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Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked

Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked

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Author: Carol De Giere
Publisher: Applause Books
Category: Book

List Price: $24.95
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Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars 11 reviews
Sales Rank: 48230

Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 7.4 x 1.3

ISBN: 1557837457
Dewey Decimal Number: 792
EAN: 9781557837455
ASIN: 1557837457

Publication Date: September 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20090107232017T

Customer Reviews:
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5 out of 5 stars Definitely worth the read   October 28, 2008
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

A welcome behind the scenes look at the creator of the music & lyrics for Pippin, Godspell, and especially Wicked. I've been fond of these three musicals for some time, and now I figured out why. It's all "For Good".


5 out of 5 stars A must...   October 26, 2008
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

For anyone who has ever seen a Stephen Schwartz musical or heard a Schwartz film song or soundtrack, this book is a must! Brilliantly executed, it proceeds with all the impact of a much-loved novel.

Sometimes, going behind the scenes to see the nuts and bolts of the creative process examined and revealed, takes away from the effect of the final work itself. Not in this case...Carol de Giere's engrossing biography is a page-turner which only adds to the magic.

Almost impossible to put down, this book must be one of the best ever written about working in theater and film. A fascinating subject, profoundly portrayed.



5 out of 5 stars Astounding Creativity   October 19, 2008
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I read this book in one weekend. I was astounded by the creativity, both on Mr. Schwartz's part and on the author's. Quite a complicated task to present the creative process, and I think Ms. deGiere gives us a clear and interesting view. For people with talent, this book can provide inspiration. For people who admire and enjoy such talent, this book is a real treat. Buy it and be in awe of Stephen Schwartz's great gifts.
Bettie S. Laven, Oakland, CA



5 out of 5 stars A marvelous book   October 13, 2008
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

For decades, I have been fascinated by Broadway musicals and Broadway music, even though my occupation has nothing to do with the field of entertainment. However, it does deal with creativity. I think this is part of the reason I was drawn to the work of such composers and lyricists as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gershwin, Kern, Porter, Lerner and Loewe, and Sondheim. I have read everything I could get my hands on about this individuals and others. What in their background led them to this occupation? What led them to become so successful?

Stephen Schwartz is a member of the current generation of Broadway composers and lyricists. Probably because there are so few opportunities for individuals with this talent and desire, each generation produces a very small number of successful composers and lyricists. In his case, Schwartz is both a composer and lyricist. Anyone with an interest in show music will have his or her favorite shows and favorite songs. Schwartz is the composer-lyricist of WICKED, my favorite of his shows and an amazing accomplishment. He wrote the lyrics to the songs from Disney's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (and the German stage production of it) and to the song "If I Never You" from POCAHONTAS, also bordering on masterpieces in my opinion.

The author of this marvelous book is Carol de Giere. This book is not only extremely interesting to read, the author has capured the story of the steps along the path that led Schwartz from childhood to where he is today. This includes such great successes for someone so very young to great diappointments and how he handled them. We are left with an extraordinarily talented artist who received encouragement when he needed it and possessing an abundance of self-confidence.

There have been many movies in the past about composers (including Rodgers and Hart, Kern, Gershwin, and Porter). As I read this book, I thought: This book would make a good basis for a very interesting movie. For those individuals interested in Broadway, Broadway musicals and the people who create them (and creative people in general), I highly recommend this book and compliment the author.



5 out of 5 stars An Amazing Analysis...   October 5, 2008
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Carol de Giere delivers an Amazing analysis of Stephen Schwartz. No one has done this, and de Giere's analysis is fascinating.

She talks about "Godspell,", and "Pippin," and "The Magic Show," and "The Baker's Wife", and "Working," and "Rags", and finally, and most importantly, de Giere spills the whole story of "Wicked." And she tells amazing backstage stuff. She was actually there.

Buy the book. It's amazing.


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