Broadway Nights

A Romp of Life, Love, and Musical Theatre

By: Seth Rudetsky

Narrated by: Seth Rudetsky, Kristin Chenoweth, Andrea Martin, Ann Harada, Richard Kind, Jeff Bowen, Jonathan Groff

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Stephen Sheerin was born to play on Broadway - or at least, under it. He's a musician, a conductor, and his dream is to music-direct a big Broadway musical. After years of toiling in the pit of some of the best-loved (and loathed) hits on the Great White Way, he's just been given his big break. Can life really be going that well?

Of course not - his family is driving him crazy, and his boyfriend can't seem to get rid of his other boyfriend. Add to that an alcoholic diva, the cheapest producing team on Broadway, and a comatose casting director, and you have some of the other characters buzzing around Stephen's Broadway break. Then there's Stephen himself - neurotic and bitchy - who realizes that maybe total happiness is overrated.

Narrated by Seth Rudetsky, from Sirus radio and Broadway's The Ritz; Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award winner, star of Wicked and TV's Pushing Daisies; James Wesley from the Rosie O'Donnell cruise ship; Jonathan Groff, Tony Nominee from Broadway's Spring Awakening; Andrea Martin, Tony Award winner, from SCTV, and currently in Young Frankenstein; Jeff Bowen, Hunter Bell, and Susan Blackwell from [title of show]; Andrea Burns, from Broadway's Tony nominated In the Heights; Andy Karl, from Broadway's Legally Blonde and the upcoming 9 to 5; Anika Larsen, from off Broadway's Zanna, Don't and Broadway's Xanadu; Mary Birdsong (from TV's RENO 911); Billy Porter, from Broadway's Grease and winner of Star Search!; Richard Kind, from TV's Spin City and Broadway's The Producers. Jim Price, from Les Miserables and Off-Broadway's Bat Boy; Ann Harada from Avenue Q and the upcoming 9 to 5; Emily Skinner Tony nominee from Broadway's Side Show; Juli Wesley - Becky's First Grade Class at PS 98; and Sally Rudetsky (Seth's Mom).

©2007 Seth Rudetsky (P)2008 Audible

Critic reviews

"Pretty chorus boys flirt with the world, backstage liaisons complicate rehearsals, and old friends finally become happy lovers - this is a gay romance, after all. But the real fun of the fictional romp is the wealth of factual showbiz lore - much of it bitchy and most of it hilarious - that theater insider Rudetsky packs into his charmingly giddy plot." ( San Francisco Bay Times)
"I love Seth Rudetsky! He is Mr. Broadway! Seth's love for the Musical Theatre equals my own and his knowledge of all things Broadway is an obsession to be cherished. His chronicle of the journey of starstruck kid to Broadway pianist/conductor is a wonderful every-theatre-kid tale with wicked humor and New York City savvy, sass, and insight. I LOVE THIS BOOK!" (Betty Buckley, Tony Award-winning actress/singer)
"Even if Broadway isn't your thing, you'll still laugh at the comedy." ( AudioFile)

Delicious Indulgence

I have to admit, I knew nothing of this author when I downloaded this audio. I am so glad the author read his own stuff...I think it made it that much more charming. I was laughing the whole time. I also learned a lot about the "underground" of Broadway. I really enjoyed it, and gave it to my sister who also loved it. Recommended. I hope this author produces more witty material. It was just plain fun.

What a great book!

Loved it - who knew Broadway was so juicy (and had such a fulfilling ending)?! Seth Rudetsky is a hilarious talent!!

So much fun!

This was such a great book. It was funny, it was light and it went fast. There were a few moments that surprised me, but I did find it a bit predictable. The narrators were great! I think they really brought up the book because of weak plot. Really entertaining audio book. Well worth the listen.

Personal Fav

I love Seth Rudetsky and everything he does. He makes me laugh and feeds my addiction for all things musicals, Broadway, & NYC! This audio is so great for its personal touch!

A hit!

If you love Broadway you will love this book! The story is so compelling and Seth Rudetsky’s performance is engaging and full of energy! It is absolutely brilliant!

Great fun!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. A little over the top drama, a little camp, mixed with a bit of bitey queendom make this a great listen. Kind of like a candy bar, not very good for you, but tasty to the last word.

Very amusing

It was a bit hard to get into but got better as it went on. Quite original and liked the main character more and more.

Insider look at putting together a Broadway show

If you could sum up Broadway Nights in three words, what would they be?

"Smash" done well

What was one of the most memorable moments of Broadway Nights?

Narrator realizes that he is never going to impress his egocentric mother.....actual growth as a character.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have seen on line video clips. This is more sustained than shorter performances.

If you could rename Broadway Nights, what would you call it?

Insider look at the Broadway creative process, and its world.

Any additional comments?

Seth Rudetsky is in every Playbill on Broadway. He started out as a rehearsal pianist, but now he lectures on theatre cruises by major cruise ships. The special interest cruises are heavily advertised in every Playbill, the free magazine/ program that is given out in theatres. Here in New York, he has a cabaret theatre/ interview program that gives performances regularly. He is part of the creative team behind real shows. He knows the theatre world inside and out. He has an obsessive interest in/ knowledge off singing and music related to the special world of Musical Comedy which, for a small segment of the population, is an alternate religion. People who watch "Glee" and take it seriously....people who watch "Smash" on tv, people who go to the theatre....this book is for you! Some of the voices who assist him on this audio book are among the biggest stars on Broadway.

AAAAMAZING!!!!

What a wonderfully funny, light, gay, Broadway book! Absolutely Fabulous.

When one first starts reading this, one may think that this is an auto-biography. I honestly thought it was a true story until I realized the authors name is Seth and the main character is Stephen – it is that believable. Rudetsky paints such a real picture of Stephen - a pianist, sub conductor and eventually director of a show on Broadway! He references shows consistently and it makes you wonder what gossip is fiction and what is real.

I listed to the audio version of this book and it has to be one of the best audio-books I have ever listened to (well into the hundreds).

Seth is the one who narrates the book. My god, he is wildly funny. What is great is that he has pulled in a lot of known Broadway actors to read other characters of the story. Both Kristin Chenoweth (lead from Wicked) and Jonathan Groff (lead from Spring Awakening and now Glee) played parts. There were a ton of other actors - but these ones I knew well. So, not only to you have Rudestky – who is a riot but you have a slew of other actors actually reading their parts so this was more like a dramatization of the book. It was so fantastic.

I had never heard of Seth Rudetsky when I stumbled on this gem. Since I read this, I have made it a point to become a major fan of his. I know subscribe to satellite radio to tune into “Seth’s Big Fat Broadway” show and when I was in NY last spring, I when to his Times Square recording and his chatterbox. While in NY, he mention that they may be re-releasing his other book The Q Guide to Broadway. I would love to read this so I am anxiously the new release. However, I haven’t heard any news on it yet so I may just have to buy the old version. : (

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who wants to get and insiders glimpse into the nights on Broadway.

Delightful

When the world gets too much for me, this is the book I listen to again and again. It's hilarious, exceptionally well performed and sweet at its heart.

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