biography…" -- The Sunday Herald

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Book SynopsisThe engaging, passionate, always-honest, and often-hilarious memoir of actor Ron Perlman--his triumphant story of perseverance and determination navigating the slippery slopes of Hollywood, with a foreword by Guillermo del Toro Ron Perlman was a kid who had a myriad of self-image issues, yet he triumphed in an industry that trades on image and self-confidence. He landed a leading role in Quest for Fire. He won a Golden Globe for Beauty and the Beast. And he played the title role in two Hellboy movies, becoming along the way an icon among sci-fi and comic book fans worldwide. Although his name may be unknown to some, most people know Ron Perlman''s face, despite the fact that for nearly half his career he''s been disguised under feature-altering foam-rubber prosthetics. On his offbeat path to success, Ron has amassed nearly 200 stage, TV, voiceover, and major motion picture credits, including roles in Drive, Pacific Rim, and a six-year gig as the badass biker boss Clay Morrow in Sons of Anarchy. In Easy Street (the Hard Way), Ron shares his life story, starting with his up-by-your-bootstraps background in New York''s Washington Heights. His father, a Swing Era drummer, gave up his dream in order to feed his sons while his mother worked as a municipal clerk. Ron''s hard-earned road to Easy Street included bouts of abject poverty, heartbreaking familial episodes, and a long, often uncomfortable struggle for self-acceptance. He sheds light on his life as a working actor and also offers behind-the-scenes insight into the working styles of internationally famous directors, including Jean-Jacques Annaud, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy and Academy Award-winning Pan''s Labyrinth). He provides his own peek into Hollywood, up close and personal, where he has encountered the likes of Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and others. Plus, he turns his eye on the trajectory of American culture--the good and the bad--as observed by a man who started out in a mom-and-pop world where the arts were disseminated by individuals rather than corporations.Easy Street (the Hard Way) will inspire anyone who has ever dared to dream and offers a roadmap to the next generation of dreamers.

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Book SynopsisThe candid and heartbreakingly honest memoir of Sylvia Kristel, the cinema icon of the 1970s who played the lead role in the worldwide sensation erotic Emmanuelle films.Trade Review'Far from being seedy, this is an elegantly written book. The prose is simple, evocative and highly readable. I found myself wishing that our home-grown celebrities would write books full of ideas and feelings, not glossy magazine therapy-speak. A few of her highly stylised sentences tell far more about the whys and wherefores of exposure and fame than all the trash clogging the bestseller lists of late.' Belle de Jour, The Times 'This is a poignant, semi-intentionally hilarious autobiography. Her story is gripping.' Sunday Times 'A remarkable memoir. A series of impressionistic snapshots, delivered in austere, melancholic prose, it is quite unlike other show-biz memoirs and its candour is raw. Sylvia is a cult icon, she loosened our inhibitions. But the price was high.' Bridget Hourican The Gloss Magazine

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom Academy Award winner and bestselling author Diane Keaton comes a candid, hilarious, and deeply affecting look at beauty, aging, and the importance of staying true to yourself—no matter what anyone else thinks.   Diane Keaton has spent a lifetime coloring outside the lines of the conventional notion of beauty. In Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty, she shares the wisdom she’s accumulated through the years as a mother, daughter, actress, artist, and international style icon. This is a book only Diane Keaton could write—a smart and funny chronicle of the ups and downs of living and working in a world obsessed with beauty.   In her one-of-a-kind voice, Keaton offers up a message of empowerment for anyone who’s ever dreamed of kicking back against the “should”s and “supposed to”s that undermine our pursuit of beauty in all its forms. From a mor

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Book SynopsisEvan Cabnet is an NYC-based theater director specializing in new plays. He has directed new works by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, Pulitzer Finalist, 2015), Helen Edmundson (Therese Raquin on Broadway for the Roundabout Theater Company), Christopher Shinn (Teddy Ferrara), Steven Sater & Burt Bacharach (Some Lovers), Bekah Brunstetter (Oohrah!), Liz Meriwether (The Mistakes Madeline Made and Oliver Parker!), Kenneth Lin (Warrior Class), David West Read (The Dream of the Burning Boy and The Performers on Broadway), Zayd Dohrn (Outside People), Daniel Pearle (A Kid Like Jake) Julia Brownell (All-American) and has collaborated with Stephen Sondheim, Edward Albee, John Guare, Donald Margulies, and Theresa Rebeck. As an Artistic Director, he has developed and produced plays by Jackie Sibblies Drury (Marys Seacole, Obie Award, 2019), Martyna Majok (queens), Aya Ogawa (The Noseb

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